By Musa Mdluli

MBABANE:Wander Mkhonza, the Secretary General of the Amalgamated Trade Union of Swaziland(ATUSWA) says the proposed conversion of the Eswatini National Provident Fund(ENPF) into a National Pension Fund was part of the workers’ twenty-seven(27) demands under the then Swaziland Federation of Trade Unions(SFTU) now known as the Trade Union Congress of Swaziland(TUCOSWA).

Speaking to this Swaziland News on Friday, Mkhonza noted that, some of the 27 demands have been implemented by the eSwatini Government after King Mswati listened to the workers and this include the payment of elderly grants, building of police houses, a new Constitution and now, the process of converting the Provident Fund into a Pension Fund has begun.

“We are therefore, in full support of the conversion of the Provident Fund into a National Pension Fund because that will improve our lives as workers after retirement and of course, ease the Government pressure in the payment of elderly grants. Once we receive pension as workers after retirement, Government won’t be pressured to pay take care of us with the elderly grant. So this conversion will also enable Government to use the budget for the elderly grants in other development projects. We are happy that the King seems to be supporting the conversion because as workers, we have been demanding to have our own pension”, he said.

But Mkhonza said despite their full support of the conversion, they understand that, there are concerns by other workers in the country that need to be addressed.

“Even us as ATUSWA, we have some concerns and that’s why we lecturing some of our representatives to fully understand the proposed Eswatini National Pension Fund Bill. As much as we support the conversion, we have some concerns and we are working towards ensuring that those concerns are addressed,” he said.

However, Mkhonza said the support from the monarch might not just be in support of the conversion because he cares about workers but it might also be influenced by the fact that the conversion would ease pressure from government in terms of paying old age grants and that government would be able to do whatever they wish with the money that would have been saved.

EDITOR’S NOTE: This article has been updated on the 16th February 2026 to include a new third last paragraph, clarifying ATUSWA’s position on the monarch’s support for the conversion. This follows an amicable agreement reached after ATUSWA lodged a complaint with the Press Council of South Africa.