Eswatini's Minister of ICT positions kingdom as an emerging digital leader
Date: 2025-08-08
Eswatini's Minister of ICT, Savannah Maziya, has positioned the kingdom as an emerging digital leader in Africa during her address at the High-Level Thematic Round Table in Turkmenistan. Speaking at the Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDCs) Conference, Minister Maziya outlined Eswatini's comprehensive strategy to leverage technology for economic transformation and social progress.
The minister
emphasized Eswatini's commitment to bridging the digital divide through its
innovative "Government In Your Hand" program, which has made
public services accessible through unified digital platforms. "We may
be landlocked, but we are land-linked through digital infrastructure,"
Maziya declared, highlighting the nation's progress in creating a connected,
inclusive digital economy.
According to her, the country has made significant strides in digitizing public services through
a unified mobile application and modernized government systems, adding that infrastructure
development has seen nationwide fiber optic expansion and doubled cross-border
internet capacity, complemented by free Wi-Fi access points at strategic
locations.
At the Royal
Science & Technology Park, she revealed that Eswatini is cultivating
homegrown innovation through specialized labs, startup incubation programs, and
research institutions. The park's National Data Center forms the backbone of
the country's digital architecture.
Human capital
development, the Minister noted, forms a critical component, with initiatives
ranging from a nationwide coding program targeting 300,000 citizens to
specialized training in emerging technologies. Notably, 108 young women are
being trained in space science, while legislators receive AI education to
inform policy decisions.
Minister Maziya
framed these developments within the Awaza Programme of Action's vision,
stating: "STI investment enables economic diversification that creates
quality jobs, reduces poverty, and improves essential services."
By: Nana Appiah Acquaye
