King sets right tone for youth
THERE is an air of optimism engulfing the year 2024. Last Friday’s Speech from the Throne by His Majesty King Mswati III has indeed set the tone for what promises to be a year of accelerated development, including for the youth—the torch bearers of tomorrow.
The speech is one that every young person needs to download, digest and then look at where they feature in terms of the development focus for 2024. It is a blueprint of a spectrum of opportunities that lie ahead. Immediately after the Parliament opening event, I got a call from Eswatini TV to share my thoughts on the speech, regarding youth empowerment. This call, I presume, comes after I had written numerous times on this page about the need to engage the youth more on the country’s development agenda. The reporter also stated that they had noted my work in the youth space, especially regarding mentoring. This work dates back over a decade and has seen numerous mentees churned out and having sustainable businesses. This work has been done through critical partners like Junior Achievement Eswatini and others. I was indeed keen on the direction for the year and had been watching with interest the speech. Certainly, it touched on key pillars, and what captured me the most was the dedication to young people in its own space in the address, in terms of paragraphs, not just one line. That intent shows just how key the role youth play in the country’s development.
Under the heading Creating Opportunities
for Youth, His Majesty eloquently stated that the youth stand as the architects of our nation’s future and are at the core of the country’s vision to make Eswatini a world-class country.
MESSAGE
How I wish we could have a billboard in the capital city centre sponsored by the private sector amplifying this message and reminding the youth that beyond ‘groove’ and ‘bev’ they have a more significant role in the country’s development. The King noted that the daunting spectre of unemployment engulfs more than half of them, presenting a formidable challenge that requires immediate attention. This statement shows that youth unemployment is a national concern and that leadership is urgently addressing it.
“It is imperative that we steadfastly continue to forge pathways and opportunities for our young people. Eswatini has spearheaded numerous initiatives, such as the youth fund, rural development fund, and small-scale and export guarantee schemes. These endeavours are designed to facilitate access to financing, enabling young entrepreneurs to initiate businesses and, in turn, create employment opportunities,” he said. The King also noted that we cannot emphasise enough the role of quality education and skills development in paving our path to the shared prosperity that we have envisioned. “Creating employment opportunities for our young people hinges on the quality of education, right from the lowest grade to the highest level. We extend heartfelt gratitude to all our development partners who have been unwavering in supporting government’s efforts,” the King said. He added that the country will continue with her full participation, and we shall learn from the great experiences we get in our interactions with our international and regional organisations. These encouraging statements mean we must hit the ground running in 2024, to address youth challenges more than ever.
What I also noted was that each of the key sectors highlighted in the speech also spoke to the youth in one way or another. For example, the issue of ease of doing business has been a pebble in the shoes of young people and it was addressed. “Simplifying the process of registration for SMEs should be considered by implementing digital solutions as well as reducing the tax compliance burden for small, emerging businesses,” the King said. This, is perhaps one of the most urgent of all issues affecting young people and the sooner it is addressed the quicker, youth will get to play a role in the development of the country and themselves.
IMPACT
Preparing this feature, I was touched by this paragraph describing the impact of youth in society. “The youth, often referred to as the ‘torchbearers of tomorrow’, hold within them an innate capacity to transform societies, challenge norms, and catalyse positive shifts in every sphere of life. With their boundless energy, fresh perspectives, and unwavering enthusiasm, young people possess the power to be architects of change, shaping the destiny of nations and the trajectory of humanity. Their ability to embrace technology, adapt to new paradigms, and envision a world unconstrained by conventional boundaries makes them a force to be reckoned with,” it read. This is from an online magazine called Pratidintime. It just sums up why, more than ever, each year should be the year of the youth.
His Majesty has also reminded the nation that we must put unity first, whatever goals and visions we may have. We need to collaborate towards success, not to be divided. “We shall realise prosperity if we all pull together with the new parliamentarians in their efforts to tackle the challenges ahead and pave the way for a prosperous future for generations to come. Instead of fixating on the bickering that hinders our progress, let us direct our attention and energies towards discovering sustainable solutions,” he said. He added that this will fortify our economy, elevate our social well-being, provide job creation, improve healthcare, and reinforce other crucial sectors, thus paving the path for a bright future for the nation.
Most importantly, he emphasised that we must put respect on a pedestal in all our endeavours, as it is a characteristic that defines our identity as emaSwati. “Let us spring to action and target attaining above five per cent economic growth whilst tackling the pressing issues of poverty, unemployment and service delivery. For government to address these key national challenges ‘akagijime atsi nkwe!’ we can overcome it, and we know this, because when we come together with a shared purpose and each person plays their part, we can move mountains. Unity is our strength!” the King said.
These statements, part of a rich Speech from the Throne, are just but a few of the essential messages and directives for 2024. One cannot dissect each of them, nor will I paraphrase them. One can only invite you to visit the government website and read the tone for 2024 for free. Position yourself to play a role in national development and accelerate efforts to empower the young people of Eswatini.
We thank His Majesty for the wise vision and direction for the year and look forward to the implementation. We all have a role to play.