COUNTRY LAUNCHES INTENSE INVESTIGATION

MBABANE – A powered team comprising government officials and the leader of Cabinet launched an intense investigation into the alleged leak of the internal records from the Eswatini Financial Intelligence Unit (EFIU) to ICIJ.

The ongoing investigation into the leaks was disclosed by the Governor of the Central Bank of Eswatini (CBE), Dr Phil Mnisi, during his engagement with editors, dubbed ‘Tea & Coffee with the Governor’, which was held at the MTN Golf Course. The governor said the investigations were being carried out at different institutions, which he did not divulge. According to Mnisi, the launched probe was aimed at ascertaining whether the kingdom had wanting financial processes or the financial system was hacked. He said the process was crucial in bringing confidence to all and sundry, that the Eswatini financial system was sound, compliant and was protecting the interest of everyone.

investigations

Without committing himself to the detail of each of the reported matters in the alleged leaked records, Dr Mnisi said, as the investigations continued, the CBE was playing its part in complying and also undertaking proper due diligence. The governor went on to say that they were not going to entertain people, who were obtaining information through hacking systems and exposing the country to reputational risks. “We are not going to entertain that. We do not want to let hackers and people that are leaking information to get away with it,” Dr Mnisi said. Unequivocally, he added: “If there is anyone who would be found to have leaked the information and hacked the system, we as the CBE and as the financial sector, are saying that those people must be brought to book.” Dr Mnisi described this alleged incident as very unfortunate.

The governor alluded to the hacking of the Lesotho financial system, which occurred in mid-December 2023. He said it affected several systems, forcing the country’s financial system to be shut down. The governor said some people were always looking at hacking systems. “The risk is everywhere and the country needs to identify it, control it and these are the principles of managing risks,” Dr Mnisi said. He said since the country was faced with these challenges, the authorities would work together, refraining from pointing fingers at one another.  

credibility

He said he wrote to Prime Minister Russell Dlamini and Finance Minister Neal Rijkenberg to assure them that it was time to work together to ensure the credibility and integrity of the financial system, so that it was not compromised. “If we don’t do that, it would be detrimental to the country,” the governor said. To avoid incrimination, the individuals cited in the papers were not contacted as the matter is still under investigation.

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