Africa-Press – Eswatini. The story of how the first female Eswatini Air pilot eventually managed to pursue her dream career after several failed attempts to successfully get a scholarship attests that indeed perseverance is the mother of success.
Samukelisiwe Tembe shares that her journey to becoming a pilot began during her childhood years, while growing up at Lubulini, surrounded by sugarcane farms.
“Having lost my mother at the age of eight, I was propelled to be a dreamer. The rare sounds of aircraft spraying in the sugarcane fields ignited my passion for flying,” Tembe recounted.
Upon completion of senior secondary in 2012, Tembe said she moved closer to town to apply in tertiary institutions.
cting on the advice of her mentor, she visited the USA Library in Sandla where she read about aviation with free internet access. As she read about aviation, Tembe said her passion to become a pilot grew daily.
“I applied for scholarships, knocking on every door. I was also advised to have a second option, so I also applied for a BSc in Agronomy at UNESWA.
Upon failing to secure sponsorship, I enrolled for a BSc in Agronomy in 2012,” she said.
Due to her love for flying, Tembe disclosed that even after being enrolled at UNESWA, she would still visit the Eswatini Civil Aviation Authority (ESWACAA) office which was in Mbabane Cooper Centre at that time.
At ESWACAA, Tembe said she was assured that a scholarship would eventually be availed if she became patient. Having joined UNESWA, Tembe said she would check from time to time if anything had come up.
It was in 2015 when Tembe said she received the call that changed her life.
“I received a call from my former class teacher, asking if he could share my number as he had received a call from the Ambassador in Qatar. The first Secretary called and asked if I would still like to pursue flying.
seized the opportunity and in September 2015, two weeks into my final year, I withdrew from the University of Eswatini and left for Qatar to pursue a Frozen Air Transport Pilot License,” she revealed.
An Air Transport Pilot Licence is the highest licence one can obtain in flying. Tembe excelled in ground school and completed it in 2019, attaining a Diploma and a License in Frozen Air Transport Pilot License, returning to the Kingdom at the Onset of Covid-19.
With the lockdown and hiring freeze, Tembe said she joined UNESWA again in 2020 to complete her final year.
“This wasn’t easy, but I managed to complete it at the end of 2021 and graduated top of the faculty with a Dean’s prize, Faculty of Agriculture 2020/2021 and a National Maize Corporation Prize for the best student in the BSc in Agronomy Programme,” she said.
In March 2022, Tembe joined Eswatini Air as a flight dispatcher and worked in the flight operations department for two years and eight months. In September 2024, she said the company sent her to SimAero for a type rating on the Embraer 145.
After passing my type rating, Tembe said she did her base training in December and started line flying during the same month. In mid-January 2025, she checked out as a first officer.
Tembe
“Since then, I’ve been flying and received a lot of support from the organisation, the captains and other first officers, which I am grateful for,” Tembe stated.
Reflecting on her professional life, Tembe said her journey has taught her to always strive for excellence and work hard, to do her best and has further propelled patriotism for the Kingdom of Eswatini.
“This journey has taught me to be resilient. Being closer to my dream of working as a dispatcher showed me there is so much more in aviation. Once a person is in the aviation industry, they not only love flying but then desire to learn a lot, or they fall in love with the whole industry,” she affirmed.
Tembe mentioned that challenges were there, but she could not point them out to a lot. In any challenge faced, Tembe confided she always tried to do better.
“Every day in aviation you learn something new. For example, if now I’m comfortable with the aircraft in descent, next time I’m trying to learn how I can descend in a way that will save fuel for the airline.
Everything I do I’m always thinking of the airline even as a general employee. How can we all do better to ensure we contribute positively to the success of Eswatini Air,” the pilot said.
She went on to explain that the aviation industry requires aviation enthusiasts, people who remain really passionate about it.
“I don’t believe one can fully reach their potential or contribute rationally to the industry if they aren’t passionate about it.
Hard work makes one thrive. People in this industry need to work hard to break barriers, there is no room to slack.
There is always a need to read on the newest trends, and systems for one to be safe and efficient,” she advised.
The pilot said the industry is always seeking ways to improve.
Tembe said it was also a place of integrity, where people must always be honest and not concede anything for it to be a safe environment.
She noted that it requires precision, integrity, dedication, adherence to procedures and resilience.
“Anyone with those qualities will thrive in the industry,” Tembe said.
The pilot said she has seen the airline breaking barriers and thriving, ensuring on-time performance and safety.
