BY THEMBA ZWANE
LOBAMBA – Members of Parliament (MPs) have thrown their weight behind the government’s digitalisation loan bills, saying the legislation could help address challenges faced by emaSwati at foreign-owned shops while also creating new employment opportunities for young people.
Mhlangatane Member of Parliament Madala Mhlanga, who is also Deputy Speaker of the House of Assembly and Chairperson of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), strongly supported the International Development Association (Digital Eswatini Project under the Inclusive Digitisation in Eastern and Southern Africa Multiphase Programmatic Approach Programme) Loan Bill No. 14 of 2026 and the Inclusive Digitisation in Eastern and Southern Africa Multiphase Programmatic Approach Programme Loan Bill No. 15 of 2026.
He also supported the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (Eswatini Post and Telecommunications Corporation) Loan Guarantee Bill No. 13 of 2026, which were presented by Minister of Finance Neal Rijkenberg during the Second Reading of the three Bills in Parliament.
Mhlanga said his support for the digitalisation-related Bills was largely driven by the potential of digital systems to address problems experienced by consumers when making payments at some foreign-owned shops.
“The digitalisation bill will help address the issues of foreign shops owners refusing emaSwati the right to swipe when purchasing items at their shops. The bill will help bring this problem to a stop or halt,” said Mhlanga.
The Deputy Speaker said the proposed digitalisation initiatives could therefore have a direct impact on how businesses conduct transactions and how consumers access payment services.
Mhlanga further said the country was losing tax revenue because some foreign-owned businesses refused to allow emaSwati to swipe when making purchases at their shops.
Mhlanga also used the debate to seek clarity from the Minister of Finance on the number of loan Bills still expected to be tabled in Parliament during the current financial year, particularly those relating to budget support.
He said Parliament would also need to interrogate the government’s ability to settle outstanding payments to suppliers.
The MP said the issue of failure to pay suppliers was likely to remain a pertinent question that would continue arising in the House as legislators scrutinise government finances and borrowing.
Meanwhile, Ngudzeni Member of Parliament Charles Ndlovu also expressed support for the EPTC Bill and the Bills dealing with digitalisation.
Ndlovu linked the digitalisation agenda directly to Eswatini’s youth unemployment challenge, arguing that greater access to digital technology could create opportunities for young people beyond traditional employment.
“I support the digitisation bill more especially with the serious issue of youth unemployment which is said to be at about 64 per cent. Most countries had sorted this issue out through digitisation, i.e. content creation,” he said.
Ndlovu said digitalisation could provide young emaSwati with opportunities to earn a living through content creation and other technology-driven activities.
He further called for digital inclusion in rural areas, saying pupils in rural schools should not be left behind as the country expands access to technology.
The MP said learners in rural schools should have access to ICT gadgets and classes in the same manner as pupils in urban schools.
The debate on the three Bills places digital transformation at the centre of Parliament’s consideration of new borrowing, with MPs highlighting both the economic and social opportunities that could come from expanding Eswatini’s digital infrastructure.
The proposed measures involving the International Development Association and the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development are linked to digitalisation initiatives, including the Digital Eswatini Project and financing involving the Eswatini Post and Telecommunications Corporation.
For MPs supporting the Bills, the digitalisation drive is therefore not only about improving technology infrastructure but also about addressing everyday challenges faced by consumers, expanding opportunities for young people and ensuring that rural learners participate in the country’s digital economy.
The parliamentary debate also brought financial accountability into focus, particularly the need for clarity on further borrowing and government support as legislators consider the country’s financial commitments.
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