UN Resident Coordinator remarks during the Induction Conference for the 12th Parliament of the Kingdom of Eswatini

Your excellency the Right Hon. Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minster

Honourable Ministers,

Presiding Officers of both Chambers of Parliament

Honorable Members of Parliament,

Distinguished Invited Guests,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

I am honoured to join you this morning and make this remarks on behalf of the United Nations Family in the Kingdom of Eswatini as you commence your journey of public service as Members of the 12th Parliament of the Kingdom of Eswatini.  

Thank you, Madame Senate President and Hon. Speaker of the House for the invitation and honour. We in the UN family do not take it for granted.

Allow me to begin by congratulating Their Majesties for the successful conclusion of the elections which are the reason for this gathering this morning; and all EmaSwati for ensuring that the elections were peaceful and orderly.

I congratulate each one of you on your election, re-election or appointment, and particularly commend all Emaswati voters for ensuring an increased number of elected women in the House.

I congratulate H.E. Mr. Russell Dlamini, Deputy Prime Minister, H.E. Thuli Dladla and the entire cabinet and the Presiding officers for your appointments and election.

Elections, new governments and Parliament represent a renewal of mandates, new energy, freshness of ideas and new beginnings. I wish all of you clarity, inspiration and divine guidance as you embark on the mission of actualizing the hopes and aspirations of EmaSwati.

At the recent Sibaya, the citizens were very clear in their submissions: they called for increased economic growth and job creation, improved quality of education, health and public services, addressing corruption, and improved financial management. His Majesty capped it all by declaring poverty a national disaster and charging Government to fight it. His Majesty and the people have spoken, and it falls on all arms of Government to execute the command.

I commend Your Excellency the Prime Mininster for the clear statements you made in your inaugural speech last week on the urgency of addressing poverty, unemployment, corruption, education and technical training, GBV, service delivery, and health services.

Honourable Members,

Your role as lawmakers carries significant responsibility in addressing key development challenges in our beautiful kingdom, unlocking its potential and shaping the future. To do so effectively, I suggest that a key place to start is honing our ability to read and understand the current global environment and what it means for your leadership of the Kingdom’s legislative agenda, guided by the old adage that calls us to ‘Think Globally, Act Locally.’

As we have been constantly reminded, the world is going through multiple and complex crises, including the uneven recovery from COVID-19, reversal in gains against the war on poverty, financial and economic crises, debt distress in many developing countries, geopolitical tensions and mistrust, climate change impacts – the list goes on.

Due to the crises, counties are having to do more with less. Development aid is no longer fashionable or available. We have shifted from ‘funding development’ to ‘financing development’, from ‘development aid or partnerships’ to ‘investment.’ Understanding these nuances is critical for legislators. The answer to such complexity must be our ability to see the interconnections, the manipulable parts that are in our hands and the risks we have to accept or mitigate, and where the opportunities might be. The response to complexity is systems-thinking.

I want to humbly offer some 4 thoughts for your consideration as Parliamnetarians.

First, unlocking Eswatini’s key potential drivers of growth will require legislative attention on such issues as (i) access to finance; (ii) reducing regulatory burdens that constrain businesses; (iii) strengthening the regulatory frameworks to unblock bottlenecks to digital service delivery, with greater emphasis on laws on data protection; cyber security and cybercrimes; (iv) support the introduction of a PPP framework and public procurement regime.

Second, countries need to increase efficiencies at all levels, and legislators’ oversight role is critical. Increasing efficiencies means, among other things, reducing waste and wasteful spending and ensuring that scarce public resources are deployed for the benefit of the EmaSwati. This may require reviewing and supporting measures to reform SOEs, as suggested by a recent World Bank Report.  Specifically, it would be helpful to strengthen the legal framework for a clearer definition of commercial SOEs separate from regulatory agencies.

Efficient would also mean ever better planning of development projects, integrity throughout Government, and curbing corruption. Of course, to be effective in this role, Parliamentarians themselves have to be like Caesar’s wife: way above suspicion!

Third, to effectively work on your important mandate, Parliamentarians will have to continuously sharpen their tools of trade and capacities to fit today’s complexities. Investing in research and learning would help to understand best practices in oversight, representation and legislation. For instance, addressing the issue of youth unemployment will likely require legislative interventions to allow the Kingdom to better leverage digital technologies for transformation; and exploiting the country’s potential in investments and agriculture may require addressing issues of access to industrial and agricultural land in ways that respect Eswatini’s traditional architecture while at the same time ensuring easy and secure access to land.

Fourth, there is need to ensure an empowered and effective parliamentary committees architecture that effectively carries out the detailed work of oversight. Portfolio Committees are indispensable to the role of Parliament and their success would go along way in demonstrating the effectiveness of Parliament.

Finally, Parliamentarians have a role in advancing people-centered policies and legislation to ensure that no one is left behind. Regular engagement with constituents to understand their issues or linyeva, and for them to understand the role of parliamentarians. Regular interactions would enable MPs to be at the fore-front of a focus on social protection, reducing inequalities including rural poverty, service delivery especially to vulnerable populations (disabled, youth, women, elderly, rural poor). 

YE the Prime Minister, the Government and this Parliament has a good foundation of documents, plans, frameworks and policies to build upon in pushing  forward the development agenda of this beautiful kingdom:

• The NDP as the overarching vision and guide for the Kingdom’s development. We in the UN derive all our work from the priorities in the document.
• On the climate crisis, a few days ago, the Kingdom of Eswatini launched an ambitious $1.3 billion implementation plan of the Nationally Determined Contributions within the framework of the Paris Agreement. I warmly congratulate the Government for this commitment.
• On increasing trade and investments: Eswatini launched earlier in the year validated its National Strategy and Implementation Plan for the Africa Continental Free Trade Agreement.
• The ESRAP While Eswatini has been recognized s one of the few counties to present an SDG rescue plan, parliamentary action is needed to ensure that this plan is translated into specific outcomes. 

