The Eswatini Roads Authority (ERA) has appointed Ndabenhle Nxumalo as its Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Makhosazana Dlamini-Ginindza as Chief Financial Officer (CFO). The appointments were announced by Minister of Public Works and Transport, Chief Ndlaluhlaza Ndwandwe, as the country moves towards fully operationalising the institution responsible for overseeing its national road infrastructure. The ERA is a national public institution established under the Roads Authority Act of 2023.
The ERA's mandate centres on the management and development of the country's road infrastructure, including the planning, construction, rehabilitation, and maintenance of roads. The establishment of the Authority is part of the government's efforts to reform the road sector and strengthen the way the country's road infrastructure is managed and financed. The appointments of Nxumalo and Dlamini-Ginindza mark an important stage in the reforms aimed at changing how roads are planned, developed, and maintained in Eswatini.
Minister Ndwandwe outlined the expectations facing the new CEO, particularly regarding the delivery of roads that are properly planned, constructed to the required standards, and maintained on time. He emphasised the need for value for money in road contracts, transparency in the management of public resources, and a firm commitment to road safety. He also called for innovation in the planning, construction, and maintenance of roads, including the development of infrastructure that can withstand the effects of climate change.
The minister stressed the importance of sound financial management, particularly as the authority takes responsibility for managing resources intended for road infrastructure. He said the user-pays principle should gain public confidence through visible results, including a reduction in vehicle operating costs for road users. The principle requires those who use road infrastructure to contribute towards its upkeep and improvement. In Eswatini, the financing arrangements include a Roads Authority levy introduced on fuel in April 2025.
ERA Board Chairperson Gideon Mhlongo said the minister had launched the Board in 2025 and given it the responsibility of recruiting a substantive CEO and CFO. Mhlongo said the recruitment exercise had been thorough and was supported by expert consultants. According to Mhlongo, the process was conducted in compliance with national public procurement legislation. He thanked the minister and Cabinet for approving the appointments, as well as the director of the Public Enterprises Unit for her support during the process.
With the two executive positions now filled, Mhlongo said the ERA Strategic Plan would begin to be implemented in earnest. He assured stakeholders that the Board would remain accessible and support sound proposals while also asking difficult questions whenever further explanations or assurances were required. Mhlongo also appealed to the Eswatini Public Procurement Regulatory Agency (ESPPRA) to give the Authority's submissions expedited consideration.
The appointments of Nxumalo and Dlamini-Ginindza are expected to bring leadership and capacity to the ERA, enabling it to carry out its responsibilities effectively. The ERA's establishment and the appointments of its executives are part of the government's efforts to reform the road sector and strengthen the management and financing of the country's road infrastructure.
Key points
- The Eswatini Roads Authority has appointed Ndabenhle Nxumalo as CEO and Makhosazana Dlamini-Ginindza as CFO.
- The appointments are part of the government's efforts to reform the road sector and strengthen the management and financing of the country's road infrastructure.
- The ERA's mandate includes the planning, construction, rehabilitation, and maintenance of roads, as well as the management of resources intended for road infrastructure.
