BY TANDZILE DLAMINI
MBABANE– The Deputy Prime Minister’s Office, together with the Ministry of Health, World Vision Eswatini, Baylor Foundation, REPS and traditional leaders, on 29 April 2026 led the Kuyenteka Shiselo Teenage Pregnancy Campaign at Ngudzeni FEA Sports Ground following a community march.
The campaign brought together community members, young people and leaders to address teenage pregnancy and step up efforts to keep learners in school, with stakeholders stressing the protection of the “child student” as a national priority. The Shiselweni Region remains among the most affected areas, recording a teenage pregnancy rate of 20% , while Ngudzeni stands at 30%.
Deputy Prime Minister Thulisile Dladla urged young people to avoid early sexual activity and focus on education, saying, “Ungawujaki umdzaka litulu lingakani.” She also called on parents to take an active role in guiding their children and warned against overreliance on mobile phones, saying it exposes children to harmful influences.
“Engaging in early sexual activities impacts your future, leading to school dropouts and later divorces. Some of us are what we are today because we dedicated ourselves to education. Education never disappoints, it is a direction to a better future,” said the Deputy Prime Minister.
Member of Parliament Charles Ndlovu called for unity in addressing the challenge, saying, “Let us hold hands as a nation to ensure that every liSwati’s future is secured.”
The campaign follows a related initiative held over the weekend, where World Vision Eswatini joined the Pastors’ Wives Foundation during its sixth annual conference for the launch of the “Mothers of the Nation” programme aimed at preventing teenage pregnancy and supporting affected adolescents.
The initiative, themed “Restored, Resilient and Radiant to Lead,” was inspired by discussions with the Deputy Prime Minister, who called for stronger church involvement in promoting values that discourage pre marital sex and its consequences. World Vision also participated in panel discussions on gender based violence alongside SWAGAA and UNFPA Eswatini, where emphasis was placed on speaking out, protecting children in vulnerable homes and strengthening community response to abuse.
The campaign and related initiatives reflect growing national efforts to reduce teenage pregnancy and keep learners focused on education as a pathway to a secure future.
(Courtesy Pic)
