Politics

MANZINI – Amid the debate about the much talked about conversion of ENPF into a national pension scheme, PM Russell Dlamini has made a bold statement that government is fully behind it.

The prime minister (PM), who toured various stalls at the ongoing Eswatini International Trade Fair (EITF) 2025 yesterday, made this statement when he was touring the Eswatini National Provident Fund (ENPF) stall.

When the PM and his team, which included Deputy Prime Minister (DPM) Thulisile Dladla and Cabinet ministers got to the stall, ENPF Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Futhi Tembe, informed them that as an organisation, they are moving towards being a paperless entity, which is something that will make their data clean and safe as they are about to convert to a national pension scheme.

The CEO said as a fund, they have gone digital, which means that members are now able to file claims electronically and employers are making payments from the comfort of their offices.

After that, she said they are now in a process of updating their clients’ information, which is referred to as Know Your Customer (KYC). He said this will help in making it easy for members of the fund to file their claims electronically. He said currently, members must fill even their identity (ID) numbers, but once the KYC exercise has been done, they will only fill in their full name and surname only.

She then highlighted that this will also assist them after the proposed conversion of the fund to a national pension fund, because clients’ information will be clean and secure.

After that, the PM, who wanted the media to capture his reaction, called the journalists who were covering the tour closer and stated that government is fully behind and it supports the proposed conversion of ENPF into a national pension scheme.

This, he said is because the conversion will see all workers in the country, including those in the private sector, getting pension monthly after retirement.

On the same note, Minister for Education and Training Owen Nxumalo, who was also present during the tour, assured the ENPF CEO that he is among the Cabinet ministers who support the proposed conversion.

As such, he said when the matter will be raised in Cabinet, he will support it by lobbying his colleagues because the conversion is for the betterment of emaSwati after retirement.

Other Cabinet minister who toured the stalls with the PM included the host, Minister for Commerce, Industry and Trade Manqoba Khumalo, Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Pholile Shakantu, Minister for Housing and Urban Development Appolo Maphalala, Minister for Public Service Mabulala Maseko, Minister for Health Mduduzi Matsebula, Minister for Agriculture Mandla Tshawuka and Minister for Finance Neal Rijkenberg.

Full article available in our publication.

PM Russell Dlamini (R) listening to ENPF CEO Futhi Tembe (2nd R) as she presents what they are doing at the trade fair, while (L-R) Minister for Education and Training Owen Nxumalo and Minister for Labour and Social Security Phila Buthelezi look on. (Pic: Sibusiso Zwane)