The Minister of Information, Communication, and Technology (ICT), Savannah Maziya, has urged EmaSwati to embrace the partnership with tech giant Google and dismiss unfounded rumours that the US-based company aims to steal national data.
Maziya made the remarks during the launch of the Eswatini Coders Programme held at the Ministry earlier today.
Responding to concerns and rumours about Google’s intentions in Eswatini, she acknowledged public unease but firmly dismissed insinuations that the company poses a threat, instead framing the partnership as a significant achievement for the kingdom.
“It takes a lot of work to convince massive companies like Google to come here. Google is a top-five company in the world, with a market capitalisation of $2.5 trillion US dollars,” she said. “They would not risk that market capitalisation to come and steal our information. Their entire business model is built on securing information.”
The Minister added that the partnership with Google also enhances the kingdom’s international credibility.
“Attracting a global ‘hyperscaler’ (a major computing provider like Google) validates the kingdom’s potential and signals to other major investors that Eswatini is a serious, trustworthy partner,” she said.
“Such international partnerships show that our kingdom is punching above its weight. Name associations are important for us. They show the world that even with our small population, we can attract top-tier partners.”
Maziya also hinted at imminent announcements involving other major players drawn by Google’s presence in Eswatini. “This Google partnership holds broader economic benefits, including the upcoming Google Academy, which promises significant training opportunities surpassing existing programs for Emaswati,” she said.
She further warned that baseless accusations could jeopardise these vital relationships and future investments.
“Let’s treat Google and other partners with respect,” she implored. “Let’s ensure we don’t accuse them of things they are not going to do and have not done. We must operate on the principle of innocent until proven guilty, not guilty until proven innocent.”
Maziya added that the partnership was foundational and will also attract smaller “add-on” companies, creating a tech ecosystem. This credibility, she argued, is essential for institutions like the Eswatini Investment Promotion Authority (EIPA) to attract further foreign investment.
“Google is not here to steal information; they are here to partner with us so we can be better,” Maziya concluded. “This is a starting point. Let’s support this initiative. Don’t fall into the trap of politicising something fundamentally good for Eswatini. It’s a big step for us to act like the big country we aspire to be.”