“I am proud to have seen the airline grow from attaining an AOC, empowering Emaswati in all departments and training them, making travel easy to places like Cape Town, Harare, Johannesburg and Durban.
The airline has contributed so much to trade and tourism in the Kingdom, and we are forever proud and grateful to be part of such a great initiative,” she mentioned.
In terms of inspiring other youth who may want to follow her career, Tembe said she tells anyone that what she has achieved remains doable every single day.
“Every dream can be fulfilled. You just need to be very passionate about flying and speak it into existence. Keep that fire burning for flying such that anyone who comes across them remembers them and their desire to fly, and now that is being self-motivated,” Tembe said.
She further said, “The youth should also know that even the sky is not the limit. They can soar higher. Nothing is impossible. If they are in high school, they will just need their sciences.”
Tembe told inspiring pilots that they needed to be patient, as aviation was quite expensive to train in, so most of the time, the stories she heard from other pilots were that it was not a linear journey.
She said the youth ought to be aware of this, but it should not be derailed by the hefty cost.
“The key element is hard work, the youth need to work hard and hit the ground running. The tough times are always there, but they do not last forever. The youth should strive to do their best.
I am here because of the people who listened to me and saw the burning passion I had for aviation. It honestly takes a village; I am forever grateful to His Majesty’s Government for all these opportunities I’ve received as Liswati,” she said.
From the ESWACAA Director General to the personal assistant who took her letters, the Ambassador at the time His Excellency Felizwe Dlamini who read her letters, was touched and saw potential, the then Swazi embassy in Qatar, Ministry of Transport, State of Qatar and Eswatini Air, Tembe said she was truly grateful to this day.
Tembe
Tembe pointed out that Eswatini Air had placed Eswatini on the map in the international community. She also mentioned that before the inception of the airline, most people could not afford to fly.
But after the airline was introduced, there has been a huge increase in the number of people who fly. Tembe stated that this has contributed to the country’s economic and social development through trade and tourism.
She explained that Eswatini Air had also created jobs for many young Emaswati who were aviators but did not have jobs, and for that, they would forever be grateful.
“This has also been incredible for the airport as well. Many business sectors have benefited from the airline as well, including the food industry and the fuel industry.
People from several countries now find it easier to fly into Eswatini as travelling has been made easier.
The airport is beaming with life, and it is such a lovely sight. Some people didn’t even know about this beautiful kingdom, with Eswatini Air’s visibility, the Kingdom is also now visible to the world,” she explained.
Tembe mentioned that Eswatini Air’s values were founded on staff empowerment. She stated that the airline’s mission statement commits the airline to deliver services through an empowered workforce.
To this end, Tembe said the airline makes significant investments in training and certifying its technical staff, including pilots.
“In my case, I have gone through the necessary accreditation process as specified by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) to achieve my type rating on the Embraer ERJ145 with the guidance and training received through Eswatini Air. My accreditation has been approved and endorsed by the ESWACAA,” Tembe disclosed.
She also noted that Eswatini Air’s vision amplifies ‘social responsibility’ and promotes contribution to the national economy. She said the airline achieves this objective by enabling ease of access to Eswatini and facilitating trade and tourism.
“The airline’s affordable fares also enhance national savings and allow emaSwati to conduct their businesses more efficiently and economically.
Naturally, the airline has created numerous job opportunities and has invested in Liswati to develop aviation skills in the country. All of these contribute to the national economy positively,” she added.
Tembe concluded by stating that Eswatini Air’s corporate social responsibility efforts were in their early stages since the airline remains new. However, she said the airline measures its social contribution based on its overall contribution to society.
The pilot also said, “Eswatini Air’s efforts to avail highly discounted travel opportunities to some members of the public (such as Pensioners and students studying abroad),
the introduction of a free shuttle service to and from KM III International Airport which has both societal benefits and environmental contributions by reducing fuel burn and removing several vehicles from the road stand out.
Of course, the airline supports several interest groups that have various social agendas by availing free and reduced tickets when they conduct meetings and workshops in Eswatini.”
SOME OF SAMUKELISIWE TEMBE’S CREDENTIALS
First student to obtain a Merit Pass in Lubulini Secondary’s history of existence JC (2009)
Brains on the Go MacMillan winner 2010/2011
Dean’s Prize UNESWA Faculty of Agriculture 2020/2021- best student in the faculty
National Maize Corporation Prize UNESWA 2020/2021- best student in BSc Agronomy
Member of Women and Science in Engineering Eswatini
Board Member -Creative Minds Eswatini 2024
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