Jane Mkhonta-Simelane

Jane Mkhonta-Simelane is a Swazi politician and civil servant, who has been the Minister of Tourism and Environmental Affairs of Eswatini since 2023. She is also member of the House of Assembly since 2023.

Early life Jane Mkhonta-Simelane obtained a Bachelor of Adult Education from the University of Botswana, a Bachelor of Social Sciences in Gender Studies from the University of Pretoria, where she also obtained a postgraduate degree in Multidisciplinary Human Rights.

In 1984, she began working on the Women in Development Project as head of handicrafts, rising to head of domestic industry in 1992, a position she held until 2000. King Mswati III appointed her Minister of Tourism and Environmental Affairs of Eswatini in the cabinet of Prime Minister Russell Dlamini on 13 November 2023.

In 2024, she announced a ban on plastic bags, as well as the need to invest in innovative techniques to make agriculture more sustainable and respectful of the soil, reforestation, improvement of the road network and solutions through nature. Regarding the ban on plastic bags, in October 2025 she denounced an attempt to have her removed from office.

In tourism policy, she reported on the growing trend in tourism to the country in 2025 following the COVID-19 pandemic and the promotion of sustainable tourism, environmental protection and road safety.