BY MFANUFIKILE KHATHWANE
EZULWINI– As part of its digital transformation journey and in response to the rapidly evolving digital landscape, the Eswatini Revenue Service (ERS) has partnered with the University of Eswatini (UNESWA) to roll out a comprehensive Artificial Intelligence (AI) Literacy Programme for employees.
The agreement, signed at the ERS Headquarters in Ezulwini on June 4,2026, will see the UNESWA AI Academy provide specialised AI training and expertise to ERS employees as part of the revenue authority’s broader digital transformation strategy.
It expected to strengthen innovation, enhance service delivery and position the revenue authority for the future of tax administration.
Speaking during the signing ceremony, ERS Commissioner General Brightwell Nkambule said the partnership marked a significant step towards equipping employees with the knowledge and skills needed to thrive in an increasingly AI-driven environment.
“For the ERS, this event marks the launch of our AI Literacy Programme. Through this initiative, we begin to equip our staff with the knowledge and skills required to thrive in the age of Artificial Intelligence,” said Nkambule.
He described the agreement as more than a formal arrangement, saying it laid the foundation for a strategic partnership between two institutions committed to advancing national development.
Nkambule noted that AI presents significant opportunities for revenue administrations worldwide by improving efficiency, strengthening compliance management, enhancing taxpayer services and automating repetitive processes.
“At ERS, our digital transformation journey is evolving from automated processes to autonomous processes. We envision a future where intelligent systems and AI agents perform routine work, enabling our employees to focus on higher-value activities such as taxpayer education, customer service, compliance management and strategic decision-making,” he said.
The Commissioner General emphasised that technology alone could not create value without adequately skilled people to harness it.
He said the AI Literacy Programme would help build a workforce capable of understanding AI technologies, supervising AI systems responsibly and identifying opportunities where AI can improve organisational performance.
Beyond staff development, Nkambule said the partnership would create opportunities for collaborative research in areas such as taxpayer behaviour, economic analysis, policy evaluation, innovation and data analytics to support voluntary tax compliance.
Meanwhile, UNESWA Vice Chancellor Professor Justice Thwala said the agreement represented a deliberate effort by two national institutions to ensure Eswatini’s adoption of AI is informed, responsible and centred on developing human capital.
He explained that the UNESWA AI Academy was established in August 2024 as a Centre of Excellence within the Faculty of Science and Engineering, with a mandate to build awareness of AI opportunities and risks while equipping citizens and institutions with future-ready skills.
“The agreement we are signing today is more than a contract for the supply of training. It is a deliberate step by two national institutions to ensure that Eswatini’s entry into the age of artificial intelligence is informed, responsible and grounded in capable people,” said Thwala.
He noted that while general AI training is valuable, organisations require customised programmes that address their unique operational environments, data sensitivities and regulatory obligations.
According to Thwala, the programme developed for ERS will cover AI fundamentals, prompt engineering for revenue work, legal compliance and ethical AI use, workflow automation, research skills and organisational AI governance.
He cautioned that institutions must strike a balance between embracing innovation and ensuring adequate safeguards are in place to protect sensitive information and maintain public trust.
The Vice Chancellor further expressed hope that the collaboration would expand into other areas, including anti-money laundering, forensic accounting, financial crime investigations, tax intelligence and advanced data analytics.
Both institutions expressed confidence that the partnership would contribute to building national capacity in AI, innovation and digital transformation while supporting Eswatini’s development agenda.
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