The Kingdom of Eswatini will, from July 1, implement a stricter television import control system that will require all importers of television sets, decoders and related broadcasting equipment to first secure valid permits before goods are allowed into the country.
The move comes through the newly launched “No Permit, No Import: Iphi Yakho?” initiative, a collaborative compliance campaign between the Eswatini Television Authority (ESTVA) and the Eswatini Revenue Service (ERS) aimed at strengthening regulation within the broadcasting sector while closing loopholes that previously contributed to revenue leakage.
The initiative was officially launched on Wednesday at the ERS Headquarters in Ezulwini.
At the centre of the new system is the integration of television import permits with Customs HS-code controls at ports of entry. This means every television or decoder entering Eswatini will now need to be linked to a valid permit before clearance can be granted.
Speaking at the launch, the Acting Minister of ICT, Neal Rijkenberg, described the project as a major milestone in strengthening compliance systems and modernising public service delivery in Eswatini.
“Today’s launch of the ESTVA and ERS TV License Import Permit Integration Project demonstrates our collective commitment to innovation, accountability and the modernization of public service delivery,” he said.
The Minister emphasized that the project aligns with Government’s broader digital transformation agenda and national development aspirations.
“By linking television import permits to Customs HS-code controls, we are effectively closing loopholes that previously enabled revenue leakage and inconsistent participation among retailers and importers,” the Minister said.
The Minister added that the system will create fairness across the industry by ensuring all retailers and importers operate under the same compliance standards.
“Compliance should never be viewed as a burden. Rather, compliance is a shared responsibility that ensures fairness, accountability and sustainability within our television industry,” the Minister added.
The new enforcement model marks a significant shift from traditional compliance methods that largely depended on inspections and follow-up enforcement after products had already entered the market. According to ESTVA Chief Executive Officer, Mlamuli Dlamini, the institution is now moving enforcement directly to the country’s borders.
“We are moving enforcement to the point where it is most effective, at the border,” Dlamini said. “Every television and decoder entering this country must now be linked to a valid permit. If that requirement is not met, the product does not enter the country.”
Dlamini described the initiative as a “structural correction” that will help restore fairness among retailers while protecting an important revenue stream for the broadcaster.
“For too long, we have relied on reactive enforcement: inspections, follow-ups and prosecutions that consume time and scarce resources, with limited impact on overall compliance. That approach ends here,” he said.
Meanwhile, ERS Commissioner General – Brightwell Nkambule – said the initiative reflects Government’s “Single Government Concept,” where institutions work together through integrated systems to improve compliance and service delivery.
“At the ERS, we have always believed that compliance improves when institutions work together. No single institution can build a compliant society on its own,” Nkambule said.
Nkambule assured importers and retailers that ports of entry are prepared to support implementation of the new requirements while encouraging businesses to familiarise themselves with the permit application process ahead of the July rollout.
“We encourage you to familiarise yourselves with the permit process and ensure that applications are submitted within the required timelines,” he said.
The campaign is expected to significantly strengthen oversight within the broadcasting sector while improving efficiency, accountability and transparency in television licensing administration.