Africa-Press – Eswatini. BRIGHTWELL Siboniso Nkambule has been appointed acting commissioner general at the Eswatini Revenue Service (ERS). The appointment is effective beginning of this month. ERS Director Communications Vusie Dlamini said cabinet had approved the appointment of Brightwell Siboniso Nkambule to act in the capacity of ERS commissioner general.
“Nkambule’s acting appointment is effective beginning of this month. This follows the departure of the inaugural CG, Dumisani E. Masilela, whose name was virtually synonymous with the revenue services,” he said adding that Nkambule was highly experienced in the ERS mandate.
Dlamini said the acting CG was not new to the ERS as he had served the Revenue Service for almost a similar period to that of Masilela having joined the organisation in October, 2010.
Nkambule had been part of the ERS executive management since 2012, having started as chief information officer (CIO) and moving to being head of modernisation and currently occupying the role of head of business strategy and development.
“Over the years Nkambule has led the organisation’s transformation as well as advisory role to the CG’s office on the organisation’s strategy. He has also played a role of short-term expert with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) from 2015 on Tax Administration reform programs in countries that included Nigeria, Ghana, Gambia, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Zimbabwe, Seychelles and Namibia.” Outgoing Commissioner General who is leaving ERS for the IMF advised Nkambule that he should not believe people who would tell him that he had big shoes to fill.
The second piece of advice was that he should remain humble and ready to engage, both with members of the team and with taxpayers. “The team is a great source of knowledge and ideas about how this place could be improved.
You don’t have to generate all the answers yourself. The third piece of advice is that you want to allow the team to operate and utilise their skills. Just as long as the parameters are clearly defined, there should be no reason to micro manage them,” Masilela said. He went on to say Nkambule should always allow a healthy discussion and be the last to speak.
Masilela admitted that this was not the easiest skill to practice yet easily the most important in leadership. “I would advise him to cultivate a strong relationship with the key stakeholders of this organisation.
This will put them in a strong position when dealing with the many challenges they would encounter in this job. “It is also critical to never take these matters personally and stick to legislation. One former colleague always said we should endeavour to always think with our heads and not with our hearts in this business.
Too much heart may lead to unequal treatment of your clients and that may be misconstrued,” Masilela added . At the IMF, where Masilela will be Revenue Administration Advisor, his role entails to promote development and implementation of medium term revenue strategies in the countries covered by the Fund’s Technical Assistance Centre that looks after the East Africa region.
These are Ethiopia, Eritrea, Kenya, Malawi, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda.
For More News And Analysis About Eswatini Follow Africa-Press
