by Ncaba Ntshakala
Deputy Prime Minister (DPM) Thulisile Dladla has recently commissioned the training of three hundred enumerators tasked with collecting crucial household data in fifteen Tinkhundla across the Shiselweni Region.
Speaking at the launch event at Shiselweni II Inkhundla, where fifty enumerators were undergoing training, the DPM highlighted the importance of the National Dynamic Social Registry (NDSR), known in Siswati as Imbeleko, in ensuring efficient and equitable service delivery for vulnerable populations.
“It is an honour for me this morning to officially commission the Training of Enumerators tasked with the heavy responsibility of collecting data in fifteen Tinkhundla in the Shiselweni Region for the development of the National Dynamic Social Registry,” said Dladla, addressing key government officials, regional administrators, and enumerators.
She emphasized that the registry would improve efficiency and accuracy in social protection programs, ensuring that support reaches the most deserving households.
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The Deputy Prime Minister’s Office, in collaboration with the Ministry of Economic Planning and Development and the Royal Science and Technology Park (RSTP), is spearheading this initiative to consolidate fragmented data sources into a centralized system.
“The establishment of the National Dynamic Social Registry Information Management System will improve efficiency, effectiveness, and equity of social protection programs by enhancing targeting, eliminating undeserving beneficiaries, improving coordination, and strengthening data management,” she noted.
Dladla further urged citizens to cooperate with the enumerators as they move from household to household collecting socio-economic data.
“I urge all Emaswati in the 15 Tinkhundla to cooperate with the enumerators… This will assist the Office in providing better service delivery and improving the quality of life for Emaswati,” she said.
She expressed that the data collected would serve as a vital decision-making tool for government programs and development partners.
“Instead of spending resources to collect data from each community, development partners will tap into the data centre for their target population, making huge savings in data collection, analysis, and validation,” she explained.
Additionally, the DPM called on the enumerators to uphold professionalism and confidentiality while conducting their duties.
“As you interact with communities, you will be ambassadors for the Office… It is important that personal data collected is kept confidential at all times so that Emaswati can have trust in the exercise,” she advised.
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The training, which runs until March 7, will be followed by a pre-test of the survey tool from March 10-14. The actual data collection phase will commence on March 17 and conclude on April 11.
As the country embarks on this transformative initiative, Dladla expressed confidence in the enumerators and all stakeholders involved, declaring, “I therefore declare the official commencement of training for all enumerators for the Social Registry data collection in the Shiselweni Region.”
Shiselweni II Member of Parliament, Bhekithemba Bhembe, also commended the initiative, stating that it would help the government address the needs of Emaswati more effectively.
“The NDSR will enable the Office to know each and every Liswati’s needs and assist them accordingly,” he said, further emphasizing the importance of empowering unemployed youth in the constituency.
