Hon. Minister Pholile Shakantu Profile

Senator Pholile Shakantu, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, is another returnee to Cabinet, having previously served as Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs between 2018 and 2023.

Before her foray into politics, Senator Shakantu had a distinguished legal career spanning over two decades. Her expertise, honed in both corporate and private spheres, encompasses a wide array of legal competencies, including proficiency in commercial law, negotiation and structuring of business transactions. Minister Shakantu’s knowledge and experience in the telecommunications sector, cultivated over a span of 12 years, encompassed executive roles in legal, regulatory, corporate affairs, as well as sales and distribution.

Her multifaceted career also includes a tenure as a member of the Judicial Service Commission and as the Deputy Chairman of the Elections and Boundaries Commission. In 2018, His Majesty King Mswati III appointed Minister Shakantu as a Member of Parliament, before appointing her as Minister of Justice. Notably, as the Justice Minister, she spearheaded the advocacy for the digitisation of the justice sector, a ground-breaking initiative that resulted in the successful introduction of the Electronic Case Management System. During her tenure in the Ministry of Justice, Minister Shakantu further championed initiatives aimed at extending legal support to vulnerable groups within the Kingdom, through launching programmes such as the Small Claims Courts and the implementation of Legal Aid services in Eswatini.

Beyond her professional work, Minister Shakantu is also a businesswoman and philanthropist. She strongly advocates for the empowerment of women and youth, and is the founder of Eswatini Network of Women, an organisation focused on empowering women in sports, politics, and the arts. Additionally, she is involved in media and film production.

Minister Shakantu is an admitted attorney, conveyancer, and notary public. She holds a BA in Law and LLB degrees from the University of Eswatini and an MSc in Leadership and Change Management from Leeds Beckett University. Additionally, she has received training in various areas including Advanced Ministry Training, telecoms law and regulation, corporate governance, military justice, communication and business administration.

His Majesty King Mswati III appointed Minister Shakantu as Senator on 5 November 2023, before appointing her as Minister of Foreign Affairs on the 13th of the same month.

 

COAT OF ARMS

GOVERNMENT OF THE KINGDOM OF ESWATINI
GOVERNMENT STATEMENT

It has pleased His Majesty King Mswati III to make the following
appointments and revocations of Eswatini Envoys abroad with effect from 15
March 2022:
1. Thandazile Penelope Mbuyisa – High Commissioner to the United
Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
2. Menzie S. Dlamini – High Commissioner to Malaysia
3. Nkululeko Horace Dlamini – Ambassador to the State of Kuwait
4. Lindiwe Cynthia Kunene – High Commissioner to the Republic of
South Africa
5. Kennedy Fitzgerald Groening – Ambassador to the United States of
America
The appointment of the following persons to be Ambassadors or High
Commissioners is revoked:
1. Christian M. Nkambule - High Commissioner to the United Kingdom of
Great Britain and Northern Ireland
2. Mlondi Dlamini – High Commissioner to Malaysia
3. Dumsile Sukati – High Commissioner to the Republic of South Africa
2
4. Njabuliso Gwebu – Ambassador to the United States of America
BAYETHE! WENA WAPHAKATHI!
Cleopas Sipho Dlamini
Prime Minister
18 March 2022

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MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION

ESWATINI SIGNS THE MULTILATERAL CONVENTION ON MUTUAL ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANCE IN TAX MATTERS (MAC) 

 

The Kingdom of Eswatini, represented by Eswatini Ambassador to Belgium and the European Communities Sibusisiwe Mngomezulu, has signed the Multilateral Convention on Mutual Administrative Assistance in Tax Matters (MAC).

The MAC is an Agreement designed to facilitate international co-operation among tax authorities in order to improve their ability to tackle tax evasion and avoidance, and ensure full implementation of their national tax laws, while respecting the fundamental rights of taxpayers.

Making his remarks, Ambassador Mngomezulu noted that the operationalisation of the Convention would enhance the integration of the Kingdom of Eswatini into regional and international markets by supporting an unprecedented level of transparency in tax matters, which is necessary for the growth of the economy.

