Eswatini and South Africa have taken a major step towards strengthening regional digital cooperation through the signing of a Declaration of Intent. The agreement was formalized during a high-level meeting in Pretoria between Eswatini’s Minister of ICT, Hon. Savannah Maziya, and South Africa’s Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies, Hon. Solly Malatsi. This joint initiative aims to align both countries’ strategies in advancing the digital economy, with a strong focus on shared innovation and inclusive development.
Strategy
The Declaration outlines several strategic areas of collaboration, including harmonising ICT policies and legislation, expanding broadband access, and exploring opportunities in artificial intelligence and Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) technologies. Both nations have committed to developing robust cybersecurity and data protection frameworks, enhancing digital literacy—especially among youth and women—and promoting cooperation in media, content creation, and broadcasting.
Improving e-Government services is also a central goal of the partnership, with the aim of boosting efficiency and transparency in public service delivery. Furthermore, the two countries are exploring ways to modernise postal services to better support e-commerce, drive financial inclusion, and promote regional integration. These efforts are expected to contribute to a more connected and resilient Southern African digital landscape.
In addition to policy alignment, the agreement paves the way for joint research and innovation initiatives. Technical teams from both ministries will soon begin developing an implementation roadmap to bring the outlined goals to life. The ministers also highlighted the need for a unified regional voice to strengthen Africa’s presence in global digital policy discussions, particularly in areas like cybersecurity, governance, and emerging technologies.
This collaboration marks a significant milestone for Eswatini, showcasing its ambition to play a more active role in shaping the region’s digital future. The partnership reflects a shared commitment between the two countries to build an inclusive, secure, and innovation-driven digital ecosystem across Southern Africa.