REMARKS BY THE HONOURABLE MINISTER OF JUSTICE & CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS, PHOLILE P. SHAKANTU ON VALIDATION & ADOPTION OF INTER-AGENCY COORDINATION FRAMEWORK HELD ON 27TH JULY 2022 AT MOUNTAIN VIEW PROGRAMME DIRECTOR UNODC REPRESENTATIVE, LINDY MUZILLA ATTORNEY GENERAL DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC PROSECUTIONS NATIONAL COMMISSIONER OF POLICE COMMISSIONER OF ANTI-CORRUPTION COMMISSIONER COMMISSIONER GENERAL OF ESWATINI REVENUE SERVICE CENTRAL BANK GOVERNOR PRINCIPAL SECRETARIES CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER –FINANCIAL SERVICES REGULATORY AUTHORITY DIRECTOR OF FINANCIAL INTELIGENCE UNIT SENIOR GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS THE INTER AGENCY TASK TEAM MEMBERS UNODC CONSULTANT, JACINTA ODOUR LADIES AND GENTLEMEN MEDIA 2

It is my honour to be amongst you today as we validate the ‘Framework for Inter-Agency Co-ordination in Asset Recovery for Eswatini’, a project initiated by the Asset Recovery Inter-Agency Network for Southern Africa (ARINSA) under the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). On the 29th October 2021 , stakeholders convened for a working group session to develop a framework on inter-agency coordination in the Kingdom. This Framework will improve the effectiveness and efficiency in the asset recovery processes targeting money laundering and terrorist financing risks and priority areas. It will further enable Eswatini to fulfil its international obligations in combating money laundering and terrorist financing. Ladies and gentlemen, the Eastern and Southern Africa Anti-Money Laundering Group (ESAAMLG), evaluated the country’s systems and mechanisms in place to fight money laundering activities and terrorist financing. ESAAMLG noted that there is a lack of co-ordination and cooperation in identifying and investigating terrorist financing cases as well as the risk of terrorist financing among Law Enforcement Authorities, private sector and other competent Authorities. Additionally noted, was the lack of an information sharing mechanism or platform on money laundering and terrorist financing between agencies and among supervisory authorities. The framework will therefore assist the Kingdom in closing the gaps identified by the evaluation exercise. 3 May I take this opportunity to express His Majesty’s Government’s appreciation to the ARINSA for the continued technical and financial support extended to the Kingdom in developing this framework. Furthermore, may I appreciate all stakeholders for their work and dedication to this project, despite their busy schedules. Ladies and gentlemen, the fight against crime cannot be won by the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs alone. The need for coordination and collaboration of stakeholders at national and international level cannot be overemphasized. As we commit to the next steps of finalizing this framework, we are looking forward to your continued support. I thank you.