Eswatini prioritizes cybersecurity and research impact

Eswatini’s Minister of Information, Communication and Technology, Savannah Maziya, has emphasized the necessity of integrating cybersecurity into the nation’s expanding digital services. Speaking at the 2026 Eswatini Government in Your Hand (GIYH) Mobile Governance Initiative Workshop, Maziya stated that the government must ensure personal information is protected before requiring citizens to use digital platforms for services.

To support this digital transition, the government has established a Government Mobile App Testing Lab with support from the government of the Republic of China (Taiwan) and International Integrated Systems Inc. The lab aims to foster a culture of security and quality in digital infrastructure.

In a separate initiative, Maziya addressed the operationalization of the Eswatini National Research Council (NRC) during a capacity strengthening workshop. She challenged researchers and policymakers to ensure that academic work produces tangible socio-economic impacts, such as job creation and economic growth, rather than just academic credentials. Maziya noted that Eswatini currently invests less than one percent of its budget into research.