I would like to acknowledge the great partnership the UN has had with Parliament, especially in the last few years and to thank the outgoing Honorable Speaker of Parliament and Clerk to Parliament for their great work. In the last three, the UN has supported Parliament among others to develop its website and provided equipment and trainings during COVID time, to allow for business continuity and remote working. Parliament was also supported to develop and align its strategic plan with SDGs and the National Development Plan together with a manual developed which I am sure will benefit you tremendously in the 12th Parliament.

Members were also supported to develop and implement and HIV strategic plan. Under the UNs technical support mandate, selected senators have been supported with capacity building the crucial areas including Climate Change and Energy. The recent launch of the Eswatini Youth Empowerment Programme has made it possible for 19 graduates to work at Parliament for the next six months with monthly stipends

And fourthly, as the UN Resident Coordinator, it would be remiss of me if I did not highlight the role of Parliamentarians in the achievement of the SDGs and Agenda 2030.  As Parliamentarians, you have an opportunity, and a constitutional responsibility, to play a significant role in supporting and monitoring SDG implementation. The Agenda 2030 Declaration acknowledges the “essential role of national parliaments through their enactment of legislation and adoption of budgets, and their role in ensuring accountability for the effective implementation of our commitments.”

The successful implementation of Agenda 2030 requires an integrated approach, partnerships and participation through inclusive political processes and responsive, effective, accountable institutions. It will require global and regional exchanges of experiences between countries to identify solutions for planning, budgeting, implementing and monitoring progress toward achieving the

SDGs, as well as tracking where and how funds are spent to curb corruption and assess the impact of these initiatives on the lives of people – especially women and members of marginalized and disadvantaged groups.

Goal 16, known as the ‘Sustaining Peace and Good Governance Goal,’ has special significance for parliamentarians. SDG 16 aims to “promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels."

Honorable Members of Parliament,

Your role as lawmakers is pivotal to the success of our collective endeavours in the country. The laws you enact, amend, and uphold are the foundation upon which the nation's economic progress including in poverty eradication, agriculture, climate action, ICT, gender equality and women’s empowerment, mining, manufacturing, education, vocational training as well as job creation especially for young people will be built as we approach 2030.

Allow me to emphasize two crucial aspects of your role:

First, Lawmaking and facilitative policies: Through the legislative, oversight and representational roles, you have the power to shape the future of Eswatini. Through guiding the legislative agenda, you can help position the Kingdom as the destination of choice for investments. Your decisions have far-reaching implications on the lives of the citizens, and we encourage you to prioritize legislation that fosters sustainable development, social justice, and human rights.

Support the agenda for regional trade and integration: The Africa Continental Free Trade Agreement provides an opportunity for Eswatini to expand its markets and therefore be attractive to investors. Resolving unemployment means job creation. Job creation means attracting investors and facilitating entrepreneurs. Investors and entrepreneurs need to be assured of markets for their products. Parliamentarians play a vital role in poverty reduction by enacting policies and laws that create an enabling environment for economic growth, social inclusion, and the equitable distribution of resources. Your commitment to addressing poverty aligns with His Majesty's declaration of poverty as a national disaster.

The United Nations is committed to collaborating with Honorable Members of Parliament to achieve our shared objectives as we approach the end of the 2030 Agenda for sustainable development. We embrace your hand of partnership and indeed that of His Majesty's Government, Cabinet, Civil Society Organizations, Academia, the Private Sector, Development Partners, and Networks of People furthest left behind. Together, we can build a more resilient, inclusive, and prosperous Eswatini. It is possible!!!

Honorable Members of Parliament,

The UN is committed to ensure that Parliament is equipped to play their oversight role to enhance the efficiency in attainment of SDGs for the kingdom and in the process, ensure that programs prioritize the poorest areas, young people, women, and people living with disabilities.

Your role in shaping policies is critical, and we are committed to providing the needed thought leadership, technical expertise and support in areas related to sustainable development, governance, and human rights.

As you assume your roles within various portfolio committees, we recognize the importance of these committees in driving the development agenda forward. The United Nations System in Eswatini is pleased to offer its support in:

• Policy Engagements and regular consultations to provide technical expertise, share evidence-based insights, and contribute to informed legislative and decision-making.
• Capacity Building and Training in to enhance the capacity of parliamentary committees in areas related to sustainable development, governance, and human rights.
• Information Sharing and provision of timely and relevant information to support parliamentary committees in their oversight functions, ensuring transparency and accountability in the implementation of development programs and
• Collaborative Projects that align with the priorities of parliamentary committees. These projects can serve as models for sustainable development and showcase the impact of collaborative efforts.

Honorable Members of Parliament, as you embark on this noble journey, know that the United Nations System is your steadfast partner in Eswatini's pursuit of sustainable development. Together, we can overcome challenges, seize opportunities, and build a future where every citizen of Eswatini can fulfill their potential.

For every one of you here, others have remained behind to acknowledge your success, and your communities are now attentive to your every word and action: the nation waits in anticipation.

May your tenure in Parliament be marked by wisdom, dedication, and a relentless commitment to the well-being of the people you serve. The United Nations stands with you, ready to support, collaborate, and empower Eswatini on its path to a brighter and more prosperous future.

Thank you for your attention, and I wish you every success in your endeavours.