BY MBONO MDLULI
MBABANE – Senate President Lindiwe Dlamini has pledged the full support of the Senate—and Parliament as a whole—for the successful implementation of the Grand Plan for National Transformation, which was presented by Prime Minister Russell Mmiso Dlamini.
Speaking on 6 August 2025 at Pigg’s Peak Hotel, where senators held a strategic engagement with the Prime Minister and Cabinet, the Senate President assured the nation that Parliament would ensure the plan is implemented effectively. She stated that through legislative refinement, budget scrutiny, and continuous oversight, Parliament would work to ensure the Grand Plan moves from “paper to practice” and from “vision to impact.”
The Grand Plan, a 30-year national transformation strategy, was introduced by Prime Minister Dlamini during Sibaya at Ludzidzini Royal Residence in 2023, and has since gained traction as Eswatini’s most ambitious vision for development. The Prime Minister explained that the plan reflects His Majesty King Mswati III’s vision of a developed Eswatini, while also incorporating the aspirations of Emaswati, as expressed during the Sibaya dialogue.
The Senate President’s remarks echoed sentiments shared two days earlier by Speaker of the House of Assembly Jabulani Mabuza, who also called for robust parliamentary participation and citizen engagement. Mabuza made his remarks on 4 August 2025 during a similar engagement between the Prime Minister and Members of Parliament at the same venue.
Mabuza urged MPs to return to their constituencies and engage with the electorate on the Grand Plan’s contents, seeking feedback and further guidance. This, he said, would allow the public to play a meaningful role in shaping and owning the national development agenda.
“It is important that MPs go back to the people who elected them and seek further guidance,” said Mabuza. “Their insights will empower us to monitor and guide implementation in a way that serves the national interest.”
He further stressed that the Grand Plan would act as a catalyst for Parliament to realise its own institutional goals, particularly in terms of decentralisation. “Parliament must go to the people,” he said. “This plan provides a timely opportunity for us to contribute meaningfully from the grassroots level.”
The Prime Minister welcomed the commitment from both houses of Parliament, expressing confidence that with united leadership and national collaboration, the Grand Plan will set Eswatini on the path to inclusive, long-term development.