Mbabane – The Honourable Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Appolo Maphalala, welcomed the International City/County Management Association (ICMA) delegation to Eswatini during a dinner at the Royal Villas this week.
The visit marks ICMA’s first trip to Africa as part of the 2025 ICMA Global Exchange Programme. The week-long event brings together local governance leaders to share knowledge, engage in dialogue, and explore ways to strengthen municipalities and urban management.
Minister Maphalala said local government plays a critical role in meeting citizens’ daily service needs. He described leadership in this sphere as requiring technical expertise, innovation, and continuous learning, skills that must be nurtured over time. 
The Minister also recognized the Eswatini Local Authorities Managers Association (ELAMA) for promoting lifelong learning among local government officials. He thanked ICMA President-elect Mike Land, ICMA CEO Julia Novak, and the South African Local Government Association (SALGA) for co-hosting the programme with ELAMA.
