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MBABANE - Senator Khanyisile Malambe has called upon the Ministry of Information, Communication and Technology (ICT) to give priority to rural schools and communities when distributing laptops for ICT.

The senator noted that the urban schools had access to the gadgets, as compared to those in the rural areas.

To that, the ministry responded by stating that the beneficiaries of the gadgets were identified by the Ministry of Education and Training.

Budget

“These (beneficiaries) are mainly rural and underprivileged schools,” stated the ICT Ministry in its annual performance report and budget estimates for the financial year 2022/23.

Also, according to the report, Eswatini and the Republic of South Africa have signed a memorandum of agreement (MoU) that will bring about a Cross Border Radio Frequency Management.

It states that already two instruments had been signed between the two countries.

“They (instruments) are now awaiting the minister’s endorsement,” the report states.

The report was a response to a question by Senator Busie Dlamini who asked the ministry to be updated on the status of the MoU between Eswatini and the Republic of South Africa – Cross Border Management.

Completion

Senator Dlamini’s other concern was that the ministry should make a supplementary budget request in the next financial year so that the completion of the construction of the Royal Science and Technology Park (RSTP) could be expedited.

On that, the ministry’s report stated that the Ministry of Economic Planning and Development would be advised in that regard.