By Phesheya Ian Kunene
SHISELWENI – The Eswatini Institute of Accountants (ESIA) is not letting up on its mission to nurture the next generation of accountants.
On a whirlwind school tour across the southern regions of the Kingdom this week, the Institute continued its celebratory and educational drive, honouring top performers while spreading the gospel of accounting to high school learners.
This follows the Ethics Breakfast Meeting held on March 31, 2025, where ESIA recognised four top-performing students in the 2024 Eswatini General Certificate of Secondary Education (EGCSE) Accounting exams.
Hailing from each of the four regions, these learners were not only applauded for their academic excellence but were also gifted HP laptops by ESIA and featured on the Institute’s website as the youthful faces of the accounting profession for 2025.
On Tuesday, the focus shifted from the boardroom to the classroom as ESIA officials, led by Executive Director Dr. Ndiphethe Mabila, took their message straight to the schools.
The first stop was Our Lady of Sorrows High School in the Shiselweni region, where learners were introduced to the dynamic world of accounting. ESIA officials spoke candidly about career prospects in the field, the role of accountants in building sustainable economies, and the many doors the profession can open in both the public and private sectors.
From there, the delegation made their way to Matsanjeni High School to honour one of their very own, Mbhamali Mfundo, who not only topped the Shiselweni region but also tied for the best accounting result in the entire country.
“We are here to show you what’s possible,” said Dr. Mabila during the visit.
He explained that ESIA was not only focused on regulating the profession but also on building it from the ground up. He noted that the next top CFOs and auditors were likely sitting in those very classrooms.
Another highlight of the day was at Big Bend High School in the Lubombo region, where the team honoured Dlamini Sinenkhosi, who shares the national title of top EGCSE Accounting student with Mbhamali. Sinenkhosi’s achievement, much like her counterpart’s, stood as a testament to excellence, resilience, and vision.
Both top performers received an additional E500 cash reward, thanks to the generous contribution of businessman Walter Bennett, who joined ESIA in encouraging the young stars to continue aiming higher.
Speaking to excited learners, ESIA officials emphasised that the profession needs more fresh minds. “We want to demystify accounting,” said one representative. “It’s not just numbers. It’s the language of business, and Eswatini needs young people fluent in that language.”
The school visits form part of ESIA’s broader outreach strategy, one that focuses on talent identification, mentorship, and long-term investment in local skills.
As the tour continues in other regions, learners and educators alike have welcomed the initiative as timely and motivating.
A proud accounting teacher at Big Bend remarked that the learners did not just see awards, but saw themselves in the future as professionals who matter.
And if ESIA has anything to say about it, this is only the beginning.
(Pictures: Eswatini Institute of Accountants)
