By Bongiwe Dlamini

LOBAMBA:King Mswati has expressed concerns about hailstorms and the other escalating effects of climate-change.

Delivering his Speech from the Throne in Parliament last week,the King urged Government to strengthen early warning services.

Mitigating the effects of climate change forms part of the United Nations(UN) Sustainable Development Goals(SGDs) that seeks to advocate for a better life for all by 2030, thousands of families at Ngculwini, Mbabane and other areas had their properties destroyed by the recent storms.

 “Extreme weather is becoming more frequent and intense in Eswatini, eroding economic achievements. Last year and recently, mild cyclones, hailstorms, and windstorms destroyed infrastructure, crops and animals across the kingdom. Government is committed to strengthening early warning services, catastrophe risk reduction and management to mitigate the extreme weather and climate change effects.” said the King.

On another note, George Wachira,the United Nations(UN) Resident Coordinator applauded King Mswati’s Speech from the Throne delivered during the official opening of Parliament that further touched on issues of climate change.

In a public statement sent to this Swaziland News on Monday afternoon by the UN Eswatini Communications Office,the Resident Coordinator said,the speech spanned several critical issues which are key in improving the welfare of the people and progress of the Kingdom while demonstrating a resolve to address the concerns raised by citizens during Sibaya last year. 

“His Majesty also reaffirmed Eswatini’s commitment to global agendas,including the Sustainable Development Goals(SDGs)and the African Union Agenda 2063.The UN notes in particular His Majesty’s focus on the need to grow the economy;bolstering infrastructure development,particularly in ICT; improving the business environment especially for SMEs;resolving the challenges hindering access to quality healthcare;tackling youth unemployment through quality education,entrepreneurship and skills development;ensuring energy security; addressing climate change,environmental management and disaster preparedness”,,said the UN Eswatini Resident Coordinator through the public statement sent to this publication.