BY MBONO MDLULI
NHLANGANO – Prime Minister Russell Mmiso Dlamini on Friday, May 22, 2026, undertook a working tour of the Shiselweni Region aimed at engaging directly with regional institutions and gaining a clearer understanding of the conditions under which they continue to serve emaSwati.
The visit formed part of Government’s broader commitment to responsive governance and improving service delivery, with the Prime Minister accompanied by Cabinet Ministers and Members of Parliament. During the tour, the delegation visited the Shiselweni Regional Offices, the Regional Education Offices, and the Nhlangano Agricultural Skills Training Centre (NASTC).
Speaking following the visit, Dlamini said the purpose of the engagement was to interact directly with institutions on the ground and understand the realities confronting public servants as they work to deliver services to citizens.
At NASTC, a key Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institution in the region, the Prime Minister and delegation were briefed on programmes aimed at empowering rural youth, farmers and out-of-school individuals through practical agricultural and entrepreneurship skills.
Officials also provided updates on the Vocational Training and Rehabilitation Services (VTRS), which specialises in vocational training, particularly for young people living with disabilities. The Prime Minister noted that Government was actively working towards strengthening TVET institutions across the country to enhance skills development and create greater opportunities for citizens.
However, the visit also revealed several pressing challenges affecting Government operations within the region.
According to the Prime Minister, inspections at the regional offices exposed serious concerns requiring urgent attention. Among the issues identified were budgetary constraints, inadequate office space, deteriorating infrastructure, outdated equipment, weak records management systems and staffing shortages.
“These are institutions entrusted with delivering essential services to our people, and they deserve an environment that enables them to function effectively and with dignity,” said Dlamini.
Despite concerns over the conditions uncovered, the Prime Minister stressed that the visit was not about assigning blame, but rather about confronting realities and listening to those working within the system.
He said Government sought to ensure that the challenges affecting regional institutions were fully understood at national level so that practical interventions could be implemented.
The Premier further emphasised the strategic importance of regional offices, describing them as the face of Government within communities and a crucial pillar of the country’s Tinkhundla system of governance.
“They must reflect the standards of service delivery and efficiency our people expect and deserve,” he said.
The Prime Minister welcomed the participation of Cabinet Ministers and Members of Parliament during the tour, saying their presence demonstrated a shared responsibility towards improving conditions within public institutions.
Government, he added, remained committed to strengthening service delivery, modernising systems and restoring functionality and pride within regional offices.
The Shiselweni engagement marks the beginning of a broader programme of regional visits, with the Prime Minister confirming that similar tours would be conducted in the country’s remaining regions in the coming weeks as part of efforts to promote accountability and responsive governance.
The findings from these visits are expected to guide future interventions aimed at improving the efficiency and working conditions of Government institutions across the Kingdom.
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