Themba Masuku Explained

Themba Masuku
Office:Acting Prime Minister of Eswatini
Term Start:13 December 2020
Term End:19 July 2021
Predecessor:Ambrose Mandvulo Dlamini
Successor:Cleopas Dlamini
Office2:Deputy Prime Minister of Eswatini
Term Start2:6 November 2018
Monarch2:Mswati III
Primeminister2:Ambrose Mandvulo Dlamini
himself
Cleopas Dlamini
Predecessor2:Paul Dlamini
Term Start3:2008
Term End3:2013
Monarch3:Mswati III
Primeminister3:Barnabas Sibusiso Dlamini
Successor3:Paul Dlamini
Office4:Minister for Finance
Term Start4:November 1996
Term End4:November 1998
Predecessor4:Derek von Wissel
Successor4:John Philip Carmichael
Office5:Minister for Economic Planning and Development
Term Start5:1993
Term End5:1996
Office6:Minister for Agriculture and Cooperatives
Term Start6:1991
Term End6:1993
Birth Date:7 July 1950
Party:Independent

Themba Nhlanganiso Masuku (born 7 July 1950)[1] is a Swazi politician who has served as Deputy Prime Minister of Eswatini since 2018 and as Acting Prime Minister from 13 December 2020 to 16 July 2021.[2] Earlier, he served as Deputy Prime Minister from 2008 until 2013.

Early life

Masuku was born on 7 July 1950. He received his Master of Science degree from the University of Missouri.

Career

In the 1990s, he filled various posts in the government of Swaziland, including Minister for Agriculture and Cooperatives, Minister for Economic Planning and Development, and Minister of Finance from 1996 to 1998.[3] He then worked with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, as director of the liaison offices in Geneva and later New York. He was appointed Deputy Prime Minister in 2008[4] by King Mswati III[5] and served in that position until 2013, when he became the regional administrator for the Shiselweni district.

Masuku returned to his position as Deputy Prime Minister when Prime Minister Ambrose Mandvulo Dlamini presented his cabinet in November 2018.[6] [7] He became acting prime minister after Dlamini's death on 13 December 2020.[8] According to the Constitution of Eswatini, Themba Masuku was supposed to serve as Acting Prime Minister for a maximum period of three months.[9] In June and July 2021, amidst police and army brutality, Masuku was criticized for his handling of the 2021 Eswatini Protests against the monarchy. In a sibaya on 16 July 2021, King Mswati replaced Masuku with Cleopas Dlamini as the new prime minister.[2]

Notes and References

  1. https://www.sardc.net/editorial/sadctoday/documents/pre/SADC_TODAY_vol_1_2_April_1997.pdf
  2. Web site: Eswatini king appoints new prime minister.
  3. Web site: FAO - News Article: Swaziland's new Deputy Prime Minister hails from FAO. www.fao.org.
  4. Web site: Swaziland's new Deputy Prime Minister hails from FAO. 7 May 2013. 12 November 2008. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.
  5. Web site: President Ma meets Swaziland Deputy Prime Minister Themba N. Masuku. 7 May 2013. 28 April 2010. Office of the President, Republic of China (Taiwan).
  6. http://www.gov.sz/index.php/latest-news/2086-prime-minister-announces-new-cabinet Prime Minister announces new cabinet
  7. http://www.gov.sz/index.php/component/content/article/123-public-works-a-transport/2096-honourable-chief-ndlaluhlaza-ndwandwe-officially-sworn-in-as-minister?Itemid=799 Honourable Chief Ndlaluhlaza Ndwandwe officially sworn in as Minister of Public Works and Transport
  8. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hAkNrU7W62M Eswatini Prime Minister dies from coronavirus infection in SA hospital
  9. Web site: Eswatini – Constitution – 2005. 14 December 2020. Collaborative Africa Budget Reform Initiative (CABRI). en.