Africa-Press – Eswatini. Eswatini’s government is accelerating its digital transformation, with Minister of Finance Neal Rijkenberg announcing bold new reforms aimed at tightening financial controls, improving transparency, and reducing corruption across the public sector.
A standout achievement is the introduction of a new digital control system for government vehicles. Every driver must be registered, and each trip is monitored through real-time data that records fuel use, kilometres travelled, and even driving behaviour. These strict controls have already delivered a 40% reduction in fuel expenditure, demonstrating how technology can curb misuse without confrontation.
Rijkenberg announced that this philosophy is being expanded through the rollout of IFMAS, a fully paperless Integrated Financial Management System. All ministries will use the platform for budgeting, procurement, approvals, and payments. The system tracks delays, flags unapproved documents, and automatically escalates stalled processes—ending the long-standing problem of paperwork “getting stuck” and eliminating opportunities for bribery.
Major reforms are also underway in the health sector. New legislation will transform the Central Medical Stores into a stand-alone entity with full digital tracking of medicines from national warehouses to hospitals, pharmacies, and ultimately to patients. This ensures better accountability and more reliable access to medication.
Alongside these governance improvements, Rijkenberg launched the National FinTech Strategy—a plan to widen financial inclusion by ensuring citizens have easier access not only to mobile money but also to debt, insurance, and other financial products.
The Minister urged the nation to support these technological upgrades, noting that resistance often comes from those benefitting from the old systems. With determination and collaboration, he believes Eswatini can build a cleaner, more transparent public service.
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