The Convention will allow the Kingdom to engage in activities that will increase transparency in tax matters; such as the spontaneous exchange of information, simultaneous examinations, performance of tax examinations abroad, assistance in the recovery of tax claims and measures of conservancy, as well as facilitate joint audits.

The Ambassador also expressed the appreciation of the Government of the Kingdom of Eswatini for the support given by the Organisation of Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) in capacity building while preparations for accession to the MAC were underway.

He observed that trade liberalisation has eased the international movement of persons, capital, goods and services; and acknowledged that as a result of the transactional activity related to this; an instrument of this nature was necessary to promote and facilitate international cooperation between the tax authorities of the signatories to the Convention.

The Convention was signed on Tuesday 29 September 2020 in Paris, France.

RELEASED BY: SENATOR THULISILE DLADLA

MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION

2nd October 2020

 

MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION

 

GOVERNMENT TO BRING HOME MORE EMASWATI 

 

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation wishes to inform the public that Government has once again facilitated the repatriation of Emaswati citizens and permanent residents in the diaspora to arrive at the King Mswati III International Airport on Sunday, 16 August 2020.

As part of the mandate of the Ministry to look after the interests of Emaswati abroad, as well as in line with His Majesty’s pronouncement in the Declaration of a National Emergency in response to the Covid-19 virus, a charter flight has been arranged by the Government of the Kingdom of Eswatini in collaboration with Kenya Airways.

The repatriation flight KQ1760 will depart from Nairobi, Jomo Kenyatta International Airport at 15h25 and arrive at KMIII at 18h40 on the same day. The cost of this trip will be borne by the Government of the Kingdom of Eswatini.

In this regard, Eswatini Nationals and Permanent Residents who have registered their desire to return home must make their own private arrangements (LOGISTICAL and FINANCIAL) to get to Nairobi from their destinations of origin and are expected to arrive at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport by the 15th or 16th of August, NO LATER THAN FOUR (4) HOURS BEFORE the flight departs.

Passengers who need accommodation on the day before the flight are informed may use hotels around the Airport. Passengers with tickets or boarding pass are exempted from the current applicable curfew and can move to and from their accommodation. Furthermore, passengers are notified that lounges are available at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport. Pride lounge and Simba Lounge in terminal 1C are open at the International Terminal while Msafiri lounge is open at the domestic level.

To facilitate a seamless transition from incoming to outgoing air traffic, the Ministry recommends that passengers, where possible or desirable, utilize the under listed travel management agencies who have been fully briefed on the modalities of this repatriation, to manage their journey into Nairobi;

Royal Eswatini National Airways – Thembi Sifundza +268 7606 1526 email address This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Makhosazana Dlamini +268 7606 1892 email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or XL Travel Eswatini This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. +268 7605 6833.

Kindly note the following requirements for passengers travelling on Kenya Airways:

  1. COVID-19 negative certificate is mandatory for boarding. The Test certificate should be within 72 hours before flight departure date.
  2. COVID-19 negative certificates to be shared with KQ medical via email on Doctors.KQ@kenya-airways.com at least 48 hours prior to departure.
  3. A face mask (surgical or cloth) is required when boarding and disembarking the flight.

In addition, given the expansive number of high risk COVID-19 countries that many of the passengers who registered for the flight will be coming from, and despite having their 72 hour pre-flight COVID-19 free certificates, ALL passengers disembarking at KMIII International Airport WILL be quarantined in a government allocated facility for 14 days OR given permission to self-isolate in accordance with the guidelines prevailing under the National Emergency Response and pre-approved by the Ministry of Health.

All passengers who have secured their tickets into Nairobi are required to submit their itineraries and passport copies (if not already done) to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. no later than 12PM on Monday the 10th August 2020, to allow for sufficient time to finalize preparations for the flight.

Any late submissions will unfortunately NOT BE accepted, as a passenger list must be sent to the airline on the stipulated date. For further inquiries please email; This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

RELEASED BY: SENATOR THULISILE DLADLA

MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION

6th August 2020        

                                                                                                                                                               

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