Eswatini has officially begun developing a combined national strategy for the Fourth and Fifth Industrial Revolutions (4IR and 5IR), marking what the government describes as a major turning point in the country’s journey toward becoming a fully industrialized and first-world economy.
Speaking during a national consultative workshop held today at The George Hotel, Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Information, Communications, and Technology (ICT), Andreas Dlamini, said the exercise represents a “serious national challenge” that will shape the future of Eswatini’s economic competitiveness and the well-being of its citizens.
“We are here to shape the future of our economy and the destiny of our people,” he said. “Participation in the 4IR and 5IR is not just about adopting new technologies, it’s about designing our systems for a vibrant and productive economy.”
The PS noted that Eswatini’s long-term economic outlook relies on shifting workers and industries from low-value activities to high-value production driven by digital technologies. He highlighted that tools like artificial intelligence, automation, data analytics, and the Internet of Things (IoT) can help create sustainable, better-paying jobs and enable Eswatini to compete globally.
No country, he warned, has successfully leveraged the 4IR without strong policy frameworks, citing South Korea, Germany, and Singapore as examples of nations that intentionally designed and managed their digital transformation through solid legislation, R&D investment, and strategic planning.
Their example should serve as our lesson,” he added. “Eswatini needs to take its proper place among progressive nations.
Alongside the development of the 4IR/5IR strategy, the government is also reviewing the National Science, Technology, and Innovation (STI) Policy to ensure it aligns with emerging technologies and modern development needs.
The PS emphasized that innovation must be fueled by robust research capacity, stating that establishing a National Research Council is vital to strengthening foundational research and developing new scientific knowledge to support future technological advances.
Dlamini highlighted several ongoing digitalization projects as proof that Eswatini has already started preparing for this transformation. One of the main programs is the Government in Your Hand initiative, which aims to digitize public services and make them accessible on citizens’ mobile devices.
The Ministry has successfully moved a large number of high-demand services to the central platform,” he said, noting that the change is improving turnaround times and restoring citizens’ dignity by reducing long queues and paperwork.
The government also envisions digital innovations across key sectors, including:
• Smart health services to improve medical access in remote areas
• Digitalized education and Education 5.0 to produce future-ready graduates
• AI-powered smart agriculture to increase yields and enhance food security
• Smart grid technologies for water and energy efficiency
• Expanded E-commerce ecosystems to link SMEs with global markets
“These are the building blocks of a modern digital economy,” he said.
Increased digitalisation brings greater cybersecurity risks. The PS highlighted that Eswatini has already put in place strong legal frameworks, including the Computer Crime and Cybercrime Act (2022) and the Data Protection Act (2022), to safeguard national interests.
He also raised concerns about big data governance, cross-border data flows, and the need for e-commerce rules that protect SMEs and ensure fair taxation in digital trade.
“We need clear rules that support data sovereignty,” he stressed. “We must decide where our data resides and who can access it.”
The PS emphasised that the success of the strategy depends on strong collaboration across all sectors, including health, education, agriculture, trade, and youth development, as well as the private sector, civil society, and development partners.
He also thanked ESEPARC for leading the technical work behind the policy development, describing their involvement as critical to ensuring world-class, evidence-driven strategies.
“Above all, our success depends on an integrated national effort,” he said. “This work is not for the Ministry alone.”