Mbabane – The Board of Trustees of EswatiniMed has announced that Chief Executive Officer Peter Samora Simelane will retire at the end of May 2026, bringing to a close more than three decades of service to the country’s largest medical aid scheme and one of the Kingdom’s most influential healthcare institutions.
The announcement was made on Tuesday, December 30, 2025, by Board Chairperson Samuel Sammy Dlamini, who said Simelane’s tenure since 1993 reshaped EswatiniMed from a conventional medical aid fund into a national pillar supporting accessible and quality healthcare across the Kingdom of Eswatini.
Simelane joined EswatiniMed at a time when private healthcare options were limited and medical aid coverage was still developing. Over the years, the organisation expanded specialist services, strengthened patient focused care and introduced governance systems aligned with international standards, positioning EswatiniMed as a key player in national health delivery.
One of the most visible milestones during his leadership was the establishment of the Ezulwini Private Hospital, which officially opened its doors in 2022. In 2023, His Majesty King Mswati III named the facility Sitselo Semphilo, meaning Fruit of Life. Two years later, in 2024, the hospital became the first in Eswatini to receive accreditation from the Council for Health Service Accreditation of Southern Africa, after meeting more than 4,000 internationally recognised standards.
According to the Board, Simelane’s approach to leadership extended beyond infrastructure and policy. He maintained close engagement with staff, supported frontline healthcare workers and ensured that innovation remained balanced with compassion in service delivery.
Beyond EswatiniMed, Simelane played a role in national development through his involvement in sport and community initiatives. As President of the Eswatini Football Association, he has been linked to youth development programmes and improved governance within the sport. Through EswatiniMed social investment projects, health services were extended to schools and underserved communities, particularly in rural areas.
The Board said Simelane steered the organisation through periods of scrutiny and operational pressure while maintaining a focus on governance, sustainability and value for members. His retirement, scheduled for May 2026, will mark the end of an era for EswatiniMed as it prepares for a leadership transition within a strengthened and internationally recognised healthcare system.
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