Times Of Swaziland: MAJOZI SITHOLE NEW CENTRAL BANK GOVERNOR MAJOZI SITHOLE NEW CENTRAL BANK GOVERNOR ================================================================================ BY CLAUDE MAGONGO on 08/11/2013 05:27:00 MBABANE - The former Minister of Finance, Majozi Sithole, has been appointed as the new Governor of the Central Bank. Making the announcement at the Cabinet offices yesterday, the Prime Minister, Sibusiso Barnabas Dlamini stated that: “it has pleased His Majesty King Mswati III to appoint Majozi Sithole as the Governor of the Central Bank for the next five years.” Sithole replaces the outgoing Governor, Martin Dlamini in a swap move that sees Dlamini assuming the portfolio of Minister of Finance. Present during the announcement were the Minister of Finance, Martin Dlamini, the Acting Principal Secretary of Finance, Sizakele Dlamini, the King’s Private Secretary, Mbongeni Simelane and the governments Press Secretary, Percy Simelane. Sithole is part of the 70 people who were appointed yesterday into different emabandla. Also appointed in direct swap is the former deputy prime minister Themba Masuku who has been replaced by Paul Dlamini. Masuku was appointed the Shiselweni Regional Administrator (RA). Also appointed yesterday were former cabinet ministers Lutfo Dlamini, Clement Dlamini, Mtiti Fakudze. Attempts to get a comment from Sithole proved futile last night. Sylvia Mthethwa new Lubombo RA MBABANE – Sylvia Mthethwa, the newly- appointed Regional Administrator (RA) of Lubombo is the first woman to be appointed to this position. Mthethwa said the only thing that came to mind was to say Bayethe wena Phakathi! She was ecstatic about her new position and said she would advocate change in mental perceptions pertaining to women and business. “You know I am a businesswoman and I will try to assist women in business in the region that I’ve been appointed to lead,” said Mthethwa. She further stated that business was her passion so it would be at the fore of her objectives. The former business woman of the year also stated that this was a new role for her so she could not comment much. Mthethwa is the owner of the Progress group of businesses and former member of the Royal board of trustees. Traditional Prime Minister Timothy Velabo Mtetwa confirmed that Mthethwa was the first woman to be a Regional Administrator. He said this was a first for a woman to be in this position and it, therefore, cements that the country was dedicated to uplifting women to positions of authority. “Vele kwekucala kwen-teka loku kaNgwane, sikho-mba wona umhlaba kutsi igender eSwatini ikhona,” he said. Loosely translated as: ‘this is an unprecedented move in the land and we are showing the world that we are gender sensitive.’