By Nomonde Mafu
The Chief Executive Officer of the Eswatini Public Procurement Regulatory Agency (ESPRA), Vusi Matsebula,
has been named ‘Champion of the Month’ by the Africa Minigrids Program (AMP), in recognition of his outstanding leadership and commitment to advocating and advancing renewable energy and sustainability across the region.
The prestigious honour celebrates his role in positioning Eswatini as a proactive player in Africa’s just energy transition.
As a member of AMP’s inaugural cohort, the CEO has championed innovative, inclusive, and scalable clean energy solutions, marking a new era for regulatory leadership in the minigrids sector during the cohort processions.
Notably, Matsebula was among the first cohort of trainees who underwent months of in-person training last year at the University of Eswatini.
The program was spearheaded by the Eswatini Energy Regulation Authority (ESERA) and executed by UNESWA’s Centre for Sustainable Energy Research (CSER).
In an exclusive interview with the Eswatini Sunday, Matsebula said his interest in energy was sparked in 2019, when he was asked what inspired his interest in renewable energy and the Africa Minigrids Program.
“In 2019, I attended a training in Tokyo, Japan, on Energy Policy. That is when my interest in energy, and specifically renewable energy, began.
My application for the Africa Minigrids Program was driven by a deep commitment to sustainable development and the recognition that energy access is fundamental to socio-economic progress.
“The Africa Minigrids Program exemplifies innovative solutions to expand clean energy access in underserved communities, aligning with our national goals for a greener, more sustainable Eswatini.
Witnessing the transformative potential of renewable energy to improve livelihoods and promote environmental stewardship inspired me to explore possible means of introducing these initiatives within our procurement processes,
ensuring that sustainability is integrated at every level. Moreover, renewable procurement is growing in the country,” he said.
“I felt that since I am working for the Public Procurement Regulator, there is a great need for the Agency to understand the renewable energy sector so that I can advise accordingly during tender review, specifications development, evaluation, contract implementation and management,” explained ESPRA CEO.
When asked what his participation in the first cohort of the Africa Minigrids Program influenced his leadership approach at the ESPRA,
the CEO affirmed that the participation in the first cohort of the Africa Minigrids Program had profoundly shaped his leadership approach at ESPPRA.
He said the experience had also strengthened his commitment to develop a vibrant business model for the Agency by reinforcing the importance of proactive, forward-thinking strategies that prioritise sustainability and inclusivity.
“It has encouraged me to advocate for procurement practices that favour green solutions, foster local enterprise development, and build resilience against climate impacts.
I should say, though, that those without the National Public Procurement Policy, it is still a work in progress.
In taking care of the interests of the suppliers, the course has assisted me in fostering partnerships and leveraging innovative financing mechanisms to accelerate renewable energy deployment across Eswatini.”
When articulating the most urgent barriers to scaling renewable energy in Eswatini and how strategic procurement could help overcome them,
the CEO said the most urgent barriers to scaling renewable energy in Eswatini included limited access to affordable financing, inadequate infrastructure, and a lack of technical capacity within the local supply chain.
“Strategic procurement can address these challenges by prioritising the production and sourcing of locally available, cost-effective renewable technologies,
establishing clear sustainability criteria, and fostering partnerships with innovative clean energy providers. By embedding green criteria into procurement policies,
we can stimulate demand for renewable solutions, encourage local industry development, and attract investment, thereby accelerating the country’s transition to renewable energy.”
When asked what role he believed green skills development and local capacity-building could play in Eswatini’s energy transition and climate resilience plans,
Matsebula responded, saying green skills development and local capacity-building are essential to Eswatini’s energy transition and climate resilience.
“They empower local entrepreneurs, technicians, and policymakers to design, implement, and maintain renewable energy projects effectively.
Investing in training and knowledge transfer ensures sustainability, reduces reliance on imported expertise, and creates employment opportunities.
Moreover, building a skilled workforce supports the integration of green technologies into our broader economic and environmental strategies, fostering a resilient and self-reliant nation committed to sustainable growth.”
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