By Phiwa Sikhondze
The long-awaited Citizen Economic Empowerment Act (CEEA) is poised to reshape Eswatini’s economic future by driving inclusive growth and empowering local businesses, particularly micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs).
Speaking at the Revenue Blueprint Masterclass hosted by A Peculiar People over the weekend, Thuli Dladla-Dlamini, President of the Business Union of Eswatini (BUFE) and Vice Chairperson of the Eswatini Citizen Economic Empowerment Council, highlighted the Act’s potential to open doors for local businesses, especially in government procurement.
The Act, she explained, is designed to ensure that business opportunities are reserved for local entrepreneurs, particularly in the government procurement space. Dladla-Dlamini emphasized that tenders worth up to E10 million will be exclusively for local businesses, a key measure aimed at addressing long-standing economic inequalities.
“We cannot continue to see foreigners take the lion’s share of business opportunities while Swazis are left with peanuts,” she remarked.
With unemployment rates high and foreign businesses dominating key sectors, the Act offers a much-needed intervention. It is a timely response to the economic challenges facing the country, particularly the struggle for economic participation among local entrepreneurs.
According to Dladla-Dlamini, the Act’s primary goal is to foster sustainable economic growth by empowering EmaSwati to take control of the business landscape and create job opportunities, especially for young people.
“The aim is not just to ensure that Swazi businesses survive, but to enable them to thrive,” she added.
In addition to prioritizing local businesses for government contracts, the Act also seeks to enhance access to financial resources and provide comprehensive training for small business owners.
These provisions are expected to strengthen the capacity of local enterprises, enabling them to compete on both regional and international stages.
The Citizen Economic Empowerment Act aligns with Eswatini’s broader development goals, including those outlined in the National Development Plan and the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework.
Both documents emphasize the importance of inclusive economic growth and poverty reduction, making the Act an essential tool for advancing these goals.
Eswatini, Dladla-Dlamini noted, can draw valuable lessons from other African countries that have implemented similar policies successfully. Botswana, for example, has made significant strides through its own citizen economic empowerment initiatives. “We are not reinventing the wheel.
We are adopting best practices from countries that have already seen success,” she affirmed. Also speaking on the citizen economic empowerment, Lucky Slomo Dlamini – Founder of Slomoes Corporation – expressed his appreciation for the formation of the Eswatini Citizen Economic Empowerment Council.
As a strong advocate for the support of local businesses, Dlamini said that for the longest time, the environment has not been favorable for EmaSwati business owners as preferential treatment was given to foreign investors, even on areas that the locals could competently cover.
He shared his hope that if effectively implemented, the Citizen Economic Empowerment Act will yield more successful entrepreneurs.
In his speech, Vusi Matsebula, CEO of the Eswatini Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (ESPPRA), highlighted the importance of the Citizen Economic Empowerment Act in building a more resilient and inclusive economy. He noted that the Act’s implementation would create more opportunities for local businesses to participate in public procurement.
“We are simplifying the process for local businesses to participate in tenders. The introduction of the standard bidding document and the review of tenders is aimed at ensuring that all businesses, especially small enterprises, have an equal chance to compete,” Matsebula said.
He further explained that ESPPRA is working to ensure transparency and fairness in the tendering process. “We are reviewing all tender documents to ensure they are not discriminatory and that the specifications are clear and accessible for all businesses,” he added.
Matsebula urged local businesses to take advantage of the opportunities created by the Citizen Economic Empowerment Act, stressing that capacity-building programs will be essential in helping entrepreneurs navigate the procurement process and build sustainable businesses.
In conclusion, Dladla-Dlamini’s remarks underscore the transformative potential of the Citizen Economic Empowerment Act, which is expected to be a game-changer for local businesses in Eswatini. As she aptly put it, “
This is the beginning of a new chapter for Eswatini, where local businesses will no longer be on the sidelines but at the forefront of our nation’s economic progress.” With the full implementation of the Act, Eswatini is poised for a brighter, more inclusive economic future.