Wikipedia

Pholile Shakantu

Pholile Dlamini Shakantu is a Liswati politician. She has been the Minister of Justice from 2018 and the Minister of Foreign Affairs from 2023.

Pholile Shakantu
NationalityEmaswati
EducationUniversity of Eswatini
Leeds Beckett University
Occupation(s)lawyer and politician
Known forMinisterial career

Life

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Shakantu studied law at the University of Eswatini and she has a law degree. She also has a master's degree from Leeds Beckett University in Leadership and Change Management.[1]

She was appointed to be the Minister of Justice by King Mswati III in 2018.[1]

She was appointed as a senator by the King on 5 November 2023 after the appointment of Russell Dlamini as the 12th Prime Minister to advise the king about new ministers.[2] There are meant to be about thirty senators in Eswatini and she was one of twenty appointed by the King.[3] Later on 13 November she was appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs.[1]

In 2024, Shakantu visited the Republic of China (Taiwan) and Shakantu was received by President Tsai Ing-wen and Vice President Lai Ching-te as an ally. Eswatini is the only remaining country in Africa that recognises the Republic of China. Tsai thanked Shakuntu for her country's support including speaking up at the United Nations.[4][5][6] Shakuntu and Taiwan's Foreign Minister Joseph Wu signed an agreement reaffirming the two countries' close relationship.[7] Over 25 years Taiwan's assistance to Eswatini is estimated to be worth more than two billion dollars.[8]

The Taiwan government started its own digital platform TaiwanPlus in 2021.[9] Shakuntu was shown TaiwanPlus by Deputy Digital Minister Yeh Ning, and they discussed how it could help co-operation and counter disinformation.[7]

Shakuntu is the founder[1] and patron of the Eswatini Network of Women.[10]

Criticism

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Criticism published in South Africa alleges that the King, Shakuntu and her husband are involved with corruption.[11]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d "Minister Pholile Shakantu Profile". www.gov.sz. Retrieved 11 February 2024.
  2. ^ Ndebele, Lenin. "Eswatini has a new prime minister". News24. Retrieved 11 February 2024.
  3. ^ EDN_Reporter (6 November 2023). "The King's chosen 20 Senators". Eswatini Daily News. Retrieved 11 February 2024.
  4. ^ "Eswatini's foreign minister arrives in Taiwan for diplomatic visit - Africa Briefing". africabriefing.com. 31 January 2024. Retrieved 11 February 2024.
  5. ^ "President Tsai meets Eswatini Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Pholile Shakantu". english.president.gov.tw. 2 February 2024. Retrieved 11 February 2024.
  6. ^ Unwin, Mike (8 November 2012). Swaziland. Bradt Travel Guides. ISBN 978-1-84162-400-6.
  7. ^ a b China (Taiwan), Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Republic of (6 February 2024). "MOFA praises successful visit of Eswatini Foreign Minister Shakantu". Taiwan Today. Retrieved 11 February 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  8. ^ Staff, T. N. L. (1 February 2024). "Eswatini Signs Declaration to Vow Tight Diplomatic Ties with Taiwan". The News Lens International Edition. Retrieved 11 February 2024.
  9. ^ Government launches new English video platform Taiwan Plus, 2021
  10. ^ "Eswatini Network of Women joins ..." Retrieved 11 February 2024 – via PressReader.
  11. ^ "Justice Minister Pholile Shakantu, the corrupt and lying 'First Lady'". www.swazilandnews.co.za. Retrieved 11 February 2024.
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