EZULWINI – Retirement should not be associated with financial hardship, dependency or uncertainty, but rather dignity, freedom and financial security.
This was the dominant message at the fourth edition of the Old Mutual Eswatini Thought Leadership Forum held at the Happy Valley Hotel in Ezulwini yesterday, where pension experts, employers, trustees and financial sector stakeholders gathered to deliberate on the future of retirement planning in Eswatini. Held under the theme ‘Clock Out in Style: Secure a Prosperous Tomorrow by Making Smart Investments Today,’ the forum focused on retirement preparedness, pension reform, financial literacy and the urgent need for both employers and employees to make deliberate long-term financial decisions.
The event brought together retirement fund experts from Eswatini and the region, who stressed that while many workers spend decades employed, a significant number still reach retirement financially vulnerable and unprepared for life after work.
Opening the forum, Old Mutual Eswatini Business Development Manager Banomile Hlatshwayo said the annual platform had evolved into an important space for collaboration, insight-sharing and finding practical solutions for retirement challenges facing emaSwati.
Hlatshwayo said the forum reflected Old Mutual’s commitment not only to providing financial solutions, but also contributing thought leadership that empowers the retirement ecosystem in Eswatini.
“Today is more than just another industry gathering. It is an intentional conversation platform that brings together Eswatini’s retirement funds ecosystem to exchange ideas, challenge conventional thinking and collectively shape a stronger future for retirement outcomes in our country,” she said.
She said retirement conversations had become increasingly necessary because many workers still lacked adequate retirement savings despite spending most of their lives in formal employment.
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Africa’s pension challenge
EZULWINI – Grey Tewete, Head of Sales and Distribution at Old Mutual Malawi, examined retirement realities across Africa and the continent’s growing pension challenges.
Tewete said many African workers still view pension contributions as forced deductions rather than long-term investments that secure future livelihoods. He noted that low financial literacy levels and cultural perceptions surrounding death and retirement often discourage meaningful retirement planning.
According to his presentation, while some countries had relatively high literacy levels, only a small percentage of people fully understood pension investments and retirement benefits.
He said many workers preferred receiving full lump-sum payments upon retirement because they did not fully appreciate the long-term value of structured pension investments.
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