Namibia will consider Eswatini's request to support its candidate, Moses Vilakati, for the position of AU Commissioner for Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy, and Sustainable Development.

This was said by President Nangolo Mbumba after receiving an official letter of request from King Mswati III. The letter was delivered by Special Envoy and Minister of Labour and Social Security, Phila Buthelezi, at State House.

"We are competing against five other countries, but the majority of them have had the opportunity to serve at that level. For us, it's the first time, and we are here to humbly request Namibia's support in next month's elections in Addis Ababa. The support could be in the way of a vote, assisting and mobilising other sister countries in the region and beyond, and any form of guidance and advice since it is our first time to contest; we very much welcome pointers from sister countries like Namibia, to say you should look out for this and so on, so basically we are humbly requesting your support.

"We have a very good contact, and I feel honoured for him to have sent his envoy. He should consider that the message is well received and it will be accordingly considered and appropriately."

Eswatini is the only SADC country to have fielded a candidate in the person of its former Minister of Agriculture, Moses Vilakati.

As an agriculturalist and academic, Vilakati intends to use his extensive 30-year experience to drive Africa's agricultural transformation agenda if elected as AU Commissioner next month.

Credits to his bid include spearheading programs to mitigate drought, capacitating farmers for international markets, and the setting up of eSwatini's National Maize Corporation, as well as the joint dam project with South Africa.

"For me, food security and sovereignty are very key. We need to harness this regionally and in Africa as a whole because by so doing, we would be able to feed ourselves and support employment opportunities and standards of living. One of the things we can look at when it comes to investments is that any form of investment changes the lives of people, and I saw it first-hand when I directed the mega dam, and through that project we went to another dam, and maybe that is where they saw I can do a job. I believe in the transformation of the agricultural system. I have been exposed to Namibia at some point, particularly the horticulture industry. When we were looking at bringing the retailers together with farmers so that we could have a program of action."

Eswatini is the only country so far to seek Namibia's support for its candidate for the AU Commissioner for Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy, and Sustainable Development position.

This position is part of eight other portfolios that would make up the continental body's Secretariat.