Pholile Shakantu
Pholile Shakantu | |
|---|---|
.jpg) | |
| Nationality | Eswatini |
| Education | University of Eswatini Leeds Beckett University |
| Occupation(s) | lawyer and politician |
| Known for | Eswatini Minister |
Pholile Dlamini Shakantu is an Eswatini politician. She has been the Minister of Justice from 2018 and the Minister of Foreign Affairs from 2023.
Life[edit]
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 reelected as a senator in November 2023 after the appointment of Mmemo Rusell 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 the twenty appointed by the King.[3] Later in 2023 she became the Minister of Foreign Affairs[1] and an early task was to visit Taiwan.
Eswatini is unusual for an African country as it is the only one that recognises the Republic of China (Taiwan)[4][5] and she was received by the President Tsai Ing-wen and Vice President Lai Ching-te as an ally. The President thanked Shakuntu for her country's support including speaking up at the United Nations.[6] Shakuntu and Taiwan's Foreign Minister Jaushieh 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 that 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 they and 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[edit]
Criticism published in South Africa alleges that the King, Shakuntu and her husband are involved with corruption.[11]
References[edit]
- ^ a b c d "Minister Pholile Shakantu Profile". www.gov.sz. Retrieved 2024-02-11.
- ^ Ndebele, Lenin. "Eswatini has a new prime minister". News24. Retrieved 2024-02-11.
- ^ EDN_Reporter (2023-11-06). "The King's chosen 20 Senators". Eswatini Daily News. Retrieved 2024-02-11.
- ^ "Eswatini's foreign minister arrives in Taiwan for diplomatic visit - Africa Briefing". africabriefing.com. 2024-01-31. Retrieved 2024-02-11.
- ^ Unwin, Mike (2012-11-08). Swaziland. Bradt Travel Guides. ISBN 978-1-84162-400-6.
- ^ "President Tsai meets Eswatini Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Pholile Shakantu". english.president.gov.tw. Retrieved 2024-02-11.
- ^ a b China (Taiwan), Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Republic of (2024-02-06). "MOFA praises successful visit of Eswatini Foreign Minister Shakantu". Taiwan Today. Retrieved 2024-02-11.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ Staff, T. N. L. (2024-02-01). "Eswatini Signs Declaration to Vow Tight Diplomatic Ties with Taiwan". The News Lens International Edition. Retrieved 2024-02-11.
- ^ Government launches new English video platform Taiwan Plus, 2021
- ^ "Eswatini Network of Women joins ..." Retrieved 2024-02-11 – via PressReader.
- ^ "Justice Minister Pholile Shakantu, the corrupt and lying 'First Lady'". www.swazilandnews.co.za. Retrieved 2024-02-11.