South Africa’s Bajabulile “Swazi” Tshabalala is vying for the top position at the African Development Bank (AfDB), leveraging her extensive experience and credentials gained during her tenure at the institution.
Tshabalala recently stepped down as Senior Vice President of the AfDB in October 2024, after the South African government endorsed her candidacy for the presidency.
With nearly 30 years of experience in management, finance, and risk management, Tshabalala has held various key leadership roles at the AfDB. She joined the bank in 2018 as Vice President for Finance and Chief Financial Officer and was later appointed as Acting Senior Vice President in March 2020. Her responsibilities included overseeing the Bank’s financial assets and portfolios, leading senior leadership and bank-wide efforts to develop a Long-Term Financial Sustainability Framework, and chairing the Asset and Liability Committee.
Tshabalala’s vision for the AfDB is to transform it into a “Better, Bolder, Bigger Bank” that drives Africa’s transformation through strategic infrastructure development, private sector growth, and financial innovation. As she stated, “Africa is rising—but the pace of change must match the urgency of our challenges. I am running to lead a Bank that moves with that urgency.”
Tshabalala emphasizes the need for the AfDB to be a high-performance institution that is agile, transparent, and focused on execution. She plans to cut project approval times in half, mobilize more private and institutional capital, and prioritize delivery. Regarding climate issues, Tshabalala stresses that climate resilience should be integrated into every project, particularly for vulnerable countries. She notes, “Africa did not cause the climate crisis—but we are among the most exposed to its consequences. Our response must be proactive, integrated, and equitable.”
With her extensive experience and clear vision, Tshabalala is well-positioned to lead the AfDB into its next chapter, driving Africa’s development and growth.