How Africa
Last month, eSwatini’s King Mswati appointed the Chief Executive of the local unit of telecoms group MTN, Ambrose Dlamini, as new prime minister of the country.
During the announcement of Ambrose Dlamini’s appointment, a visibly excited King Mswati said:
“The heavens told me that the person I will appoint should have your support and cooperation. You should cooperate with him so that tomorrow you don’t turn around and say the king gave you someone who knows nothing.”
The king has not hidden his excitement on the appointment and is very positive that it is one that aligns with his reforms and further take governance to the people of eSwatini.
The country is Africa’s last absolute monarch and was until recently called Swaziland.
Ambrose Dlamini replaced Sibusiso Dlamini, the former Prime Minister who died in office a month before.
In what is his first major policy reform, the newly-appointed prime minister of eSwatini has placed a ban on first class air travel for top government officials in the country.
This he said was one of many ways which he hopes to recuperate the much needed funds and control spending.
The new Prime Minister also earned praise from citizens and pundits when he announced that he will not buy a new car for himself upon assuming office but will inherit the old vehicle used by his predecessor, Sibusiso Dlamini as the economy battles slowing growth.
Speaking on the ban, he said:
“Following the current economic challenges facing the kingdom, cabinet has decided to implement major interim fiscal decisions to enhance financial prudence and controls so as to spend as little money as possible.
“All government officials will no longer travel first class but in business class when flying on national duties”.
“All other public servants will fly in economy class. All foreign trips by government officials would be vetted to ensure they were of national importance.”
You will recall that the country surprised the world in April this year when King Mswati III announced that to mark the country’s 50 years independence from British colonial rule, they would change their name from Swaziland to eSwatini meaning “land of the Swazis”.
It is believed that these and other measures by government will help the country battle its high rate of poverty which resulted from declining government revenue in the past few years.
