By Mbongeni Ndlela
MAPUTO – Sindy Mthimkhulu has officially been appointed as the new Executive Secretary of the Incomati and Maputo Watercourse Commission (INMACOM), effective August 1, 2025.
The historic occasion took place today in Maputo, where senior government officials from Eswatini, Mozambique, and South Africa gathered alongside INMACOM dignitaries to warmly welcome Ms. Mthimkhulu into her new role. The appointment signals a strong step forward for transboundary water governance and celebrates the achievements of an accomplished Swati professional on a regional stage.
With over 24 years of experience in water resource management, Ms. Mthimkhulu brings outstanding expertise and a legacy of transformative leadership. She recently served as the Founding CEO of Eswatini’s Joint River Basin Authorities (JRBA) Project Board, following more than 15 years with the Department of Water Affairs.
Her tenure at JRBA is widely praised for significantly strengthening Eswatini’s river basin institutions and advancing integrated water resources management nationally. She also played a key role in enhancing collaboration between water management bodies across Eswatini, South Africa’s Inkomati-Usuthu Catchment Management Agency (IUCMA), and Mozambique’s ARA-SUL IP, especially under the REMCO cooperation framework.
Notably, Ms. Mthimkhulu contributed to the negotiations and drafting of the Inco-Maputo Agreement, giving her a unique insight into the challenges and opportunities of managing shared water resources. Her appointment as Executive Secretary marks a return to familiar waters, this time with even greater influence to drive regional water security and sustainability.
Academic Excellence and Strategic Vision
Ms. Mthimkhulu’s academic credentials further reflect her commitment to excellence. She holds an Mphil in Integrated Water Management (Water Governance) from Monash South Africa, where her research focused on water footprinting as a resilience tool in Eswatini’s sugar industry. She also holds an MSc in Integrated Water Resources Management from the University of Zimbabwe, covering critical subjects such as hydrology, aquatic ecology, GIS, conflict resolution, and catchment management.
Her extensive technical background and proven diplomacy position her perfectly to lead INMACOM’s mission of coordinated and sustainable development of the Incomati and Maputo watercourses.
A Swati Trailblazer on a Regional Platform
Ms. Mthimkhulu’s appointment has been met with pride and enthusiasm in Eswatini. Her rise to this high-level regional position exemplifies the country’s growing leadership in environmental governance and sustainable development.
As INMACOM’s new Executive Secretary, Ms. Mthimkhulu is set to champion inclusive, science-based policies that benefit millions of people across Eswatini, Mozambique, and South Africa. Her story is not just a personal achievement, it is a testament to the strength and potential of Swati expertise on the global stage.
(Courtesy Pics)
