Mopping Exercise Brings Government Closer to the People
By Ncaba Ntshakala
A true evidence of ‘Nkwe’
The Ministry of Home Affairs, under the leadership of the Minister of Home Affairs, Her Royal Highness Princess Lindiwe, has scored a remarkable national service delivery milestone through the ongoing Civil Registration Mopping Exercise, a programme that is transforming access to identification services across Eswatini.
The exercise was launched to correct decades-long gaps in birth, death, and marriage registrations, and it has become one of the most impactful community-centred initiatives in recent years, ensuring that no citizen is left undocumented or excluded from national systems.
The Mopping Exercise, which began in 2021, continues to be rolled out across the country bringing services directly to communities, especially remote and rural areas where access to government offices remains a challenge.
It is currently active in the Manzini and Hhohho regions, and according to the Ministry’s 2025/26 Second Quarter Performance Report, the programme recorded outstanding progress in the second quarter of the 2025/26 financial year.
The statistics tell a compelling story of success. In the Manzini region, the Ministry registered 4,795 births, 106 deaths, and processed 2,862 conversions of manual birth certificates during the quarter.
The Hhohho region also showed impressive numbers with 3,385 births, 40 deaths, and 1,752 conversions of manual birth certificates completed.
These figures represent a significant leap from the previous quarter, demonstrating both improved access and heightened public appreciation of the importance of legal documentation.
One of the most major highlights comes from the comparative analysis that is between the first and second quarter of the mopping exercise where birth registrations increased by 3,248, death registrations doubled, and the conversion of manual certificates surged markedly which has been hailed by emaSwati as clear evidence of improved efficiency, outreach, and uptake.
EmaSwati no longer have to travel long distances to service centres. The Ministry has deployed mobile teams, hired vehicles and worked with local authorities to set up temporary registration points within imiphakatsi, health facilities, churches, and community halls.
This approach has brought government closer to the people and restored dignity to many citizens who previously lacked official records.
Speaking during the launch of the Hhohho leg of the mopping exercise in 2024, Her Royal Highness Princess Lindiwe emphasised that identity is a gateway to opportunity, as access to education, healthcare, social services, employment, and travel all depend on formal recognition by the State.
The Ministry emphasized that no child should grow up without a birth certificate, and no adult should be denied their rightful documentation due to geographical or financial limitations.
As the programme moves towards completion in November 2025, the Ministry has credited community cooperation, traditional leadership support, and strategic planning for the positive outcomes.
The mopping exercise has not only improved the National Population Register, but has also strengthened national planning, security, and service delivery systems.
The Ministry further asserted that it remains committed to ensuring that all citizens are properly documented.