His Excellency The Deputy Prime Minister: Hon. Themba  Nhlanganiso Masuku

Mr. Themba Nhlanganiso Masuku holds a BSC. in Agronomy and an Msc. in Agricultural Mechanization  from the University of Missouri, Columbia, USA, Diploma in General Agriculture (Swaziland), Diploma in Industrial Relations (South Africa), Diploma in Business Management (South Africa).

Mr. Masuku began his professional career in 1975 with the Government of the Kingdom of Swaziland , working in the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives. In 1977, he worked for  Manyonyaneni Farmers’ Training Centre in Big Bend . In 1984, he left government service and joined the private sector  at Swazican. In 1991, he rejoined the public sector as Minister for Agriculture and Cooperatives of the Government of the Kingdom of Swaziland . He subsequently became Minister of Economic Planning and Development in 1993. During this time he served as President of ACP (African Caribbean and Pacific States ) during the review of the 4^th Lome ’ Convention. In 1996, he became Minister for Finance. He also once served as the Vice-Chairman of the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC).

In 1998, Mr. Masuku joined FAO as Director of the FAO Liaison Office in Geneva (LOGE), focusing his work on the WTO Agriculture Trade negotiations of the Doha Round, the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, Development of International Labour Conventions and Human Rights Issues.

In 2007 Mr. Masuku was re-assigned to head the FAO Liaison Office in New York where he focused on Food Security, Climate Change and Millennium Development Goals.

Notable experiences

Has been invited to speak at different for a including but not limited to:

• Capacity Building workshop for legislators in Swaziland organized jointly by FAO and UNDP, Regional Research Network  in Botswana, Capacity Building workshop in Ethiopia, Economic Association of Swaziland.

• Panelist at Columbia University ( New York ) at Fordham University School of Law ( New York ) on climate Change and the Right to Food.

• Invited as faculty at Salzburg Seminar in Salzburg , Austria and made a presentation on Preferences and ACP challenges.

• Worked closely with the Brettonwoods Institute (World Bank and IMF) while Minister for Economic Planning and Development, and Finance in the kingdom of Swaziland .

In 2008 Mr. Masuku was recalled from FAO to join the Swaziland as the Deputy Prime Minister.

He has been a pioneer in promoting good relations between the private sector and the government on social responsibility. This is an endeavor that has seen donations of millions Emalangeni from the private sector towards the welfare of children and the youth such as securing sponsors for Sandleni Sports and Culture Association, getting a sponsor towards building of t halfway house (orphaned and vulnerable children’s home) e.t.c.

• He has strong Christian values and is involved in church activities.
• He has a strong bias on rural development and gender mainstreaming issues.
• He has a strong focus on poverty alleviation activities and education support for needy children.
• He has made unprecedentant initiatives in the social welfare sector such as the elderly, persons living with disabilities and OVC’s in sports and other social activities mainstreaming.