BY TANDZILE DLAMINI
MBABANE – Young people have been challenged to take a leading role in shaping Eswatini’s green energy future by using technology, innovation and community driven solutions to tackle climate and development challenges.
The call was made during the Bring Your Fire Live Dialogues hosted at University of Eswatini Luyengo Campus ahead of the 19th edition of the MTN Bushfire Festival. The discussions brought together experts from government, environmental agencies, development organisations and the private sector to debate how Eswatini could balance development, sustainability and access to energy.
Head of Corporate Services and Sustainability at MTN Eswatini, Sibusiso Nhleko, said young people needed to take advantage of digital platforms and innovation opportunities already available.
“We have the MTN Skills Academy where young people can access internationally recognised programmes. Technology has removed barriers and what is developed in Eswatini can scale globally,” he said.
Nhleko said the private sector had a responsibility to empower young innovators through hackathons, incubation programmes and digital training initiatives.
Environmental Information Officer at the Eswatini Environment Authority, Zandisile Howe, encouraged young people to use digital platforms responsibly to access environmental and climate information. “We live in a digital era where information is in your hand. Young people should use their smartphones in a smart way,” she said.
Howe noted that many communities still lacked access to critical environmental information due to poor connectivity and language barriers. She said translating environmental policies into simple language was important in helping communities understand climate challenges affecting them directly.
World Vision Eswatini Livelihood and Food Security Lead, Mpendulo Simelane, said communities should not merely receive solutions but actively participate in designing them. “Co creating solutions with communities is important because people support projects that solve their real problems,” he said.
Director of the Eswatini Meteorological Service, Duduzile Nhlengetfwa Masina, called on young people to actively participate in climate action. “Let us take climate action and ensure that our climate is taken care of and indeed it will take care of us and our development,” she said.
The event also explored renewable energy, electricity access, environmental protection and sustainable economic growth.
Panelists agreed that collaboration between government, communities, private companies and young innovators would be critical in building a sustainable future for Eswatini.
