By Zweli Martin Dlamini

MBABANE:Derrick Shiba, the Inyatsi Group Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and newly appointed Chairman of the Eswatini National Provident Fund (ENPF) has confirmed the reported moves to oust him as the Chairperson of the Governing Board.

Responding to this Swaziland News subsequent to an article published by this independent online publication earlier on Thursday morning, the ENPF Chairperson said not all members of the Governing Board “wanted him out as the Chairman but they were lobbied”.

The Governing Board Chairman then asked not to comment further pending his meeting with Labour Minister Phila Buthelezi.

“It’s true m, there are moves to oust me as the ENPF Board Chairman and surprisingly, we haven’t started working as the Board but already there are accusations against me. How can you accuse me before we even start working?. The corporate syndicate behind all this is very deep-rooted and wants to control everything but, I won’t mention it for now, you can call another Board member and verify this. I will meet the Labour Minister for guidance regarding the latest developments,” said the ENPF Board Chairman.

But a source within the Governing Board told this publication that, the conflict erupted after Business Eswatini Chief Executive Officer(CEO) Nathie Dlamini lobbied other Board members saying the Chairperson position was supposed to be rotational and therefore, after ex-Chairman Mduduzi Gina who was representing workers, now employers represented by Business Eswatini, must hold the position.

“It’s Nathie Dlamini from Business Eswatini who wants him out and the battle involves Finance Minister Neal Rijikernberg who believes Shiba has been appointed to advance Inyatsi Executive Director Michello Shakantu’s interests. Derrick Shiba is an employer owning businesses as well so he qualifies to be appointed, he is not representing Michello Shakantu,” said the Board.

But another Board member “who wants Chairman Derrick Shiba out” maintained that, the Inyatsi Group CEO was systematically appointed by the Labour Minister Phila Buthelezi to advance the business interests of Inyatsi Group Executive Director Michello Shakantu by ‘stealing’ the public funds.

The Board member further mentioned that, “they want Cabinet to clarify who recommended Derrick Shiba to head the ENPF and who exactly is he representing within the ENPF Governing Board,” as all appointment must be for a specific corporate entity representation.

“As you can see in the statement sent to you, ENPF is a Fund for workers and employers are contributing and therefore, we cannot keep quiet when dictating a threat to the workers’ monies. We want to know who recommended Inyatsi CEO Derrick Shiba for the appointment and who exactly is he representing within the Board?. The statement sent to you has been endorsed by Board members representing TUCOSWA, Business Eswatini, FESBC and the Federation of Swaziland Trade Union, all of us don’t want Derrick Shiba,” said the Board member.

On another note, the ENPF Board of Directors said, they remain committed to acting in the best interests of the Fund members and will communicate and inform the Nation accordingly when dictating suspicious motives.

“The representatives of the Employer and Worker Federations on the ENPF Board remain committed to acting in the best interests of Fund members and beneficiaries and to upholding the highest standards of ethical conduct and fiduciary responsibility. We will continue to keep our constituencies appropriately informed, mindful of the need to support an amicable resolution of the matters reported and to preserve the integrity and stability of the Fund”, reads the statement in part. 

Derrick Shiba, the newly appointed Chairman of the ENPF Governing Board is highly expected to meet Labour Minister Phila Buthelezi to find possible ways of addressing the challenges within the Governing Board.