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.
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
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