Africa-Press – Eswatini. Vandalise national infrastructure, and you could soon pay dearly.The Ministry of Information, Communications and Technology (ICT), led by Minister Savannah Maziya, yesterday engaged the ICT Portfolio Committee of Parliament in a high-level workshop to deliberate on the Critical Infrastructure Protection Bill, 2025.
The Bill comes as a direct response to the rising wave of theft, sabotage, and vandalism targeting critical infrastructure, crimes that have disrupted essential services and posed serious threats to the economy, national security, and public safety.
Minister Maziya told MPs that the country can no longer afford to downplay the scale of the problem, citing copper theft and vandalism of telecoms and energy lines as some of the most damaging crimes crippling service delivery.
“The Kingdom of Eswatini faces an escalating threat to national development and public safety through rampant vandalism, sabotage, and theft of critical infrastructure,” Maziya said.
“These acts endanger lives, undermine economic progress, and erode the integrity of national assets. This Bill seeks to establish a robust legal framework to safeguard critical infrastructure, deter criminal activity, and empower the country to respond decisively to emerging threats.”
The draft legislation proposes tough new measures that criminalise unlawful possession, destruction, and sabotage of essential infrastructure. It also introduces hefty penalties, enforcement tools, and safeguards to ensure uninterrupted delivery of services that sustain national life.
Officials highlighted that the Bill is about more than punishing criminals, it is about protecting the very backbone of development. Secure infrastructure, they argued, ensures continuity of healthcare, telecommunications, energy supply, water services, and transport networks.
“Damaged power lines, railways, or telecoms infrastructure don’t just cost money, they put lives at risk and weaken emergency response systems,” Maziya stressed.
Stakeholders from across key sectors, including Eswatini Electricity Company, Eswatini Water Services Corporation, Eswatini Railways, and telecommunications operators, attended the workshop, affirming cross-sector collaboration in defending national assets.
The Minister also emphasised that strong legal frameworks would restore investor confidence and shield the country from syndicate-driven crime.
“These are not petty offences but organised crimes. This law will send a clear message, TO our national assets are not up for sabotage,” she said.
As deliberations continue, government has positioned the Bill as a cornerstone of His Majesty King Mswati III’s Nkwe vision, reinforcing Eswatini’s commitment to safeguarding national assets while securing growth and stability.
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