BY PHUMELELE GAMEDZE
MBABANE– Deputy Prime Minister Thulisile Dladla has called on households across the Lubombo Region to cooperate with enumerators as the E41.7 million socioeconomic data collection exercise gets underway.
Speaking at Lomahasha Inkhundla today, Dladla said the National Dynamic Social Registry
Imbeleko would provide Government with reliable information needed to improve service delivery and ensure that assistance reaches emaSwati who need it most.
The exercise is the second rollout of Imbeleko following the successful pilot conducted in the Shiselweni Region last year. Lubombo will deploy 254 trained enumerators, while Hhohho and Manzini are expected to follow.
Funded by the World Bank to the tune of E41.7 million, Imbeleko is a scientific tool designed to objectively identify households according to specific socioeconomic characteristics, particularly poor and vulnerable families who may qualify for targeted social sector programmes.
Dladla said accurate information would help Government move away from assumptions and strengthen evidence-based decision-making when designing and delivering programmes.
She explained that the registry would improve transparency, accountability, efficiency, effectiveness and equity in social protection programmes. It is also expected to strengthen targeting, reduce the inclusion of undeserving beneficiaries and improve coordination and management of social data.
“Imbeleko is about ensuring that Government has the right information to make the right decisions for the people,” Dladla said.
The DPM highlighted findings from the Shiselweni assessment, which exposed significant socioeconomic challenges, including high levels of poverty, youth unemployment, the needs of persons with disabilities, inadequate decent shelter and educational gaps.
She said the findings demonstrated why comprehensive and reliable household information was important in developing policies and interventions that respond directly to communities’ needs.
Portfolio Chairperson MP Gcina Magagula described the exercise as an objective process that could also help reduce disputes within communities over the distribution of Government assistance.
Magagula encouraged all 11 Tinkhundlas in Lubombo to actively participate and ensure that communities understand the purpose of the exercise.
“Please embrace this and widely share the information in your communities so the exercise can succeed,” he said.
The Deputy Prime Minister’s Office has called on households to have their identity documents available when approached by enumerators. The data collection exercise will commence immediately after enumerator training.
With Lubombo now taking its place in the national rollout, Government believes Imbeleko can become a stronger foundation for targeted social programmes, ensuring that limited resources are directed towards households and communities where they can make the greatest difference.
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(Courtesy Pic)
