MBABANE – The newly appointed Chairman of the Eswatini National Provident Fund (ENPF) Board, Derrick Shiba, has described his new role as a “mammoth task” and a major responsibility entrusted to the board by government.
Speaking shortly after the announcement of the board, Shiba expressed gratitude to government for the confidence shown in their appointment. He said the new board fully aligns itself with His Majesty King Mswati III’s vision for the country’s development and prosperity.
“We understand His Majesty’s vision for the country, and we are 100% aligned to it. We remain students of that vision,” he said.
Shiba acknowledged the scale of work awaiting the new board, particularly the conversion of the ENPF, which has been identified as a top priority by the Minister of Labour and Social Security, Phila Buthelezi. He said the process would require a balance of technical expertise, sound judgment, and coordination with various stakeholders.
“It is a big task for us, and with our combined knowledge of government and markets, we believe we will be able to execute the task at hand,” he stated.
He pledged that the board would carry out its responsibilities with integrity, transparency, and urgency to rebuild confidence in the fund. “We will ensure that we implement everything with integrity to restore trust, and we will make sure that our level of frequency will be aware. The turnaround time for us is very important,” he said.
The chairman also acknowledged that the board was stepping into what he described as a “hot seat,” given the magnitude of reforms and transformation initiatives ahead. However, he maintained that the board was ready to face the challenge and deliver meaningful progress for the benefit of the country.
“These initiatives are positive for the country. The conversion of the fund is securing the future for Emaswati. It is a matter of how they are implemented, otherwise, this is the future for Emaswati,” Shiba said.
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