By Kwanele Dhladhla
The new Director General (DG) for Eswatini Financial Intelligence Centre (EFIC), Babhekile Matsebula, has pledged to steer the centre towards a future of innovation, excellence, and sustainable growth.
Soon after being unveiled by Minister of Finance Neal Rijkenberg on at EFIC offices at the Corporate Place in Mbabane, Matsebula promised that she would ensure that the EFIC remains at the cutting edge of financial intelligence, setting new standards and achieving measurable milestones.
“The centre will uphold the highest principles of integrity, confidentiality, accountability, and transparency, guiding us in creating meaningful impact for our stakeholders and ensuring a positive contribution to our nation’s development,” she pledged.
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The incoming DG said the fight against financial crime, including money laundering and terrorist financing, was fundamental to preserving the integrity of Eswatini’s financial systems and national security.
As part of this mission, Matsebula said she would work with the team to enhance collaborative efforts with government agencies, designated authorities, financial and non-financial institutions, and law enforcement agencies.
She said their advanced analytical capabilities and strategic reporting would be used to provide vital information that would inform policy decisions and strengthen preventative measures.
Matsebula pointed out that the empowering our law enforcement partners with the necessary tools and intelligence would remain a top priority.
“We will ensure that they are well-equipped to combat financial crime effectively.
I hereby pledge to rigorously enhance information security and data protection measures, ensuring compliance with international standards and committing to regular audits to safeguard the financial integrity of our nation.
We will review and strengthen our regulatory and supervisory tools for the DNFBPs to effectively supervise and manage compliance in this sector,” she said.
Rijkenberg said the appointment marked a significant milestone in ongoing efforts to strengthen the country’s governance of anti-money laundering and counter terrorist financing, securing the financial system and driving the economic growth agenda.
The minister noted that as they navigate through challenging times, it was imperative to have strong leadership at the helm of financial monitoring and regulatory institutions.
As such, he said the role of the EFIC DG was crucial in ensuring that efforts in combating money laundering and preventing terrorist financing were effectively implemented so that they could achieve goals of improving the country’s mutual evaluation rating and becoming fully compliant with the FATF recommendations.
The minister said Matsebula has an impressive track record in executive management having served in various capacities that equipped her with the skills and knowledge necessary to excel in the role.
Rijkenberg said the new DG had also worked very well with the ministry over the years, in leadership positions both at the Eswatini Bank as well as the Financial Services Regulatory Authority (FSRA).
Additionally, Rijkenberg said Matsebula also served as a part time Judge at the Industrial Court and has had years of experience sitting on a number of boards and committees representing the ministry.
He mentioned that Matsebula had demonstrated exceptional leadership, strategic thinking, and a deep understanding of the complexities of our financial system.
Rijkenberg said her commitment to transparency, accountability, and innovation aligned perfectly with government’s vision for the future.
The minister stated that Matsebula has a track record of maintaining confidentiality and maturity when dealing with sensitive information, and possesses the necessary leadership and technical knowledge, coupled with excellent values, needed to lead an entity like the EFIC tasked with promoting the integrity of the financial sector.
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“Under Matsebula’s leadership, we are confident that the Financial Intelligence Centre will continue to thrive and make significant strides towards in achieving its strategic goal of securing the country’s financial system and in turn Eswatini’s economic objectives.
Her appointment is testament to our dedication to excellence and our unwavering commitment to the integrity and safety of our financial systems and the economic prosperity of our nation,” said Rijkenberg.
NEW EFIC DIRECTOR GENERAL’S ACADEMIC CREDENTIALS:
- Bachelor of Arts in Law
- Bachelor of Laws
- Executive Development Programme
- Master of Management (Finance and Investments)
- Postgraduate Diploma in Compliance Management & Money Laundering Control
- MSc Leadership and Change Management
- Certificate in Business Risk Management
- Certificate in Investigation of Financial Crime
- Anti-Money Laundering and Combating of Terrorist Financing Assessors Training
