Mbabane – About 20 735 emaSwati have been impacted by the erratic weather patterns in the past five months and are in need of humanitarian aid, the National Disaster Risk Management Authority (NDRMA) Communications Manager Magman Mahlalela said.
He was speaking in an interview with Eswatini TV at the Kusile Breakfast Show on Wednesday. According to Mahlalela, irregular weather patterns have harmed more than 20,000 emaSwati from January 2026 to the current month.
“The numbers show that there have been rainy storms that were heavy, and our exact figures show 20,735 people are now facing vulnerability,” he said. 
Mahlalela said NDRMA, formerly the National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA), is introducing its dry season preparedness as the cold and winds approach.
Mahlalela said some of those affected need building material, clothes while some need food. He stated that the institution helps where it can but their resources are stretched.
Mahlalela said mandated by the dictates of the Disaster Risk Management Act of 2025, the institution is now updated to be proactive in its approach rather than being reactive as was the case with NDMA.
NDRMA said it is now mandatory to talk about their preparedness in every season, stating that the weather patterns have changed from what they were known to be like in the past.
“We always want to explain to the public what being an authority means. The Act has now passed, but we have been talking about preparedness in the past. Yes, now we are an authority, and we want to thank His Majesty the King, who saw it fit that the Act should be amended from being reactive to being proactive now,” Mahlalela said.
The preparedness plan is based on climate change and what Eswatini is doing about it, he said. He said the name, uMvalo Wesive, was befitting to the NDRMA.
Mahlalela said with winter, there are seasonal risks caused by field fires which cause millions in damages and extreme cold.
He said during the Southern African Development Community (SADC) meeting in Zimbabwe that countries aligned their laws with the disaster risk reduction framework.
“We have been speaking a lot about field fires. We have now designed a fire preparedness plan and a response plan, as we are seeing that every year fires cause destruction.
“What we can do is work with the various stakeholders concerned with fire issues to strengthen our protection as a country. We must not be caught off guard during this season,” he said.
Mahlalela said the legislation now imposes heavy fines against those convicted of starting illegal fires.
“We have noticed that some people cause danger, whereas some do not comply with regulations. The law now authorises us to enforce prohibition. One could face a fine as high as E1 million. This is where you now see the seriousness that as a country we mean business. Some just randomly illuminate forests because they are just being spiteful of another person. Now this will be prevented because the fines were usually meagre,” he said.
