Politics

MBABANE – Clerk to Parliament Benedict Xaba has challenged Prime Minister Russell Dlamini, Cabinet ministers, parliamentarians and senior government executives to lead by example by seeking treatment in public health facilities.

This, he said, would help restore confidence in Eswatini’s healthcare system and drive much-needed improvements in public hospitals. Speaking during the International Nurses Day celebrations held under the theme, ‘Our Nurses, Our Future: Empowered Nurses Save Lives’ Xaba said one of the biggest challenges facing public healthcare across Africa is that many decision-makers do not depend on the same services used by ordinary citizens.

The former nurse and midwife said public hospitals often remain underfunded and under-prioritised because influential leaders frequently seek treatment in private facilities or abroad.

“I would like to challenge His Excellency the Right Honourable Prime Minister and his Cabinet, parliamentarians and executives from different sectors to seek health services in our public health facilities, especially for non-emergency treatment,” Xaba said.

According to Xaba, when political leaders bypass public healthcare, there is little pressure to address persistent challenges such as medicine shortages, understaffing and weaknesses within healthcare systems.

“Public hospitals in Africa remain underfunded and under-prioritised partly because decision-makers do not depend on them. When political leaders and government executives bypass public healthcare for private or overseas treatment, there is little political pressure to fix stock-outs, staff shortages and the weak healthcare system,” he said.

He stressed that restoring public confidence in healthcare requires leaders to place their trust in the same institutions serving the majority of citizens.

Xaba delivered the remarks before nurses, healthcare leaders, union representatives and government officials gathered to commemorate International Nurses Day.

Drawing from his own background as a nurse and midwife, Xaba paid tribute to pioneering figures who helped shape the nursing profession in Eswatini and beyond.

He honoured global nursing icons such as Florence Nightingale and Cecilia Makiwane, as well as local trailblazers including Sister Eva Mthethwa, Dr Maggie Makhubu and Matron Tenteleni Mndzebele.

Throughout his address, Xaba emphasised the central role nurses play in healthcare delivery, describing nursing as a calling rooted in compassion, courage and service.

He said empowering nurses through education, professional development, leadership opportunities and improved working conditions was essential to strengthening healthcare systems and improving patient outcomes.

“The future of healthcare depends significantly on the strength of the nursing workforce. An empowered nurse is a confident advocate, a skilled professional, an effective leader and, most importantly, a lifesaver,” he said.

Beyond healthcare delivery, Xaba encouraged nurses to become more involved in leadership, policymaking and politics. He argued that nurses possess practical knowledge and frontline experience that can help shape more effective health policies.

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Clerk to Parliament Benedict Xaba has challenged Prime Minister Russell Dlamini, Cabinet ministers, parliamentarians and senior government executives to lead by example and seek treatment in public health facilities. (Courtesy pic)