MBABANE — The Ministry of Sports, Culture and Youth Affairs is government’s top-performing ministry for the 2025/26 financial year.
However, among all government ministries and departments, it was the second-best performer overall after His Majesty’s Correctional Services (HMCS) topped them all.
This is according to the government’s annual performance report for the previous fiscal year, delivered by Prime Minister (PM) Russell Mmiso Dlamini yesterday through a press conference. Dlamini said the performance report, prepared by the Policy and Programme Coordination Unit (PPCU), provides a comprehensive assessment of government performance during the 2025/26 financial year.
He said it reviews the implementation of national priorities, measures progress towards the country’s 2029 development targets and identifies key achievements, challenges and areas requiring urgent intervention. The premier said the assessment hinged on a three-pillar framework; execution of plans, weighted at 80 per cent; quality of execution (15 per cent) and timeliness of reporting (five per cent).
“Among ministries and departments, His Majesty’s Correctional Services recorded the highest overall performance at 75 per cent. It was followed by the Ministry of Sports, Culture and Youth Affairs at 60 per cent, the Ministry of Health at 58 per cent and the Prime Minister’s Office at 56 per cent,’’ the PM said.
He said the institutions performed above the national average and demonstrated that effective planning, strong leadership and disciplined execution can produce meaningful results, even in a constrained operating environment.
The report also raises concern about compliance with reporting requirements. Only six ministries submitted their annual performance reports within the prescribed timeline of March 27, while 16 submitted after the deadline.
Minister Nzima’s ministry was amongst those that submitted late, having done so on April 7.
“Delayed reporting weakens government’s ability to monitor implementation in real time, make informed decisions and undertake early corrective action,’’ the PM said.
However, Minister Nzima was excited about the performance of his ministry, saying they are already eyeing the top spot in the next assessment report.
“We attribute this feat to teamwork, and everybody in the ministry and the sports fraternity. We should stand tall and be proud of this achievement,” he said.
He added that this score also changes the narrative about the ministry, as now everybody knows that it really works in the ‘Nkwe’ spirit to serve the nation as mandated by Their Majesties.
When asked about the key milestones he thought contributed to the high score, the Sandleni Member of Parliament (MP) pointed to the rigorous renovations of the Somhlolo National Stadium, which saw selected international games return to the country for the first time since the Confederation of African Football (CAF) placed a ban in 2022.
Other highlights include the Tinkhundla Talent Search competitions, the upgrading of sports grounds across Tinkhundla centres, the strengthening of culture as well as the arts and culture studio constructed in Manzini, opening business opportunities for the youth and the recent launch of mobile stages.
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