By Sizwe Dlamini
The Minister of Information, Communications, and Technology (ICT), Savannah Maziya, has been appointed as the Chairperson for the 5th Pillar of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which focuses on Women’s Empowerment.
Her leadership is particularly notable as she takes this role in 2025, a year that marks 30 years since the Beijing Conference in 1995.
In her speech, at the World Government Summit in Dubai, Minister Maziya expressed her deep sense of honor and responsibility in taking on the role of Chairperson for the next two years.
“We all sit here today as a result of mothers. Women represent half of the world’s population. We hold up half the sky, and it is only right that we are part of the solutions and benefits,” she said.
Maziya’s focus will be to ensure that women are included not only in the decision-making processes of SDG initiatives but also in the execution of these global strategies.
Maziya is committed to using technology and STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) as powerful tools for empowering women, particularly in Eswatini.
“Technology and digitization are key equalizers that can create new opportunities for women. In Eswatini, we are already seeing how women are breaking barriers and making strides in the digital space, and this is a model I am excited to promote globally,” she stated.
The Minister emphasized the need for equal pay for equal work, and access to education, as well as the importance of abolishing sexual and domestic violence, issues that remain critical in the global fight for gender equality.
“By elevating women and ensuring their active participation in all aspects of SDGs, we create a more peaceful, caring, and equal world. We are also advocating for more dynamic financial products, and lending practices suited for women,” Maziya asserted.
Maziya also noted the necessity of a new kind of leadership—one that is fully inclusive, eliminating discrimination, and giving women a voice equal to their demographic significance in the world.
Speaking to this publication, the Communications Officer at the Ministry of ICT, Gugu Nkambule, highlighted that Minister Maziya’s work will not only position Eswatini as a leader in women empowerment but will also serve as a model for other countries.
“The Minister’s appointment is an important step in positioning Eswatini as a key player in the global effort for gender equality and women empowerment, with the nation’s focus on technology and STEM providing a unique opportunity for the rest of the world to learn from and draw inspiration. The Minister’s vision is to use digitization as a tool to bridge gaps and open new doors for women across the globe,” she said.
Nkambule added that the Minister aims to increase the success rate of SDG 5, which currently stands at 17%, by focusing on practical solutions, collaboration, and innovation.
She emphasized that Maziya’s vision will undoubtedly make a tangible impact on women’s lives, not only in Eswatini but across the globe.