BY THEMBA ZWANE
MBABANE – Government has hailed His Majesty King Mswati III for his vision and leadership in facilitating the establishment of a fully-fledged Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) presence in Eswatini.
Minister of Agriculture Mandla Tshawuka said the establishment of a dedicated FAO country representation in the Kingdom was a direct result of the King’s intervention during his visit to Italy in 2024, where he participated in the World Food Forum.
Tshawuka made the remarks on October 1, 2026 at the Ministry of Agriculture Conference Room during the official unveiling of Rosanne Marchesich as the new FAO Representative to the Kingdom of Eswatini.
The Minister said the development was significant because it stemmed directly from the King’s vision to ensure that FAO programmes and activities addressing Eswatini’s agricultural and food-related priorities could be planned, governed and implemented from within the country.
“We know that everything that we do, we do under his guidance and his leadership, but this one to him personally and we are very happy that today it comes to fruition,” Tshawuka said.
He explained that during the King’s 2024 visit to Italy, His Majesty delivered a keynote address at the World Food Forum before holding a side meeting with the FAO Director-General.
According to Tshawuka, it was during that engagement that the King articulated his desire for Eswatini to have a fully-fledged FAO office, including a dedicated country representative.
The Minister said an agreement was subsequently reached between the two leaders, after which government officials were tasked with taking the process forward.
“We then came back home and drafted an agreement which was duly signed by the right authorities,” Tshawuka said.
He said following the signing of the agreement, Eswatini was formally recognised by FAO as a country whose programmes and issues would be handled by a representative dedicated specifically to the Kingdom.
The appointment of Marchesich therefore marks an important step in the implementation of that vision.
Tshawuka said the new FAO Representative would work closely with government in planning programmes and activities aimed at creating the desired impact in the Kingdom.
“We are going to engage together in terms of planning the programmes and activities that need to happen to have the right impact in this Kingdom,” he said.
The Minister further disclosed that government’s long-term objective was for FAO to eventually establish its own physical offices in Eswatini.
He acknowledged that establishing such a structure would require time and effort, but expressed confidence that it could be achieved within the shortest possible period.
“We are aware that one of the most important things that His Majesty has tasked us with is to make sure that FAO ultimately has a structure in the Kingdom, their own offices,” Tshawuka said.
He described the government’s approach as operating under what he referred to as the “Nkwe” Mandate given by His Majesty, saying this had helped drive efforts to translate the King’s vision into practical programmes.
Tshawuka also expressed confidence in Marchesich’s ability to take FAO activities forward in Eswatini and strengthen cooperation between the United Nations agency and the Kingdom.
The Minister also used the occasion to recognise the contribution of Howard Velibanti Mbuyisa, who served in an acting capacity while FAO undertook the process of recruiting a fully-fledged representative for Eswatini.
Mbuyisa is the Assistant FAO Representative (Programme).
Tshawuka commended Mbuyisa for the work he had done in keeping FAO programmes moving during the transition period.
“I must also take the opportunity to thank Mr Mbuyisa, who has been holding fort while FAO was recruiting the fully-fledged FAO representative in the country. He has done a sterling job,” the Minister said.
He encouraged Mbuyisa to continue growing in his role and contributing to the development of the country, the region and the international community.
The arrival of a dedicated FAO Representative is expected to provide a strengthened platform for collaboration between the Government of Eswatini and the UN agency on agriculture, food security and related development priorities.
For government, the development also represents the fruition of an initiative that began with the King’s engagement with FAO leadership in Italy in 2024.
Tshawuka said the government was pleased that the King’s vision had now translated into a concrete institutional development, with Marchesich taking up the responsibility of leading FAO’s country representation in Eswatini.
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