Mbabane: Businessman Sthofeni Ginindza has been appointed as the new Chairman of the Royal Science and Technology Park (RSTP) Board of Directors along with HRH Prince Hlangusemphi, Businessman Walter Bennet and Doctor Gugu Sibandze as members.
The new board members were unveailed by the Acting Minister of Information, Communication and Technology Manqoba Khumalo at the Ministry of ICT conference room on Friday, during the commissioning of the newly appointed Board Members.
“In my capacity as the Acting Minister for ICT, in consistence with Section 6 of the Public Enterprise (Control and Monitoring) Act of 1989 and exercising the powers conferred upon me in terms of Section 4 of the RSTP Act of 2012, I am pleased to appoint the under listed persons to the Board of Directors RSTP.” Khumalo said.
Minister Khumalo highlighted the appointment is for a period not exceeding three (3) years. The newly appointed members will complement the already existing Board at the Park which constitute as follows;
- Simile Dlamini- Member
- Sipho Vilakati- Member
- Ndzingeko Dlamini- Member
- Phiwa Nkambule- Member
- Vumile Dlamini- CEO at RSTP
The new Chairman of the aforementioned board, businessman Sthofeni Ginindza also chairs the Board of Directors at Eswatini Electricity Company. He is a businessman who is partner at Alliance Foods Eswatini. He was also appointed as a member of the Post COVID-19 Recovery Plan Delivery Unit that was announced by the Prime Minister Ambrose Mandvulo Dlamini in the mid-August 2020. He holds a BA in Economics and Statistics among other qualifications.
Walter Bennet is also a businessman and former Senator.
Prince Hlangusemphi is the former Minister of Economic Planning and Development.
Dr. Gugu Sibandze is currently the Director of EIRMIP at University of Eswatini. She holds a PhD in Natural Products Chemistry and Pharmacognocy. She obtained her BSc in Chemistry and Biological Sciences at the University of Eswatini.
Task
Minister Khumalo said the Board have a mammoth task at hand to ensure that RSTP is a catalyst for socio-economic development in line with the country’s priorities and that RSTP contributes progressively towards the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP); bridges the gap between the Research and Development (R&D) institutions and private sector; and create a domestic high tech industry.
Khumalo added that RSTP as a government parastatal there is so much expectations from it as it can be recalled that during the official opening of the IT Building at the Innovation Park, His Majesty King Mswati III commissioned RSTP to generate Ten Billion Dollars (US 10bn) in revenue per annum.
He mentioned emphasized the importance of working in collaboration and in sync with other key actors in the innovation ecosystem including industry, government, academia and financial institutions to mention bit a few.
“It is now incumbent upon RSTP to organize an induction workshop for the new board members so as to familiarize them with the mandate and operations of the Park they are governing.” Khumalo said.
Khumalo shared with the new board members a nugget by Pear Zhu, “A tech savvy Board sets a right tone for shaping the culture of innovation.”
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