Members of Parliament have been urged to embrace Artificial Intelligence (AI) as a tool to enhance governance, decision-making and service delivery. These were sentiments shared by Principal Secretary (PS) in the Ministry of Information, Communications and Technology (ICT) Phesheya Dube, who represented Minister Savannah Maziya during the AI in Governance Training Programme for Eswatini Politicians, held on Tuesday at Happy Valley Hotel.
The workshop was attended by several parliamentarians and facilitated by the newly established AI research group at the Royal Science and Technology Park (RSTP).
Dube noted that AI had the potential to significantly improve efficiency, transparency and informed decision-making in Parliament. He urged lawmakers to embrace this evolving technology to better serve the public.
“Today marks a significant step forward in our journey to harness the potential of AI for the benefit of our nation.
“The Ministry is currently drafting Eswatini’s national AI strategy, along with strategies for the Fourth and Fifth Industrial Revolutions and we are committed to ensuring that Eswatini not only keeps pace with global advancements but also leads in responsible and ethical AI adoption,” he said.
He noted that the training aligned with previous national AI Indaba held in 2024, which featured regional experts and promoted collaboration in the development of AI capabilities across sectors.
“Furthermore, this initiative supports our ‘Government in Your Hand’ strategy, which focuses on digital skills development and aims to transform public service delivery through technology,” Dube added.
The workshop was designed not only to introduce parliamentarians to the basics of AI but to also equip them with the knowledge required to engage in meaningful debates on AI-related legislation.
The legislators were also capacitated on how AI could be leveraged for socio-economic benefits, especially when it comes to empowering the youth to explore entrepreneurial opportunities.
“It is crucial that we promote the ethical use of AI, steering our young people away from unethical activities such as hacking or illicit schemes.
Meanwhile, RSTP representative Lucky Sithole led sessions focused on demystifying AI technologies.
He guided the parliamentarians on interpreting data and applying AI insights to policymaking. Sithole acknowledged that while AI may initially seem intimidating, it presents numerous opportunities.
