By Phiwa Sikhondze
The Minister of Information, Communications, and Technology, Savannah Maziya, has urged the private sector to collaborate with the government for a better working environment, saying that it is vital for the development of the country and the growth of businesses.
The Minister made the call on Thursday in a breakfast meeting with ICT industry players at the Business Eswatini offices. The meeting was aimed at discussing the challenges and opportunities in the ICT sector, as well as the government’s strategy to improve access to government services through digitization.
Accompanying the Minister was the Principal Secretary in the Ministry, Mr. Phesheya Dube, and senior officers from the Ministry. The meeting was at the behest of the Minister who wanted to consult with ICT sector players to have a first-hand account of their needs as the ministry prepares its work plan for the term.
Representing the ICT industry were companies from the telecommunications, Internet Service Providers, and Banking fraternity.
Leading proceedings was the Chairperson of the ICT industry under Business Eswatini, Mr. Wandile Mtshali who is assisted by Mr. Ali Resting.
The Minister touched base with the stakeholders to attempt to find out what challenges they are facing, especially in the area of digitization, where the government can do better.
“So today I came to find out a few things. First of all, what challenges are you facing, especially in this area of digitization? Where can we do better? And then talk to you about what we are planning to do, and see if there’s any kind of compromise and synergistic stuff that we could be able to discuss. And then lastly, how can we work together to be able to ensure that what we all want comes to pass?” she asked.
The CEO of MTN Eswatini, Wandile Mtshali, echoed the Minister’s sentiments stating that it is an honour for them as an ICT sector in the kingdom to have a Minister like her at the forefront.
“We need to emphasize the point that whatever the strategy that you’re going to come up with as a Ministry, we need to make sure that we are behind it and we support it by all means, because if it is successful, then the ICT sector becomes a successful as well,” Mtshali said.
Mtshali further emphasized that the topic that the Minister raised around digitization will make a lot of things easier for the government and the entire nation. With digitization.