By Phiwa Sikhondze and Nontokozo Gwebu
The Minister of Information, Communication, and Technology (ICT), Savannah Maziya, has been awarded the prestigious Standard Bank Blue Sheroes Award, a recognition that celebrates her unwavering resilience, impactful leadership, and fierce commitment to uplifting women in Eswatini and beyond.
Presented by Standard Bank representatives Nomawethu Jonga, Communications and CSI lead for Standard Bank Eswatini, and Lomkhosi Alabi, Head of Client Coverage and Transactional Products, the award celebrates the trailblazing efforts of Minister Maziya in shaping a more inclusive and empowered Eswatini.
The Blue Sheroes Awards, aligned with the United Nations International Women’s Day theme, spotlight women who make an impact in their communities and inspire change.
Each year in March, Standard Bank calls on the public to nominate women who embody the spirit of leadership, resilience, and progress. In 2024, Minister Maziya stood out with over 15 nominations on a single platform (Facebook), a testament to the public’s overwhelming support and admiration for her work.
“Every March, we call out to the public to nominate their Blue Sheroes, and this year, the Minister received a remarkable number of nominations,” said Jonga. “It is very telling of how EmaSwati resonate with the work she is doing at the Ministry.”
Although the handover took place after International Women’s Day, the timing was symbolically linked to Mother’s Day, as a belated but heartfelt celebration of a woman widely regarded as a national mentor and role model.
Speaking at the ceremony, Alabi praised the Minister’s dedication to mentoring and empowering women, highlighting her recent initiative where she mentored over 300 women — a gesture that left a lasting impression on the Bank’s leadership and the public alike.
“Despite your demanding schedule, you chose to invest in the next generation of women leaders, entrepreneurs, and professionals. That is remarkable,” Alabi said. “You have proven to be unafraid to chart uncharted ground, and unafraid to be a voice in the midst of all the noise. That is the spirit of a true Shero.”
Presenting the award, Standard Bank reaffirmed that the Blue Sheroes recognition is not merely a corporate accolade, but a tribute from the people.
“This is not from the Bank, it is from the people — Standard Bank only serves as a vessel to deliver their message of thanks and admiration,” Alabi said.
Visibly touched, Minister Maziya expressed her heartfelt gratitude. Drawing on her personal journey and current leadership experience, she shared the harsh realities that many powerful women face — from targeted attacks to character assassination.
“When they can’t come for you personally, they come for your character. And if that doesn’t work, they try to isolate you. But I stand. Because someone has to.”
“If women can stop believing that someone else needs to validate us, if we stop being used to destroy each other — we could build something greater together,” the Minister said.
Her final message was clear: “Good people do win in the end.” She encouraged every girl and young woman to stay true to themselves, work hard, and never shrink to fit into spaces that refuse to embrace their light.