…ideas are there, but young innovators need support
…empowering the next generation
…skills for the digital economy
…ai can drive green growth
…five-year digital vision
…youth innovation at pavilion five
…leadership holds the key
BY NELIWE NGUBANE
MBABANE– Eswatini’s digital future will depend not only on artificial intelligence and automation, but on how effectively the country empowers young innovators with the resources, skills and opportunities needed to turn ideas into viable businesses.
This was highlighted by Royal Science and Technology Park (RSTP) Artificial Intelligence Strategist Menzi Khumalo during an interview on Eswatini TV’s Kusile Breakfast Show ahead of the 2026 International Eswatini Trade Fair.
Khumalo said the country already has young people with promising ideas, but the biggest challenge is creating an environment where those ideas can grow beyond concepts and become sustainable businesses.
“The ideas are there, but without anybody to enable them, they will simply remain ideas,” Khumalo said.
Khumalo called on those with greater access to resources and decision-making power to invest in young people and help them develop their ideas.
He said empowerment should include providing resources, mentorship and platforms where young innovators can test and develop their solutions.
“We need to plant the seeds for trees for which the shade we will never know,” he said.
According to Khumalo, supporting young innovators today could create opportunities that benefit future generations and contribute towards building a stronger economy.
The discussion also addressed parents and young people wondering which careers will remain relevant as technology continues to reshape the job market.
Khumalo highlighted data science, artificial intelligence and programming fundamentals as important areas for young people considering tertiary studies.
He stressed the importance of understanding data, saying it could help the country identify where things are going right or wrong and determine where resources should be allocated.
For him, digital skills are not simply about securing employment, but preparing young Emaswati to participate in an economy increasingly shaped by technology.
Khumalo also linked artificial intelligence to this year’s International Eswatini Trade Fair theme, “Unlocking Green Economy Opportunities for Sustainable Trade”.
He said AI could help Eswatini improve efficiency across different sectors, including energy, water and agriculture.
With the right resources and implementation, he said technology could help the country make better use of its resources while supporting sustainable development.
Looking five years ahead, Khumalo envisioned an Eswatini where most currently manual systems are progressively automated.
He pointed to Government in Your Hand as an example of how digital transformation can happen gradually, allowing people to access government services without relying entirely on traditional manual processes.
He said automation could eventually free resources that could then be redirected towards other areas of national development.
However, Khumalo acknowledged that achieving such a vision would require time, resources and commitment
Young people with technology-based business ideas will have an opportunity to seek assistance at the 2026 International Eswatini Trade Fair.
Khumalo encouraged innovators to visit the Ministry of ICT and RSTP Pavilion 5, where the RSTP Business Incubation Unit and Innovation Hub will be available to engage with aspiring entrepreneurs.
“If anybody has an idea, anybody at all, head to Pavilion Five,” he said.
Khumalo said the country’s leaders and decision-makers would play a crucial role in determining how quickly Eswatini embraces its digital future.
He called for an open-minded approach towards empowering young people and allowing them to contribute meaningfully to the country’s technological development.
“We need to empower us and they need to empower the youth,” he said.
As Eswatini prepares for the trade fair, Khumalo’s message is clear: the country’s digital transformation will not be built by technology alone. It will require people, ideas, investment and the willingness to give young Emaswati the opportunity to build the future they will eventually inherit.
#EPN #EITF2026 #RSTP #ArtificialIntelligence #DigitalTransformation #YouthEmpowerment #Innovation #CodersEswatini #GreenEconomy #DigitalEswatini #Technology #Eswatini
(Courtesy Pic)
