The Microprojects Programme Coordinating Unit (MPCU), has intensified its push for ISO 9001:2015 certification, positioning quality management as central to its operations and service delivery.
The commitment was underscored on Saturday during a Quality Management System debriefing session held at Thokoza Conference Hall in Mbabane. The session brought together management and staff to review progress towards certification, refresh understanding of ISO requirements and map the way forward.
According to the Ministry of Economic Planning and Development, the debriefing was convened specifically to refresh staff on the principles and requirements of ISO 9001:2015, assess progress made so far, clarify individual and departmental responsibilities and establish clear next steps in the certification journey.
The ministry stated that the drive towards ISO certification is not just about obtaining a certificate, but about embedding a culture of quality, transparency and continuous improvement in how the organisation plans, implements and accounts for its programmes.
Speaking during the introduction and induction, Human Resources Manager Linda Ntshangase said quality must be at the heart of Microprojects’ work. She stressed that deliverables must meet standards of both transparency and quality.
“As Microprojects, we want our deliverables to not only be transparent but to also be of quality, and that we may continuously improve on them,” he said.
Ntshangase said continuous improvement should be a daily practice, not an occasional activity and urged staff to take ownership of quality in their respective roles. 
The session also included a presentation of the Quality Policy Statement by Bongani Bhembe. He challenged departments to go beyond reciting the policy and to reflect on what it means in practice. Bhembe said staff must interrogate how the quality policy guides their daily operations, decision-making and interaction with stakeholders.
His presentation prompted active participation from staff, who engaged through discussions and questions aimed at building a shared understanding of the organisation’s quality commitments. The interactive approach, the ministry said, was meant to ensure that the Quality Management System is understood across all levels.
In a move to strengthen implementation, MPCU formally appointed ISO Representatives during the session. The appointment is a key step in decentralising responsibility for the Quality Management System and ensuring that quality management is not confined to one office.
The representatives will champion QMS activities within their departments, coordinate compliance with documented procedures and serve as a link between management and staff on quality matters. The Ministry said this reinforces the principle of shared responsibility in implementing and maintaining the system.
Delivering his motivational address, the Director of Microprojects Programme, Sibusiso Mbingo, said ISO 9001:2015 should be embraced as part of the organisation’s commitment to learning, accountability and improved performance.
He told staff that ISO is a permanent feature of how Microprojects will operate going forward.
He thanked ISO consultant Witness Zwane for her continued guidance and patience throughout the implementation process, noting that while the journey has presented challenges, steady progress has been achieved through teamwork.
Mbingo said achieving and sustaining quality standards requires collective commitment, consistency and continuous improvement across all departments. He urged staff to remain focused and to view ISO not as additional work, but as a framework that makes work more efficient and effective.
ISO 9001:2015 is the internationally recognised standard for Quality Management Systems. It is built on principles such as customer focus, leadership, engagement of people, process approach, improvement, evidence-based decision making and relationship management.
Organisations that attain certification demonstrate that their systems and processes consistently meet customer and regulatory requirements and are geared towards continuous improvement.
