Eswatini promotes national data governance agenda with First National Data Policy Workshop

By:  Nana Appiah Acquaye

The Ministry of Information, Communications and Technology in Eswatini has taken a major step toward strengthening the country’s digital governance framework with the hosting of the First National Workshop on the National Data Policy.

The two-day workshop brought together representatives from government, development partners, the private sector, and civil society to contribute to the development of a unified national framework for data governance.

Opening the session, Minister of ICT Savannah Maziya underscored Eswatini’s ambition to position itself as a trusted leader in data governance, stressing the importance of safeguarding information and strengthening national data systems.

She noted that a National Data Policy would position data as a strategic national asset to be managed with the same level of priority as key national resources such as land, water, and financial reserves. She further warned that existing gaps in data governance could expose the country to risks related to citizen privacy, national security, investor confidence, and participation in the global data economy.

Director of Communications Sakhile Dlamini highlighted the inclusive nature of the consultation process, stating that the workshop was designed to gather stakeholder input to inform the final policy development.

International partners also reaffirmed their support for Eswatini’s digital transformation agenda. Representing the German Embassy, Thomas Schaef reiterated commitment under the Data Governance in Africa Initiative, emphasizing the need for human-centred and development-oriented data governance frameworks that support inclusive digital transformation.

European Union Ambassador Karsten Mecklenburg also stressed the importance of collaboration, noting that strong partnerships are essential to building ethical and future-ready data systems across Africa.

The Ministry said the workshop marks a significant milestone in Eswatini’s efforts to establish a structured and secure approach to national data governance.