The Central Bank of Eswatini (CBE) has once again distinguished itself on the continental stage by winning a prestigious second award for its E4 billion Protea Bond Programme.
At the Global Banking and Markets Africa 2026 event held in Cape Town, the Bank was honored with the Local Currency Bond Deal of the Year award.
This recognition follows the successful listing of the R786 million Protea Bond on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) last August, a move that has signaled strong international investor confidence in Eswatini’s economy.
Accepting the award on behalf of the CBE were Nhlanhla Mthethwa, Deputy Director of International and Domestic Markets, and Helder Da Silva, Deputy Director of Risk and Compliance.
Governor Dr. Phil Mnisi, who was present at the ceremony, congratulated the team for this milestone, noting that the JSE listing continues to provide a sophisticated platform for the Kingdom to raise capital for national development.
Beyond the success of high-level institutional deals, the Governor used the event to unveil a major new initiative focused on domestic financial inclusion.
Speaking during a panel discussion on capital market innovation, Dr. Mnisi announced that Eswatini is at an advanced stage of introducing its first-ever Retail Bond.
This programme is designed specifically to bring the underprivileged and marginalized members of society into the formal investment fold.
The new retail bond removes the traditional barriers to entry that often keep regular citizens out of government investment opportunities.
Under this initiative, the minimum amount required to purchase a bond is as little as E500, with the option to increase the investment in multiples of E100.
While further details are pending consultations with key stakeholders, the Governor assured the nation that official updates will be shared in due course.