BY TANDZILE DLAMINI
MBABANE– The Minister of Tourism and Environmental Affairs, Jane Mkhonta-Simelane, officially opened the 32nd Southern Africa Regional Climate Outlook Forum (SARCOF-32) at Hilton Garden Hotel on 28 January 2026, calling for people’s lives, livelihoods, and communities to be placed at the centre of climate action.
She said Southern Africa is facing a changing climate that knows no borders, with communities increasingly exposed to floods, droughts, and extreme weather that threaten lives, food security, and development gains.
The forum brought together government officials, climate scientists, civil society, youth, and media representatives from across the SADC region to explore how seasonal forecasts and early warning systems can better protect vulnerable populations, particularly rural communities that depend on agriculture and climate sensitive livelihoods.
Minister Mkhonta-Simelane highlighted the recent floods experienced in parts of Eswatini, South Africa, and Mozambique as a painful reminder of how climate shocks disrupt everyday life, destroying homes, crops, and infrastructure. She stressed the need for inclusive climate responses that prioritise women, youth, and people with disabilities.
“Forecasts give us knowledge; collaboration gives us strength; action gives us hope,” she said, urging stakeholders to ensure climate information reaches communities in ways that allow them to prepare and respond early.
The Acting Director of Infrastructure at the SADC Secretariat, Dr George Ah-Thew, described early warning systems as lifelines for families and communities, noting that timely and accessible climate information can mean the difference between safety and disaster.
Discussions at SARCOF-32 will focus on developing people centred climate services that support farmers planning their planting seasons, health authorities preparing for climate related disease risks, and households living in flood prone areas.
For communities across Eswatini and the wider Southern African region, the forum signals renewed commitment to turning climate science into practical action that protects lives and builds resilience against future storms.
#SARCOF32 #ClimateAction #CommunityResilience #EarlyWarningSystems #Eswatini
