Africa-Press – Eswatini. The Eswatini Revenue Service (ERS) has taken a major step towards improving public access and efficiency in government revenue collection by officially roping in post offices across the country as it assumes responsibility for all Government Revenue Offices.
The move marks an important milestone in Eswatini’s ongoing public finance reforms and signals a future of more accessible, streamlined and citizen-friendly services.
The announcement was made by Minister of Finance Neal Rijkenberg on Monday, 15 December 2025, during the Finance in Focus bulletin in Mbabane. The Minister confirmed that the Ministry of Finance is currently in a transition phase, during which revenue collection responsibilities are being fully handed over to the ERS.
As part of this transformation, ERS has entered into a strategic partnership with the Eswatini Posts and Telecommunications Corporation (EPTC). Through this collaboration, post offices across the country will serve as official points for collecting government revenue, bringing services closer to communities and reducing the need for long-distance travel.
Minister Rijkenberg explained that while the transition is progressing well, some initial operational challenges are being addressed. He cited an example where a payment made at a post office was not immediately recognised due to system alignment issues. However, he assured the nation that these early bottlenecks are being actively resolved to ensure a seamless and reliable service.
“These are transitional issues that come with major reforms,” Rijkenberg said. “What is important is that we are identifying them early and fixing them so that service delivery improves, not suffers.”
Currently, post offices in Mbabane and Manzini are fully operational and already providing revenue collection services. The rollout to other post offices nationwide is well underway, and the Minister confirmed that regular updates will be shared as more locations come online. Once the nationwide rollout is complete, traditional government revenue offices will be phased out.
The Minister expressed strong confidence that post offices will offer greater accessibility compared to the former system, particularly for people living in rural and peri-urban areas. With post offices already embedded in communities, the new arrangement is expected to significantly reduce congestion, long queues and travel costs for taxpayers.
Beyond physical access, government is also accelerating efforts to modernise revenue payments through digital platforms. Minister Rijkenberg highlighted that systems are being developed to allow citizens and businesses to pay taxes and fees electronically using mobile phones and computers. This digital shift is expected to further reduce queues, improve convenience and enhance transparency.
The transition aligns with government’s broader vision of strengthening public institutions, improving efficiency and enhancing revenue collection to support national development priorities. By empowering ERS and leveraging existing infrastructure such as post offices, Eswatini is building a smarter, more inclusive public service framework.
As the reforms take shape, the involvement of post offices represents more than just a logistical change. It reflects a commitment to meeting citizens where they are, embracing technology, and ensuring that government services are efficient, accessible and responsive.
With ERS leading the way and post offices becoming key service hubs, Eswatini’s revenue system is entering a new era—one designed to support economic growth, strengthen governance and make everyday interactions with government simpler for all Emaswati.
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