Africa-Press – Eswatini. The Minister of Information, Communication and Technology, Honorable Savannah Maziya, has called for urgent and bold digital transformation at the Leveraging ICT to Spur Private Sector Growth and Competitiveness Indaba held at the Business Eswatini War Room, on 12 February 2026.
Minister Maziya described the occasion as more than a meeting, calling it the starting line for Eswatini’s digital economy. “We need to make drastic changes in how we do things, and fast,” she said, urging both government and private sector stakeholders to collaborate in modernizing the country’s digital infrastructure and services. She stressed that the decisions made today about governance, culture, land, and infrastructure will shape the country’s future, and that the era of delay, indecision, and excuses is over.
Highlighting the global dominance of ICT, the Minister noted that the world’s top 10 trillion-dollar companies are rooted in technology, with nearly all focusing on Artificial Intelligence. These companies represent over 25% of market equity in their home countries, while Eswatini holds less than 0.5%.
“This is not a limitation; it is a wake-up call,” she said. “The future is not coming, it is already here, and what we choose to do today will shape our place in it.” Minister Maziya emphasized that digital solutions are key to eliminating corruption, improving government delivery, creating jobs, and positioning the country for growth.
The Minister also highlighted the importance of empowering the nation’s youth and women with future-oriented skills, including coding, AI, and other digital competencies, stressing that education systems must equip learners for innovation and leadership rather than keeping them in passive roles. “ICT is not optional,” she said. “It is a growth area for business, government, and the entire country, and it must be pursued with urgency and collaboration.”
The Indaba included a presentation by Bonga Ndlangamandla, Director of e-Government at the Ministry of ICT, outlining Eswatini’s strategic roadmap for digital transformation between 2025 and 2029. The Ministry has already achieved major milestones, including a significant increase in cross-border connectivity from 40Gbps to 111Gbps and the roll-out of Fibre-to-the-Home to over 25,000 homes. The Government in Your Hand mobile application now provides citizens with twelve essential services, including passport tracking, scholarship applications, and utility payments.
Legal and regulatory frameworks have also advanced, with the Electronic Transactions Act gazetted and regulations for Data Protection and Computer Crime under development. In addition, thousands of citizens have been enrolled in the CODERS Eswatini program, while specialized space training has been provided to young girls. Innovation continues to thrive at the Royal Science and Technology Park, which now hosts multiple start-ups, several of which have already graduated and are contributing to the economy.
Looking ahead, the Ministry plans to scale infrastructure even further, aiming to expand cross-border connectivity to 400Gbps and extend fiber connections to reach all Tinkhundla centres, schools, and health facilities, as well as over 120 000 homes. The Ministry will also increase the number of digital services available through the GIYH platform, including e-ID, e-payment, and case management systems.
Simultaneously, efforts to develop talent and research capacity will continue, with the CODERS Eswatini program set to reach 300 000 citizens and initiatives like the Eswatini Young Academy of Sciences and a new one-stop-shop building at Nokwane being operationalized.
Minister Maziya concluded with a call for collaboration and engagement from all stakeholders, emphasizing that the country can only achieve its digital ambitions if government, business, and citizens work together. “When business suffers, government suffers. When jobs disappear, communities suffer. The cycle ends when we embrace innovation together,” she said.
The Indaba signals a decisive step in positioning Eswatini as a digitally empowered nation prepared for the opportunities of an AI-driven economy, with stakeholders encouraged to actively participate, provide feedback, and shape the country’s digital future.
