FNB Eswatini convened key players in the country’s property sector for its inaugural Property Indaba, an initiative to strengthen collaboration across the real estate value chain and improve the homeownership journey for emaSwati.
Held on February 18, 2026, at the bank’s Head Office in Ezulwini, the Indaba brought together estate agents, conveyancers, developers, valuers, and representatives from the Deeds Office. The engagement focused on identifying process improvements, enhancing transparency, and reducing inefficiencies in the home loan approval and property transfer processes.
The initiative is part of the bank’s broader commitment to expanding inclusive access to property finance, particularly for young professionals and low-income earners, while ensuring stronger alignment among financial institutions, real estate professionals, and regulatory authorities.
Opening the session, FNB’s Executive Head of Retail, Dr. Mncedzi Ngomane, underscored the importance of coordinated action across the entire property ecosystem. “Driving inclusion in homeownership requires more than innovative products; it requires strong collaboration across the property value chain,” he said.
“As we continue to support young professionals and low-income earners through solutions like Sicalo Home Loan, we are equally focused on strengthening partnerships with conveyancers, real estate professionals, and the Deeds Office to improve process efficiency. Together, we can make the journey to homeownership seamless for EmaSwati.”
Dr. Ngomane emphasized that while financial innovation remains central to expanding access, operational efficiency across all stakeholders ultimately determines the customer’s experience.
The Indaba created space for candid discussion among property valuers, developers, estate agents, and regulators, fostering shared accountability and transparency within the sector.
Industry Property Valuer and panelist Bongani Zwane described the initiative as timely and necessary, noting that stakeholder education and engagement directly affect customers. “The Property Indaba is a great initiative by the bank, as stakeholder education and engagement are critical and trickle down to customer education,” he said.
Moderating the discussions, Tiyamike Maziya of Lionheart Properties highlighted the importance of alignment and consistent communication among all players in the property market.
“Only through constant communication and a shared understanding of our roles can we truly serve Eswatini and help it create generational wealth,” Maziya said. “The ‘meeting of the minds’ we discuss today is the foundation for a more transparent and robust property market in Eswatini.”
He added that stakeholders must move beyond viewing property transactions as isolated events and instead consider their long-term impact on wealth creation. “Efficiency is the result of every player in the value chain doing their part with the end customer in mind. We are here to ensure that the hand-off between the agent, the evaluator and the bank is seamless.”
Paris Dlamini, Home Loans Lead at FNB, welcomed the diverse contributions to the session and reaffirmed the bank’s commitment to operational excellence and customer-focused innovation. “Innovation in property finance is driven by collaboration. This Indaba allows us to refine our internal processes based on real-world feedback from those on the ground,” she said.
Dlamini emphasized that the bank sees itself not merely as a lender but as a long-term partner in the homeownership journey. “At FNB Eswatini, we see ourselves as more than just a lender; we are a partner in the homeownership journey, ensuring that our solutions, such as the Sicalo Home Loan, provide real, accessible help. Our goal is to reduce friction in the property-buying process. When we align with evaluators and estate agents, we significantly reduce the turnaround time for the customer,” she concluded.