Introduction
King Sobhuza II ascended to the throne on 20 December 1921. He led his people during the Colonial era and showed unwavering support for the British during the course of the Second World War: post-war projects created by the Commonwealth Development Corporation included the establishment of the Mhlume Sugar Estates which were meant to help …
Foreign Trade & Investment
Reliable and affordable electricity and internet remain key priorities for government in order to stimulate private sector growth and productivity, the Minister declared, to which end government intends to expedite national plans for promoting the local production of electricity and to ensure that end-users are the primary beneficiaries of Eswatini’s burgeoning cyber-scape. He said that …
Tourism
Unmissable experiences in Eswatini recommended by Lonely Planet’s experts include: • Watching a crash of almost a dozen wild rhino bathe, lounge and drink at one of the many secluded waterholes within Mkhaya Game Reserve • Spotting zebra, eland, wildebeest, warthog and more while on a short stroll, day hike or challenging multi-day trek in …
Manufacturing Commerce & Mining
Soon thereafter, Finance Minister Rijkenberg spoke of the empowerment of citizens and the provision of incentives for MSMEs, saying that the country needs to leverage on MSMEs’ potential to build an economy that works for everyone, and “it is essential that we create new jobs, protect and grow existing businesses and attract foreign direct investment”. …
Healthcare
His Budget Speech continued with the affirmation that significant investment has been made by government and development partners in the health sector during the COVID-19 response. Major investments were said to include: • Repurposing of the National TB Hospital in Manzini • Construction of oxygen plants at the Luke Commission and Lubombo Hospital • Installation …
Environmental Management
The situation thus calls for multi-tiered strategies, the statement continued, if Eswatini’s cities, towns and villages are to be freed from waste, as littering in the face of legislation has already had an adverse impact on the nation’s environment, health and economy. It cited poor waste management as a result of littering and illegal dumping …
EDUCATION & TRAINING
Free Primary Education (FPE) – also referred to as ‘State-funded education’ – was introduced in all of Eswatini’s public primary schools a little more than a decade ago. The Finance Minister in his 2022/23 Budget Speech referred to the FPE initiative as being viewed as a “consolidated programme, aimed at creating a conducive environment that …
Banking, Finance & Insurance
When the Minister of Finance, Neal Rijkenberg, delivered his Budget Speech for 2022/23, he reassured Parliament and the nation that the financial sector remained resilient to the economic disruptions associated with the COVID-19 pandemic. This was despite the pandemic continuing to present a challenging operating-environment for the banking sector, he said – wherein credit and …