Eswatini minister urges boards to report abuses
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on Times of Eswatini
Eswatini’s Finance Minister Neal Rijkenberg says respect for elders and leaders should not prevent board members from reporting questionable conduct. He was speaking at the launch of Sibusiso Nhleko’s book on governance failures, according to the Times of Eswatini.
Eswatini’s Finance Minister, Neal Rijkenberg, has called on board members to report irregular conduct, even when they have great respect for elders or leaders. He was speaking on Friday evening in Ezulwini at the launch of Sibusiso Nhleko’s book, The Elephant in the Boardroom: The Silent Killers of Good Governance, reports the Times of Eswatini.
Neal Rijkenberg explained that the emaSwati cultural value of siyahlonipha, meaning “we are respectful”, could discourage board members from challenging questionable conduct. He urged them to voice their objections respectfully and humbly, including when doing so risks damaging professional relationships.
To illustrate the consequences of silence, the minister cited a public entity where a chief financial officer had reportedly presented financial statements to the board for five years as having been prepared by external auditors, even though the auditors did not attend the presentations. Rijkenberg questioned the board members’ failure to respond and reminded them of their responsibility to ensure the organisation complies with its mandate, according to the Times of Eswatini.
