Africa-Press – Eswatini. “We live in a world where many of our daily functions are digitally connected. This means we need to create the infrastructure that fast-tracks our adoption of digital and satellite technology.”
With these powerful words, His Majesty King Mswati III set the tone for a bold digital transformation agenda during the official opening of Parliament.
Placing technology at the centre of national development, the King emphasised that Eswatini must urgently strengthen its digital infrastructure to keep pace
with global advancements. He highlighted that ICT is no longer a luxury, but a necessity for economic growth, efficient governance and improved service delivery.
“Technology plays an integral role in the development of a country. It is,
therefore, important that this infrastructure places us on par with the global community,” he said.
The King linked this transformation to the country’s 40-year milestone, describing it as a defining moment for progress.
“The 40-year milestone we celebrate this year means the country must move completely from analogue to digital,” he declared.
According to His Majesty, the transition requires a comprehensive review of national systems to ensure they are aligned with digital standards.
“This requires us to assess all our operating structures to determine if they meet the standards for transitioning to digital systems and ensure affordable and reliable data connectivity,” he said.
The King also addressed the importance of modernising travel systems, noting that Eswatini must adopt digital passports to improve efficiency and security.
“We are already lagging in providing digital passports that make travel seamless by processing entry through video scanning, while our system still requires manual processing,” he said.
“The disadvantage of the physical passport is the threat of forgery, which can be eliminated by upgrading it.”
The Speech from the Throne clearly outlines a future anchored in connectivity, innovation and smart systems. By accelerating the adoption of digital and satellite technology, Eswatini aims to unlock new economic opportunities,
strengthen national security and improve the daily lives of emaSwati.
As Parliament begins its new session, the King’s message signals a confident step toward a modern, digitally empowered Kingdom ready to thrive in an increasingly connected world.
