BY THEMBA ZWANE
EZULWINI– Eswatini has already entered the space technology era, with the country having satellites in place and preparing for further advances in space technology, Minister of Information, Communication and Technology (ICT) Senator Savannah Maziya has announced.
Maziya made the revelation while delivering a keynote address at the InnovateHER Indaba, held at the Royal Swazi Convention Centre in Ezulwini on Wednesday, September 30, 2026.
Addressing women at the gathering, the ICT Minister said Eswatini could no longer regard space technology as something distant or beyond the country’s capabilities.
“Learn about space. It’s not a far-off thing,” Maziya said, stressing that the country was already participating in the space sector.
She told the audience that Eswatini already has satellites that have been brought into the country, while indicating that the country would be taking another significant step into the space arena from next year.
The Minister’s remarks come as Eswatini continues to position science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) as important areas for developing the country’s human capital. The Ministry of ICT has been promoting STEM participation, including initiatives aimed at increasing the participation of women and girls.
Maziya also announced that Eswatini was preparing to expand its digital infrastructure through the rollout of fiber optics across the country.
She said the objective was to provide people with a strong and reliable connectivity network, which would be increasingly important as technology becomes embedded in almost every aspect of daily life.
The Minister linked the development of infrastructure to the changing nature of employment, warning that technological advancement would eliminate some jobs while creating new ones.
“The jobs that are being lost, more jobs are being made but are we ready to take up those jobs?” she asked.
According to Maziya, artificial intelligence is already being incorporated into virtually every area of work, from lower-level applications to more advanced systems.
“Everything we do now is infused with some kind of AI,” she said, challenging the country to prepare its people for the transformation rather than simply observe it.
She particularly urged women to acquire skills in STEM and technology so they could participate meaningfully in the emerging economy.
The Minister said capacity-building was one of the important priorities of her ministry, particularly in ensuring that women were equipped to participate in technological developments.
Her comments are consistent with the Ministry of ICT’s broader digital transformation agenda, which includes efforts to strengthen connectivity, digital literacy and the country’s digital ecosystem. The government’s Digital Readiness Assessment has identified connectivity, accessibility, digital literacy and digital public infrastructure among key areas requiring continued development.
Maziya also encouraged women to think seriously about self-investment, saying technological change meant that traditional careers could no longer be taken for granted.
She cited jobs such as bank tellers and personal assistants as examples of occupations likely to be increasingly affected by automation and technological change.
“We need banking, but we don’t need banks,” she said, illustrating how technology could transform even established industries.
The Minister urged women to look five years ahead and ask what they were doing today to prepare themselves for the careers and opportunities of the future.
“Invest in yourself,” she said.
Beyond technology, Maziya challenged women to develop confidence in who they are and to refuse to allow other people’s opinions to determine their sense of worth.
She said women should not spend their lives defining themselves only through titles such as mother, wife or professional, but should also ask themselves: “Who am I really?”
The Minister also spoke strongly about personal happiness, kindness and service to others.
She said her personal philosophy was to become better than she was the previous day and to do something for another person every day, even if it was simply offering a kind word.
She urged women to support one another rather than undermine each other, arguing that encouragement could strengthen families, communities and ultimately the nation.
Maziya also challenged emaSwati to imagine an Eswatini where citizens worked collectively to build the country, where public resources were protected, people supported each other and the country became known for innovation, unity and action.
“What if we were a country of firsts and showed the world what it means to be one people, loving each other, working for each other, and showing our children what it is like to be a community?” she asked.
She said Eswatini needed to become more action-oriented, arguing that people should not merely talk about their values but demonstrate them through their conduct.
Her message at the InnovateHER Indaba therefore went beyond technology.
It was a call for women to prepare themselves intellectually, professionally and personally for a rapidly changing world — and for Eswatini to use technology, innovation and human talent to build a stronger future.
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(Courtesy Pic)
