BY MBONO MDLULI
MBABANE – Urbanisation and ensuring sustainable cities is not just a responsibility of Government alone, but it involves everyone, as urban areas can be used by everyone.
This was said by Minister of Housing and Urban Development Apollo Maphalala today (Wednesday, October 30, 2024). This was during the opening of the Eswatini National Urban Forum, which was held at Royal Villas in Ezulwini.
“The future of our cities is a shared responsibility. The challenges we face cannot be addressed in isolation, nor can they be solved by the government alone. We need the full engagement of the private sector, civil society, international partners, and, most importantly, our communities,” Maphalala said.
He pleaded with all the stakeholders that during the discussion in the two-day meeting, they should keep in mind that urbanisation was not just about building cities—it was about building futures. “Let us ensure that the decisions we make today lead to sustainable, inclusive, and resilient urban environments that benefit all Emaswati, now and in the generations to come,” he said.
Maphalala said during the meeting, the focus would be on several critical objectives:
1. Education and Awareness: One of our primary aims is to raise awareness among local stakeholders about the role urbanisation plays in national development. It is crucial that we all recognize the significance of cities in achieving our development goals.
2. Building Collaborative Partnerships: We must work together—across sectors and levels of governance—to achieve sustainable urbanization. Public-private partnerships, international collaborations, and community engagement are all vital in driving the urban development agenda.
3. Identifying Innovative Financing Solutions: Sustainable urbanisation requires substantial investment, especially in infrastructure, housing, and services. One of our key tasks will be to explore innovative financing models that address both public and private sector needs, including public-private partnerships, development finance, and community-driven initiatives.
According to the minister, urbanization was transforming the social and economic fabric of Eswatini. With nearly 25% of Eswatini’s population residing in urban areas, the pace of this transformation demanded innovative strategies and inclusive solutions. “We face the challenge of addressing the pressures on infrastructure, housing, and services while simultaneously ensuring that our cities grow in a sustainable and climate-resilient manner,” he said.
However, these challenges also presented Emaswati with opportunities, according to the minister. “These are opportunities to reimagine our cities as engines of economic growth, hubs for innovation, and spaces where social inclusion and environmental stewardship go hand in hand. Our ability to harness these opportunities will define the Eswatini of tomorrow—a nation that thrives through sustainable urbanisation,” he said.
Maphalala said the theme of the forum— “Sustainable Urbanization in Eswatini: Working Towards Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, New Urban Agenda, and Agenda 2063”—highlighted the convergence of national, regional, and global imperatives in guiding the approach to urban development. The minister also emphasised the inclusion of the youth in planning on how the cities had to be sustained. He said the youth were the future of the cities and they were the ones who were expected to sustain the urban areas.
