BY NOXOLO DLAMINI
PIGG’S PEAK- Government has called on traditional leaders in the Hhohho Region to play a leading role in tackling youth unemployment and strengthening community development as the Eswatini Youth Empowerment Opportunities Project (EYEOP) moves closer to implementation.
The Ministry of Economic Planning and Development (MEPD), in collaboration with the Ministry of Tinkhundla Administration and Development (MTAD), the Deputy Prime Minister’s Office (DPMO), the Eswatini Water and Agricultural Development Enterprise (EWADE), the Microprojects Programme (MPP) and the Central Statistics Office (CSO), held an introductory engagement with traditional leaders at Piggs Peak Hotel in the Hhohho Region.
The meeting served to outline the implementation of EYEOP, providing updates on preparations for the 2027 Population and Housing Census, and introduce the National Social Registry initiative.
Addressing the gathering, the Minister of Tinkhundla Administration and Development Sikhumbuzo Dlamini mentioned the vital role that traditional leaders play in supporting Government’s efforts to reduce youth unemployment, strengthen poverty alleviation programmes and improve national development planning.
The Minister explained that EYEOP is designed to empower young people between the ages of 18 and 35 by creating sustainable employment and entrepreneurship opportunities in both agriculture and construction.
The programme aims to benefit 30,000 young people across the country, with 20,000 expected to participate in agricultural enterprises while 10,000 will benefit from construction-related skills development and business incubation. Chiefs were urged to facilitate access to Swazi Nation Land for eligible youth and ensure fair and transparent participation within their communities.
Officials also outlined the collaborative implementation framework involving several Government institutions. Under the programme, the Microprojects Programme (MPP) will oversee the construction component, while the Eswatini Water and Agricultural Development Enterprise (EWADE) will implement the agricultural component. The Deputy Prime Minister’s Office (DPMO) will lead beneficiary identification through the National Social Registry, with MTAD coordinating community mobilisation and stakeholder engagement.
The construction component is expected to equip unemployed graduates and young artisans with practical workplace experience through attachments to infrastructure projects implemented by MPP. Participants will also receive mentorship in entrepreneurship, contractor development, tendering processes and business management, preparing them to establish and manage their own construction enterprises after completing the programme.
Meanwhile, the agricultural component will provide aspiring young entrepreneurs with technical training, mentorship, start-up support and market linkages across agricultural production and value chains. The initiative places strong emphasis on commercially viable enterprises by promoting commodities with proven market demand while supporting the growth of youth-owned agribusinesses capable of creating employment opportunities within local communities.
Government officials encouraged traditional leaders to continue working closely with implementing institutions to ensure the successful rollout of the programme and maximise opportunities for young people in the Hhohho Region.
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