BY GCWALISILE MHLABANE
MANZINI – The drive to turn Eswatini’s economic growth into real jobs and broader opportunities for citizens came into sharp focus on June 24, 2026, as the Ministry of Economic Planning and Development led a National Development Plan (NDP) progress review aimed at assessing performance and strengthening the country’s development response.
Held at the George Hotel through the Ministry’s Poverty Reduction, Monitoring and Evaluation Unit, the National Development Plan Progress Report Validation Workshop brought together senior government officials, planners from various ministries, representatives from the private sector and development practitioners to review and validate progress made in implementing the National Development Plan 2023/24–2027/28.
The workshop provided a key platform for stakeholders to assess Eswatini’s development performance, validate findings contained in the progress report, and contribute to evidence-based discussions aimed at accelerating the achievement of national development priorities.
Speaking on behalf of the Chief Economist, Principal Economist Lungile Mndzebele said the validation exercise plays an important role in strengthening accountability and improving national planning systems. She emphasized that the National Development Plan remains the country’s overarching development framework, guiding priorities and interventions throughout the five-year implementation period.
“The NDP is a guiding document that informs the country’s development trajectory. As a ministry, it is our responsibility to track the progress that the country is making and ensure that development interventions remain aligned to national priorities,” she said.
She further explained that the validation workshop is essential in ensuring that the progress report reflects an accurate and credible picture of implementation, while also incorporating the insights of stakeholders involved in delivering development programmes across sectors.
During the workshop, ministry consultant Nokwazi Mathabela outlined the objectives of the NDP Progress Report, noting that it seeks to assess Eswatini’s progress towards achieving the National Development Plan goals during the 2023/24 and 2024/25 financial years.
She said the report also examines the extent to which government programmes and policies have achieved their intended outcomes, identifies emerging trends, documents achievements and best practices, and highlights areas requiring accelerated intervention if the country is to meet its NDP targets.
Mathabela added that the report is designed to strengthen accountability to Parliament, civil society, development partners and citizens, while also reinforcing evidence-based planning and integrated decision-making across government institutions.
Presentations during the workshop highlighted progress made under various National Outcomes, while also pointing to challenges that continue to require coordinated and targeted policy responses.
A key moment of discussion emerged during the question-and-answer session when participant Sibusiso Lushaba raised concerns about the relationship between economic growth and employment creation.
He noted that under National Outcome 1, Eswatini’s economic growth rate has reached approximately three per cent, showing positive movement towards the national target of five per cent. However, under National Outcome 2, unemployment continues to rise instead of decline.
Lushaba questioned what this trend reveals about the link between economic growth and job creation in Eswatini, and why improvements in economic performance are not yet translating into stronger employment outcomes.
He further challenged stakeholders to consider what policy interventions could be introduced to ensure that future economic growth becomes more inclusive and capable of generating sustainable and meaningful employment opportunities for emaSwati.
The discussion that followed highlighted a shared understanding among participants that economic growth must translate into real improvements in people’s lives.
Stakeholders emphasized the importance of inclusive growth, noting the need to strengthen productive sectors of the economy, attract investment, accelerate industrial development, support entrepreneurship, and enhance skills development.
They also stressed the importance of ensuring that macroeconomic gains are effectively translated into tangible benefits for ordinary citizens, particularly young people and job seekers.
The workshop reinforced the importance of evidence-based policymaking as Eswatini continues to implement the National Development Plan. The inclusive engagement allowed stakeholders to reflect on progress made, identify gaps, and propose solutions for improved delivery.
The workshop also served as a reminder that national development is not only measured by targets, but by real improvements in livelihoods and opportunities.
As Eswatini advances implementation of the National Development Plan, stakeholders reaffirmed the importance of continuous monitoring, honest assessment, and stronger collaboration.
With the NDP serving as the country’s roadmap for transformation, the message was clear: growth must be inclusive, job-creating, and responsive to the needs of emaSwati.
#Tags: #NationalDevelopmentPlan #NDP2023_2028 #EconomicPlanning #InclusiveGrowth #JobCreation #Eswatini
