BY DELISA THWALA
EZULWINI – Earlier today Eswatini Government through the Ministry of Finance welcomed Thabo David Khasipe to his first meeting of the Southern African Customs Union (SACU) Council of Ministers meeting.
This was his first meeting, since his appointment in February 2023. The Minister of Finance Neal Rijkenberg said they were happy to have Khasipe in the country.
Rijkenberg was addressing delegates as the Chairperson Council during the 49th Meeting of the SACU Council of Ministers. The meeting is currently ongoing at Happy Valley hotel.
“May I at the same time take this opportunity to formally welcome Thabo David Khasipe, our Executive Secretary, to his first meeting of the SACU Council of Ministers.
Mr. Khasipe is a national of the Kingdom of Lesotho, who previously served as the Deputy Executive Secretary of SACU and before joining SACU he was the Commissioner General of the Revenue Services Lesotho,” he said.
In addition, on behalf of the Council, Neal said they were pleased that Khasipe has re-joined the SACU family and they are looking forward to working with him in advancing the SACU agenda.
“You joined SACU at an opportune time when we have just adopted our SACU Strategic Plan 2022-2027 last year. We are counting on your leadership in ensuring what we have planned is achieved within the 5-year period,”
“In this regard, ES, please be assured that the Council remains available to provide the necessary support and resources required to successfully implement the Strategic Plan,” said the Minister of finance.
Worth mentioning is that Thabo David Khasipe, was appointed as the third Executive Secretary of SACU on February 1, 2023.
He is a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) and holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics from the National University of Lesotho in 1994 before enrolling at the University of Nairobi (Kenya) where he graduated with a Master’s Degree Economics in 1998.
Khasipe also holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA), Business/Commerce, General Degree from the University of Orange Free State (South Africa) in 2008.
Khasipe joined the Lesotho Revenue Authority as Commissioner of Customs and Excise in 2003 and was later appointed to the position of Deputy Commissioner General, from 2004 to 2007.
He also acted in the position of Commissioner General for a period of one year. He then joined Stanlib Lesotho as General Manager from 2007 to 2008. From 2008 to 2014, he served as Lesotho’s Ambassador to Kuwait before joining DAvCap as the Managing Director from 2014 to 2015. He previously served as the Deputy Executive Secretary of SACU from August 2015 to November 2016 and was until recently the Commissioner-General of the Revenue Services of Lesotho.
