By Mantoe Phakathi

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has provided to the Government of Eswatini ICT equipment and office furniture worth USD69 000 (E1 028 445). This support, announced on March 04, was directed to the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs and its subsidiary institutions.

UNDP Resident Representative, Rose Ssebatindira, made the presentation of video conferencing facilities, Zoom Licences, printers, laptops and office furniture to the Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, Hon. Pholile Shakantu.

She said the presentation was a first phase of a broader partnership UNDP hopes to realise over the next five years as the new UNDP Country Programme (2021-2025) is rolled out. Other areas of support to the Ministry and its subsidiary institutions will include:

• Capacity support to the newly established Law Reform Unit (LRU) as the it begins the significant task of alignment of laws.
• Capacity support to the National Mechanism for Review and Follow-up, an inter-ministerial platform to lead Eswatini's reporting on human rights treaties and conventions as well as monitor and guide the implementation of the recommendations received in return.
• Capacity support to the Commission on Human Rights and Public Administration to strengthen its mandate.

“This support is motivated by UNDP’s commitment to support the Government of Eswatini to meet its targets of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 16; Peace Justice and Strong Institutions,” said Ssebatindira.

She said she was happy to note the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs’ resolve to adopt digital platforms to expand its reach to all stakeholders through the newly-launched social media platforms dedicated to inclusive stakeholder participation in the administration of justice.

Ssebatindira added, social media has become more relevant in this era where the COVID-19 pandemic continues to prove to us that we live in very uncertain times that require resilience and the ability to adapt swiftly - the digitalization agenda is therefore no doubt the way to go as articulated in the Strategic RoadMap (2018-2023) and Vision 2022.

In response, Minister Shakantu expressed her appreciation to UNDP adding that her Ministry is committed to creating an enabling environment for economic growth, improving access to justice, upholding human rights observation and the overall attainment of Agenda 2030.

“It (support) came at a time when the country is faced with slow economic performance, having an impact in the operations of the Ministry and the Government at large,” said Shakantu.

Speaking at the same event, the Attorney General Sifiso Khumalo pleaded with the Ministry to support the Law Review Unit adding that Eswatini’s statutes were archaic and that its laws were not in alignment with the 2005 Constitution of the Kingdom. The Law Review Unit is under the Attorney General’s Chambers and Khumalo was instrumental in setting up the unit which he said was very close to his heart.

“Our dream is to have an independent Law Reform Commission, the unit is a step in the right direction,” said Khumalo.

The Deputy Commissioner for Human Rights and Public Administration, Duduzile Dlamini-Nhlengethwa, also expressed appreciation for the UNDP’s support.

Mantoe Phakathi is the Communication Specialist at UNDP Eswatini.