By Zweli Martin Dlamini

Dumisani Masilela’s appointment as the new Executive Secretary of the Southern African Customs Union(SACU) has confirmed our country’s capabilities to produce ethical leadership and contribute to global governance policies, we must be proud of this appointment.

As the first Commissioner General of the Eswatini Revenue Service(ERS), Masilela worked with the Management and the Governing Board in developing policies that professionalized the revenue institution, he is now working for the International Monetary Fund(IMF) and will in March 2026, assume his new role as SACU Executive Secretary.

But with this appointment our country must realize that, we have men and women who uphold ethical leadership and the world has recognized some of them, Dumisani Masilela came under attack when enforcing revenue laws but stood his ground.

Without suggesting that he is entirely perfect, this is an ethical leader who does not work with orders but upholds corporate governance principles and as a result, countries within the South African Customs Union appointed him as the new Executive Secretary based on qualifications, skills and a proven track record of ethical leadership.

But in conclusion, perhaps let me urge Cabinet to formally announce this valuable appointment, it was wrong for Finance Minister Neal Rijikernberg to announce such a huge National achievement through his online platform.

But I don’t blame him, it was the duty of the Eswatini Government Communications Department to advise how such an important appointment must be communicated to the public and the world and, in a manner that befits it’s value and significance in regional and global leadership.

Dumisani Masilela must come back to Eswatini and receive ‘blessings’ from the King, meets Cabinet or the Prime Minister and be formally congratulated for this appointment, this is not about him personally but, our country holding the highest SACU leadership position.