Africa-Press – Eswatini. Eswatini put resilience on the global agenda on Thursday as Housing and Urban Development Minister Apollo Maphalala told delegates at the Sustainable Urban Development Seminar in Ezulwini that local governments must be “future-ready” to withstand poverty, pandemics, climate change and rapid urbanisation.
Speaking at the Happy Valley-hosted session of the 2025 ICMA Global Exchange, Maphalala said municipalities were the frontline defenders of communities and needed bold shifts in planning, service delivery and policy.
“Resilience must be our central focus,” he said. “It is the foundation on which sustainability is built. It means empowering institutions and people to absorb shocks and rise stronger from them, while also embracing digital opportunities for smarter, more inclusive governance.”
The Minister stressed that Eswatini’s smart city vision must extend beyond infrastructure.
“It must be about reimagining service delivery and creating an environment where citizens feel seen, served, and valued,” he said, urging delegates not to leave the seminar with “conversations only” but to drive real programmes and partnerships.
The seminar brought together over 40 international delegates from the USA, Australia and South Africa, alongside local mayors, councillors and traditional leaders.
Panel discussions explored urban resilience, with eThekwini Deputy Municipal Manager Sipho Cele emphasising the need to equip municipalities with resources to confront climate and infrastructure challenges.
The seminar was part of a packed week for the ICMA delegation, which marked its first-ever visit to Africa with tours of Manzini, Matsapha and Ezulwini, cultural experiences at Mantenga, and a visit to the Eswatini International Trade Fair.
Earlier, a formal dinner at Royal Villas featured the renewal of ICMA’s Strategic Alliance Agreement with the Eswatini Local Authorities Managers Association (ELAMA) and a keynote from Minister Maphalala, setting the tone for a week of collaboration.
With ICMA President-elect Mike Land, CEO Julia Novak and ELAMA President Lungile Dlamini present, expectations are high that the exchange will leave lasting lessons, sharpening the ability of Eswatini’s towns and cities to deliver services that are sustainable, resilient and people-centred.
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