By Percy Simelane.

With no intention to take the wind from the sails of the King by mentioning achievements that are likely to feature in his national address on the day of the official celebration of forty (40) years of his leadership, we wish to highlight some socia-economic achievements that have made Eswatini largely firmer even by global standards under King Mswati III. 

We chose to focus on economic growth, infrastructural development, global recognition and stability. 

When the King ascended the Throne in 1986 the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) stood at 1.5billion United States Dollars (USD), a year ago it was already $70billion, we are not surprised. 

The 1994 United Nations Development Program (UNDP) Population Report did indicate that the standard of living in Eswatini actually was improving better than most countries in the region. 

Our debt has never reached beetroot levels, we still service them pretty well.

During the global economic meltdown which started in Europe and spread to the East, Asia the African continent, we sought to borrow E2.4billion from one of neighbouring countries which we however never got as the potential lender wanted to use it to grind  political change in Eswatini.

Under the leadership of the King, the people of Eswatini didn’t die as it were but lifted ourselves by our own boot straps through numerous programmes such as Rural Development Fund, Youth Development Fund, subsidized farming, Free Primary School Education and improving the mining sector.  

Infrastructure has tremendously improved, we have industrial sheds in all our regions where firms locate to produce goods and offer jobs. 

 Clinics and hospitals are fairly accessible, Eswatini was among the first countries in Africa to put together systems and infrastructure  to combat HIV/AIDS where free Antiretrovirals (ARVs) and condoms were rolled out after the Monarch ventured into fundraising through what was called the King’s Trust Music Festivals featuring world class artists such Eric Clepton, Joan Armatrading and Joathan Butler.

Eswatini halfened new HIV  infections by 50%, three (3) years before the deadline put by the United Nations (UN).

But by that time, 94% of people living with HIV were getting free ARVs and of this figure 90% were virally supressed and the last 6% didn't need ARs yet. 

The King initiated children meals kitchens around the country and encouraged free education for orphans and vulnerable children as he declared the pandemic a national disaster, both are working pretty well.

The number of tarred roads has improved and we compete fairly with most countries in the region, recent inspections indicated that we are left with about 300km in our initial targets.

Erratic Weather Conditions continue to be a decayed spot in the backbone of Eswatini’s infrastructure development affecting our dirt roads but, there is always disaster funds to alleviate the situation. 

All the eleven (11) Border Gates are easily accessible which results in timely deliveries of goods, in and out of Eswatini, the staple food, bread and petrol are subsidized in Swatini, so is medication .

The King has chaired several global nitiatives to ensure socio-economic  world order, including heading the Malaria Control Task Team and Chairing Southern African Development Community (SADC) Troika on Politics, Peace and Security, he is about to assume that responsibility again.  

Last but not least, Eswatini is still not in the  list of potential coup or conflict countries of the world, it still has not experienced civil war.