By Musa Mdluli

MBABANE:Business Eswatini and other Eswatini National Provident Fund(ENPF) Social Partners have rejected claims suggesting that, “they are being influenced by a ‘mafia’ to reject Inyatsi Group Chief Executive Officer(CEO), the newly appointed Chairman of the ENPF Governing Board”.

In a statement sent to this Swaziland News, Business Eswatini, the Trade Union Congress of Swaziland(TUCOSWA), the Federation of Eswatini Business Community (FESBC) and the Federation of Swaziland Trade Unions (FESWATU) maintained that, “the decision to snub Board meeting was taken in the best interest of the ENPF members they are representing” as the Governing Board.

“Without delving into the substantive concerns regarding the governance of the ENPF, the Social Partners, namely Business Eswatini (BE), the Trade Union Congress of Swaziland (TUCOSWA), the Federation of Eswatini Business Community (FESBC), and the Federation of Swaziland Trade Unions (FESWATU), wish to reaffirm that we take governance matters seriously. Our commitment is grounded not only by the fiduciary duties of our representatives on the ENPF Board, but also from the position of trust entrusted to them as part of their oversight responsibilities for the Fund, to which employers and workers contribute. Any suggestion that the Federations have been influenced by considerations other than those already articulated to the relevant structures is unfounded and serves only to undermine independence, integrity and accountability with which the Federations execute their mandate to act in the best interests of the Fund and their members,” reads the statement in part.

Tension erupted within the ENPF Governing, other Board members are questioning Chairman Derrick Shiba’s appointment, Shiba stands accused of advancing the business interests of Inyatsi Group.

But the newly appointed ENPF vigorously denied these allegations when speaking to this publication.

“It’s true, 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.