BY MFANUFIKILE KHATHWANE
MBABANE – Mbabane East Member of Parliament Welcome Dlamini has encouraged Eswatini National Provident Fund (ENPF) CEO Futhi Tembe and Mbabane Municipal Council CEO Gciniwe Fakudze to play a leading role in mentoring and empowering other women through continuous engagement, dialogue and knowledge-sharing.
Hon. Welcome Dlamini made the remarks during the signing of a partnership agreement between ENPF and the Mbabane Municipal Council held at the Hilton Garden Inn in Mbabane on July 3, 2026.
He said the two female chief executives represent strong examples of women leadership in the country, adding that their positions place them in a key role to inspire and uplift upcoming women leaders across different sectors.
“You are encouraged to encourage other women. Sit together, drink coffee, share ideas and continue shaping spaces where women support and uplift each other,” he said.
The Mp said such informal platforms of engagement should be embraced as important spaces for building leadership networks, strengthening collaboration and exchanging development ideas.
He further described the leadership of Tembe and Fakudze as a reflection of the Imbokodvo spirit, which symbolises unity, resilience and collective strength.
The MP said women in leadership should not only focus on institutional performance, but also take responsibility for mentoring the next generation of women leaders in both public and private institutions.
Hon. Welcome Dlamini further noted that Eswatini’s constitutional framework provides for women’s representation in governance structures, including Parliament, through gender inclusion measures.
He said the Constitution of the Kingdom of Eswatini (2005) requires that women must make up at least 30 percent of the House of Assembly, and where this threshold is not met through general elections, a corrective mechanism is triggered.
The Mp said this framework reflects the country’s commitment to strengthening women’s participation in national decision-making and governance.
Under this system, the House of Assembly sitting as an electoral college elects four regional women Members of Parliament, each representing the Hhohho, Manzini, Shiselweni and Lubombo regions, to ensure gender balance and compliance with the constitutional requirement.
He added that the current Parliament includes these regional women MPs as part of efforts to close the gender gap and promote inclusive leadership across all sectors.
The MP said the example set by women leaders such as Tembe and Fakudze shows that women leadership is not symbolic, but a practical driver of development and service delivery.
He further called for a shift in mindset across society, saying leadership should be based on competence and impact rather than gender.
#WomenInLeadership #Imbokodvo #ENPF #MbabaneMunicipalCouncil #Mbabane #GenderEquality #EswatiniConstitution #Parliament #Leadership #Development
