BY PHUMELELE GAMEDZE
MBABANE — His Majesty’s Correctional Services (HMCS) has brought together its Executive Command for a four day leadership retreat aimed at strengthening corporate governance, accountability and strategic leadership across the department.
The retreat, which began on Tuesday and runs until Friday, 21 August 2026, is being held at Pigg’s Peak Hotel under the theme, “Strengthening Corporate Governance for Strategic Leadership, Accountability and Organisational Excellence.”
The official opening was led by Acting Commissioner General Luke Malindzisa, who was joined by eight other members of the Executive Command and senior management.
In his opening remarks, Malindzisa outlined the purpose of the retreat and encouraged senior officers to actively participate in the discussions and activities lined up for the four days.
He also expressed appreciation to Commissioner General LaMakhosini Phindile Dlamini for initiating the executive retreat, describing it as an important step towards strengthening HMCS and ensuring that its operations remain aligned with the department’s strategic objectives.
The retreat provides an opportunity for the Executive Command to reflect on its leadership responsibilities while building a shared understanding of the priorities that will shape HMCS over the coming years.
A major focus is the implementation and ownership of the HMCS Strategic Plan 2026–2031, as well as improving the department’s performance in line with its Planning, Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (PMEAL) commitments for the 2026/2027 financial year.
HMCS enters the retreat with a strong performance record, having been rated the best-performing government department in the 2025/26 financial year with a score of 75 per cent.
The retreat is also aligned with His Majesty King Mswati III’s declaration of 2026 as the Year of Agape Love, the 2026 Speech from the Throne and the Government Programme of Action.
Throughout the programme, participants will engage on corporate governance, ethical leadership, strategic planning, performance management, accountability, patriotism and civic education.
These discussions are expected to strengthen the leadership’s ability to guide HMCS in fulfilling its mandate as a critical public institution responsible for providing safe and modern correctional services while supporting the rehabilitation and successful reintegration of offenders into society.
Tuesday’s programme was facilitated by Alex Mfanuzile Mngomezulu, an accomplished business leader, financial strategist and experienced company director whose expertise covers strategic management, corporate finance, investment management, governance and business operations.
Mngomezulu, who is also the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of KAM Corporate, a management consulting firm, took the Executive Command through leadership lessons and team-building activities designed to strengthen collaboration, strategic thinking and effective decision-making.
The remaining sessions will be facilitated by experts from the Eswatini Institute of Management and Public Administration, the University of Eswatini and the Attorney General’s Office.
The final day will broaden the engagement, with Regional Commissioners, Officers-in-Charge of various correctional centres and Heads of Sections expected to join the proceedings.
Their participation is expected to extend the strategic conversations beyond the Executive Command and promote greater alignment across different levels of HMCS.
The retreat therefore serves not only as a leadership development platform, but also as an opportunity for the department’s senior leadership to strengthen collective ownership of its strategic direction and build on the performance gains already achieved.
As HMCS looks towards the implementation of its 2026–2031 Strategic Plan, the four-day engagement is expected to contribute towards a more accountable, coordinated and effective correctional service focused on organisational excellence and better public service delivery.
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