Africa-Press – Eswatini. The Government of Eswatini has declared war on the rampant misuse of Highly Hazardous Pesticides (HHPs), with the Ministry of Agriculture announcing bold steps to curb the alarming rise in pesticide related deaths.
Speaking at the Stakeholder Engagement Meeting on the Management of HHPs, held on Thursday at The New George Hotel in Manzini, the Honourable Minister of Agriculture, Mandla Tshawuka, said the irresponsible handling and abuse of pesticides particularly Methomyl, commonly sold as Master 900 has escalated into a national crisis.
“Across Eswatini, pesticide poisoning is claiming lives at an alarming rate. These tragedies are not just statistics, but the lives of our brothers, sisters, parents, and children. Each life lost is a family devastated and a community broken,” said the Minister.
The Minister noted that Master 900, originally intended as a crop protection chemical, has been widely misused as a poison, leading to shocking incidents of mass killings, including entire households.
“As a nation, we cannot allow tools meant to protect our crops to be used as weapons of mass destruction,” Tshawuka warned.
He commended agro-dealers who have already removed Master 900 from their shelves, calling them “responsible corporate citizens” who have set a precedent for the rest of the industry.
The Minister closed his remarks with an appeal for constructive engagement:
“Let us commit to building an agricultural system where no farmer, no worker, and no member of the public loses life through misuse or abuse of pesticides.”
He also extended gratitude to international partners supporting the Eswatini Pesticide Poisoning Project, which made the consultative dialogue possible.
It should be noted that as Eswatini grapples with balancing agricultural productivity and public safety, yesterday’s meeting signalled the government’s determination to act decisively.
The phase-out of Highly Hazardous Pesticides may mark a turning point towards a safer, more sustainable farming future for the Kingdom.
A coordinated national response
The meeting, attended by development partners, regulatory agencies, farmers, agro-dealers, civil society, and academia, sought to foster dialogue and cooperation on pesticide regulation. Tshawuka outlined a four-point agenda:
1. Align national obligations with global best practices.
2. Assess the social, health, and economic toll of pesticide poisoning.
3. Develop a National Pesticide List to ensure registered products meet strict safety and efficacy standards.
4. Build consensus for the gradual phase-out of HHPs, starting with Master 900.
The Minister emphasized that the solution will not be imposed by government alone but will emerge from “an inclusive, participatory process” involving all stakeholders.
Planned interventions
To facilitate the transition, the Ministry of Agriculture will:
• Train and certify agro-dealers to guide farmers towards safer alternatives.
• Accelerate research and registration of affordable, less harmful products.
• Strengthen enforcement to ensure HHPs are withdrawn permanently from circulation.
“This is not just a technical problem it is a social, economic, and moral issue that touches every sector of society,” the Minister stressed.
Stakeholder roles and responsibilities
In a direct call to action, Tshawuka challenged:
• Regulators to enforce standards with integrity.
• Farmers to adopt safer practices and share knowledge.
• Researchers to provide data for sound decisions.
• The private sector to innovate safer solutions.
• Agro-dealers to stop stocking dangerous chemicals.
• Civil society to raise awareness and hold players accountable.
• Health practitioners and environmentalists to monitor impacts and support communities.
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