BY GCWALISILE MHLABANE
EZULWINI – For many farmers in Eswatini, losing a single cow is not just a financial setback—it represents years of hard work, household security, and cultural value. It is within this reality that Eswatini has welcomed a new livestock tracking innovation designed by MTN Eswatini to help tackle stock theft and strengthen rural farming through real-time digital monitoring.
The solution was officially launched by the Minister of Information, Communications and Technology, Savannah Maziya, during a national digital transformation event held at the Happy Valley Hotel in Ezulwini on June 17, 2026. The launch also introduced additional digital platforms aimed at strengthening healthcare delivery and expanding opportunities in the creative economy.
At the centre of the agricultural rollout is a smart livestock tracking system that allows farmers to monitor their animals in real time, reduce stock theft incidents, and improve herd management across rural and communal farming areas. The system is expected to enhance response times when livestock go missing and improve coordination between farmers and authorities during recovery efforts.
Agriculture remains one of Eswatini’s most important economic pillars, supporting thousands of households that depend on livestock as both an income source and a cultural asset. However, stock theft continues to be a serious challenge, with cattle often lost in vast grazing areas or moved across borders, resulting in significant financial losses for farmers.
The new technology introduces real-time monitoring and alert systems that notify farmers when livestock move into high-risk areas such as roads, unfenced zones, or unsafe boundaries. Officials said the initiative reflects government’s commitment to using innovation to address real-life challenges affecting emaSwati, particularly in rural communities.
Speaking during the launch, Minister of ICT Savannah Maziya said government had taken deliberate steps to ensure the solution is affordable and accessible to farmers across the country, with the monthly cost structured to be less than E100. She emphasized that affordability was central to the design of the service, saying: “This has been done so that affordability is not a barrier. Farmers must be able to access this service at a cost that is within reach, because the goal is inclusion and impact.”
She further noted that digital transformation must directly benefit rural communities and ensure that no farmer is left behind in Eswatini’s growing digital economy.
Hhohho Regional Veterinary Officer, Dr. Thembi Ndlangamandla, welcomed the innovation, describing it as a timely intervention that could significantly improve livestock management and rural service delivery.
She said it was encouraging to see technology finally reaching ordinary farmers in rural areas, noting that the solution directly addresses their daily challenges. Dr. Ndlangamandla added that if such a system had been introduced earlier, it could have helped address livestock-related challenges such as foot and mouth disease more effectively. “How I wish such a product was introduced last year. We would not even be talking about foot and mouth disease, we would have dealt with it so much earlier,” Ndlangamandla stated.
She further explained that the innovation is inclusive and benefits all age groups, from young, tech-savvy farmers to elderly livestock owners in rural communities. She also highlighted that emergencies often occur at night when access to help is limited, stressing that digital tools like the new system would improve response times. She concluded by thanking MTN Eswatini and partners, saying: “MTN, thank you so much for thinking about the nation and coming up with such a wonderful product. Siyabonga kakhulu.”
The launch marks a significant step toward smarter agriculture in Eswatini, strengthening livestock protection, reducing losses from stock theft, and improving rural livelihoods through technology-driven solutions.
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