Eswatini’s Social Policy Response to Covid-19: Temporary and Donor-Driven

Abstract

The major landmark in Eswatini’s response to the Covid-19 pandemic was the adoption of the Coronavirus (Covid-19) Regulations 2020 under Section 43 of the National Disaster Management Act, Legal Notice No 72 of 27 March 2020. Though this statutory instrument provides mainly for containment measures against the spread of the pandemic, it also established a National Disaster Management Task Force responsible for the provision of relief assistance to the poor and vulnerable. Other measures that were adopted by the government include the postponement of increases in water and electricity prices, relief assistance to workers who lose their jobs, suspension of the dismissal of employees during the pandemic and the reduction of fuel prices twice since the arrival of the pandemic. Responses to the social impacts of the pandemic have largely been as a result of government decisions and pronouncements rather than legislative processes. Moreover, relief efforts have largely been donor-driven, which brings into question issues of sustainability, which suggests the need for establishing robust social protection systems in order to promote the wellbeing of all Swazis.