By Ntokozo Nkambule
Leaders of various companies in the country, both in the public and private sectors have come out to say that there is a leadership gap in the aforementioned sectors.
This came to the fore during the Leadership Growth Forum’s CEO Roundtable held last week Friday at Mountain View, which featured Eswatini Water Services Corporation CEO, Jabulile Mashwama, Eswatini Bank MD, Nozizwe Mulela, Ubombo Sugar Limited MD, Muzi Siyaya, Swaziland Building Society MD, Mbali Sibanyoni and Business Eswatini CEO, Nathi Dlamini as panellists.
The CEO Roundtable was themed The Next Generation of Eswatini’s Business Leaders: Do We Have A Compelling Pipeline?
The moderator on the day Thamsanqa Sibandze asked the industry leaders if there was enough intentionality to ensure that future leaders are groomed in the country.
Mashwama was the first to respond and noted that there isn’t enough intentionality in ensuring that there is a succession plan for building future leaders in the country.
“Back in the day, while I was still in University there used to be a programme where experienced professionals would recruit and nurture up-and-coming practitioners.”
She said the challenge in her opinion is that the aforementioned programme was never structured, and hence was not sustainable.
“The challenge with the programme was that it did not look at sustainability overall. We also need to look at this from the grassroots level, emaSwati need to understand that they have to develop their own country. We need to instill patriotism from a young age,” she noted.
Nathi Dlamini said several factors have contributed to the lack of succession efforts in leadership in the country, noting that young professionals have their way of doing things, while experienced leaders also have their way. Dlamini said this then creates a challenge as there are two sets of values at play.
Eswatini Bank MD, Nozizwe Mulela noted that young professionals also have a role to play in ensuring that they make themselves visible so that leaders can notice them.
“The question is, are young professionals participating enough so that they are visible to current leaders? I think, not quite. Another challenge is that young people want things to happen instantly, yet they have to be patient and also take charge of their career growth.”
Muzi Siyaya, who has served in various leadership positions in corporate South Africa noted that most emaSwati young professionals are highly talented in their respective fields, but do not possess leadership qualities.
“I believe we have extremely talented young people in the country, but not leaders. I’ve interviewed several people for leadership positions while serving as the MD of Ubombo Sugar, and I noted that most of them lack critical thinking skills. Most people come prepared for the interview and are good technically, but the critical thinking aspect is missing.”
Siyaya further echoed Nozizwe’s sentiments stating that young people must push the boundaries and not wait to be rescued. “Young people should have an unwavering commitment to success,”
He also urged emaSwati in leadership positions to take their time out to ensure that they mentor young people.
SBS MD, Mbali Sibanyoni echoed Siyaya’s comments noting that leaders in the country may be responsible for the current leadership gap in the country.
“We must ask ourselves as leaders if we are doing enough to empower future leaders. I mean we see leaders getting contract renewals after the age of 65 years. Yes, there is a leadership gap, but aren’t we creating that gap because we want to remain in those positions? And, we may be unwittingly doing that because of the fear of the unknown.”