By Lindani Maseko
The Eswatini Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (ESPPRA) made history on the 3rd of April, 2025, when it hosted the first ever first cross-border masterclass training programme, marking the beginning of a ten-nation initiative.
This event, held at the Hilton Garden Inn Hotel, aims to equip procurement professionals with the expertise needed to navigate the complexities of their roles.
The masterclass drew a diverse cohort of participants, including a delegation from South African consultancy, Procura Insights, alongside individuals from Eswatini’s business landscape, such as Chief Executive Officers and Chief Financial Officers.
Representatives from the private sector and other stakeholders integral to the procurement process were also in attendance.
Tsholofelo Tsholofelo, Chief Group Officer of Procura Insights, led the day’s proceedings, offering a positive assessment of Eswatini’s regulatory environment.
He noted that the kingdom was ahead of many African countries from a legislative standpoint. The core objective of the masterclass was to encourage a highly interactive environment conducive to shared learning and the exchange of best practices.
Tsholofelo commended the explicit emphasis on strategic procurement planning within Eswatini’s Public Procurement Act.
“That is great because that means the fundamental thing that instructs you to create a strategic procurement plan is in the legislation; you don’t need to ask for permission, you don’t need to write a policy.” This legislative clarity, he argued, provided a strong foundation for effective procurement practices.
Reflecting on the global context, Tsholofelo highlighted the increased recognition of procurement as a strategic function since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“From just about COVID-19, everyone started to recognise that procurement is a strategic function, it doesn’t mean they treated it strategically yet, but at least there was this recognition, but the information that is held by the procurement department of all our organisations is valuable. It’s information we haven’t tapped into before to drive our decisions,” he said.
However, the training also addressed the persistent challenges faced by procurement professionals, not just in Eswatini but worldwide. These include issues of being undervalued, overlooked, and at times unfairly blamed or disrespected – a candid acknowledgement of the pressures inherent in the role.
Archie Masimega, Director of Procura Insights, highlighted the strategic importance of launching this ten-country initiative in Eswatini.
“We’re looking forward to those partnerships. But for us, it’s not only about business; we want to build a partnership with you as industry partners at no cost. “
He emphasised that the masterclass was designed to empower procurers to achieve excellence through shared thought leadership and innovative ideas.
Masimega further underlined Eswatini’s significance in their broader strategy, announcing plans to open a local office in June.
“This is how important Eswatini is to us,” he affirmed.
Throughout the masterclass, expert facilitators shared their extensive knowledge across a range of critical areas. The interactive nature of the sessions, featuring lively discussions and practical exercises, encouraged a collaborative spirit and the sharing of diverse perspectives and solutions.
A key focus of the training was to deepen participants’ understanding of strategic procurement planning – its definition, implementation, and fundamental importance.
Furthermore, the sessions aimed to equip procurers with the tools and insights to enhance their contribution to their organisations’ success, focusing on value creation and securing due recognition for their efforts.
ESPPRA CEO, Vusumutiwendvodza Matsebula, lauded the Manzini Municipal Council as the top-performing public entity in procurement within the country. He urged participants to take the training seriously, emphasising their pivotal role in Eswatini’s procurement processes.
“Please do give opportunities and exposure to the graduates because one day you will leave that organisation, and get into the SADC region or the European Union and so on,” Matsebula implored, looking towards the future development of the profession.