**Eswatini Prioritises Cybersecurity in Government Digital Services**
*Mbabane, Eswatini – 31 August 2026* – The Ministry of Information, Communication and Technology (MICT) announced that cybersecurity will be integrated into the design and delivery of government digital services. The statement was made by Minister Savannah Maziya at the opening of the 2026 “Government in Your Hand” (GIYH) Mobile Governance Initiative Workshop, held at the Mountain View Hotel.
Minister Maziya emphasized that citizens cannot be asked to submit personal data through online platforms unless the information is adequately protected. “We cannot ask people to provide their personal information through digital platforms without ensuring that this information is protected. We cannot introduce applications without making sure that they are reliable, secure and easy to use,” she said.
The workshop highlighted the role of the newly established Government Mobile App Testing Lab, which was set up with support from the government of the Republic of China (Taiwan) and International Integrated Systems Inc. (IISI). According to the minister, the lab will serve not only as a facility for testing infrastructure and equipment but also as a centre for fostering a culture of quality, security, and excellence in the development of government applications. “We should be able to find the problem before the citizen finds it,” Maziya added, noting that testing aims to assist developers rather than assign blame.
Maziya stressed that cybersecurity is no longer solely the responsibility of ICT departments. As more public services move online, she described it as a “national development issue” that requires collaboration between government agencies, the broader technology sector, academia, and international partners. She urged local developers, innovators, and technology entrepreneurs to engage with international experts at the workshop to enhance their skills and adopt security‑by‑design practices.
The Ministry plans to continue the dialogue at the upcoming Eswatini International Trade Fair, where partners are expected to conduct a cybersecurity and mobile application testing workshop for young people, developers, and innovators. “As we move forward, let us not focus on digitising government; let us focus on improving the experience of government,” Maziya said.
**International Perspective on Cyber Threats**
During the workshop, Jerry Wang, Director for the International Division of IISI, presented an overview of cyber‑risk considerations for Eswatini. Wang identified phishing, ransomware, and internal threats as potential risks and stressed the importance of first pinpointing the most significant threats to the country. “What is the major threat or cybersecurity risk to you? Is it a hacker, ransomware, phishing mail or internally? You have to identify that,” he said.
Wang noted that, at present, Eswatini is not a primary target for large‑scale cyber‑attack groups, but cautioned against complacency. He advocated for a comprehensive approach that includes detection, monitoring, and rapid response capabilities, as well as automated systems to flag anomalous activity such as unusual use of administrative accounts or activity outside normal working hours.
Looking ahead, Wang proposed the establishment of a national cybersecurity centre focused on three pillars: technical operations (including network monitoring and pre‑launch testing), capacity building (cybersecurity awareness for government staff and the public, and advanced training for ICT security personnel), and governance (policy development and preparedness). He acknowledged that building such capabilities will require significant time and investment, stating, “Not to say next year everything will be ready. That is a huge investment, but we have to do it one by one.”
The Ministry’s emphasis on embedding security from the outset aligns with its broader goal of expanding mobile access to government services for citizens, youth, and business owners while maintaining public confidence in digital platforms.
Article and image source: eswatiniobserver.com
