By Ncaba Ntshakala
The United Nations has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting Eswatini’s efforts to achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
This came to the fore as Prime Minister Russell Dlamini concluded his engagements at the 2024 United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in a meeting with UN Secretary-General António Guterres at the UN Headquarters in New York, USA.
The two leaders discussed the ongoing developments in the Kingdom of Eswatini, with the United Nations emphasizing its commitment to supporting the country in its efforts to achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Dlamini was representing His Majesty King Mswati III and the nation at UNGA2024. This meeting marked the culmination of the Prime Minister’s activities in New York.
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Throughout his stay, Dlamini held various high-profile bilateral meetings, including talks with the President of Latvia, Edgars Rinkēvičs, Kuwait’s Crown Prince Sheikh Sabah Khalid Al-Sabah, and UN Assistant Secretary-General and UNDP Director for Africa, Ahunna Eziakonwa.
In addition to his diplomatic meetings, Prime Minister Dlamini was hosted at a cocktail event by US President Joe Biden and First Lady Dr. Jill Biden.
He also attended an event hosted by Taiwan, where he met with representatives from the American Jewish Committee, Hua Nan Commercial Bank, the Carbon Derivatives Institute Inc., and the Africa Finance Corporation.
The Prime Minister took the opportunity to deliver a country statement at the Summit of the Future and the UNGA2024, emphasizing Eswatini’s commitment to global cooperation and sustainable development.
He also made key interventions at a UNAIDS high-level side event and participated in a high-level discussion on the “Unstoppable Africa” initiative.
In the country’s statement, Dlamini stated that the Kingdom of Eswatini has put forth a transformative Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Recovery and Acceleration Plan, valued at over E30 billion (about US$1.6 billion),
which is aimed at driving change across critical sectors such as digital transformation, renewable energy, agriculture, industrial expansion, and social protection.
He also underlined that the ongoing global crises, from economic downturns to climate change, highlight the necessity for collaborative action.
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He noted, “It is only through collective action, innovation, and a firm commitment to multilateralism that we can forge a path towards a more just and equitable world.”
The Prime Minister, when presenting the statement, introduced the concept of “Nkwe,” a national ethos meaning “run,” to symbolize Eswatini’s call for urgent action in accelerating progress towards achieving the SDGs.
“Nkwe is our rallying cry to run faster, to work harder, and to leave no one behind,” Dlamini remarked where he highlighted the nation’s determination to bridge developmental gaps, combat poverty and inequality, and address the growing climate crisis with speed and efficiency.
The plan was said to meet the pressing demands of the global timeline for SDG implementation, ensuring that Eswatini achieves its goals by 2030.
