Africa-Press – Eswatini. Prime Minister Russell Mmiso Dlamini has commended the National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA) for a decade of excellence in disaster risk reduction, governance, and resilience-building in Eswatini.
The Prime Minister was speaking at the NDMA’s 10th Anniversary Celebration and Awards Ceremony, held in the night of Thursday, September 18, 2025 at Happy Valley Hotel in Ezulwini. The event was held under the theme: “A Decade of Impact: Saving Lives, Building Resilience.”
He praised past and present NDMA leadership, staff, and partners for their commitment to safeguarding lives and livelihoods through innovation, persistence, and strong partnerships.
“NDMA has come of age. It is now a well-governed organisation with stringent policies, a sound strategy, and competent staff. It is gratifying to see that the NDMA strives to maintain the spirit of excellence that we relentlessly cultivated,” said the PM.
Key Milestones
The Prime Minister highlighted major achievements during NDMA’s 10-year journey, including:
The establishment of the Drought Centre of Excellence,
The launch of the Regional and National Disaster Risk Management Platforms,
Embedding Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) into the national agenda, and
NDMA’s achievement of ISO Certification, which reflects operational excellence.
He further recalled critical moments in Eswatini’s recent history when NDMA stood firm in crisis response.
“Amongst many sleepless nights, a few stand out—when we did not know where and how to get water and food to communities desperately in need, or how to prevent COVID-19 from spreading and killing many people. Today, we can look back and agree with Nelson Mandela, that it always seems impossible until it is done,” he said.
Tribute to Pioneers
The Prime Minister paid tribute to NDMA’s Board of Directors, noting that since inception the agency has had three Boards, two of which were chaired by women, who laid strong foundations of good governance and operational excellence.
He also acknowledged the roles of former Deputy Prime Ministers Paul Dlamini and Themba Masuku in nurturing the agency during its formative years.
In addition, NDMA posthumously honoured Dr Ben Mshamndane Sibandze with a Lifetime Achievement Award, recognising his pioneering role in laying the foundation for disaster management in the Kingdom.
Looking Ahead
While celebrating past successes, PM Dlamini cautioned that the future presents new and complex challenges. He cited climate change as a growing threat, bringing more frequent and intense disasters at a time of dwindling resources.
However, he expressed confidence that the new Disaster Risk Reduction Bill, currently before Parliament, would strengthen Eswatini’s capacity to prepare for and respond to hazards.
“There is no organisation that moved from being good to being great under a laissez-faire attitude of leadership. The NDMA must continue to uphold the spirit of excellence. His Majesty’s Government expects no less,” he said.
The Prime Minister concluded by inviting guests to toast to “excellence and a prosperous future for the NDMA.”
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