The private sector has raised significant concerns regarding excessive and overlapping regulations, urging the Eswatini government to streamline the business environment and remove unnecessary bureaucratic obstacles.
Private sector leaders emphasized the urgent need to address overregulation during the second Business-to-Government (B2G) Dialogue held on the 31st of March at The Royal Villas.
While discussions focused on fostering a more business-friendly climate under the theme “Collaborate. Innovate. Execute,” private sector representatives stressed that regulatory barriers continue to hinder economic growth.
Lidwala Insurance Managing Director, Dr Thokozani Nkambule, was among the voices calling for urgent intervention. Addressing policymakers, he acknowledged the government’s commitment to improving the ease of doing business but highlighted the private sector’s struggle with redundant and overlapping regulations.
“Sometimes we experience what I call impediments from over-regulation. Certain requirements are duplicated across multiple parastatals, meaning businesses must go through several bureaucratic hoops to comply with the same regulations,” Nkambule said. “I need to understand how the government is working to create an enabling environment for businesses to grow and thrive because these hurdles are currently stifling economic expansion.”
Anthony Geldard, Managing Director of Logico, raised concerns about restrictive policies in the agricultural sector, particularly regarding genetically modified (GMO) maize.
“We all consume GMO maize daily, yet local farmers are not allowed to grow it. Instead, we import it, worsening our trade deficit. Allowing domestic GMO maize cultivation would double yields, boosting incomes for small-scale farmers and improving national food security,” Gelderad explained.
He also criticized the government’s approach to maize imports, where surcharges drive up the price of a staple food, disproportionately affecting the country’s poorest citizens.
“Why penalize consumers with surcharges on imported maize when local production remains restricted? This ultimately drives up costs for the very people who can least afford it,” he said.
Morgan Rudd, General Manager at Umbuluzi Valley Sales, echoed similar frustrations from the meat processing industry. He pointed out that excessive red tape slows business operations, affecting both productivity and employment opportunities.
“We have to navigate multiple regulatory bodies like NAMBoard and the Ministry of Agriculture just to get permits. This back-and-forth process delays imports and increases costs. We’re hiring, manufacturing, and contributing to the economy, yet we are penalized with levies and regulatory hurdles,” Rudd explained.
“If the government truly wants economic growth, it must streamline these processes and remove unnecessary barriers.”
Responding to these concerns, Prime Minister Russell Mmiso Dlamini acknowledged the impact of over-regulation on businesses and assured the private sector of the government’s commitment to addressing these challenges.
“We have had extensive discussions with the Minister of Commerce, Industry, and Trade on the cost of doing business in Eswatini. We have agreed that the Minister should present a comprehensive paper to Cabinet outlining all the regulatory impediments and proposed solutions,” he stated.
The PM urged BE to work closely with the Ministry to document specific challenges and present practical recommendations.
“Our government is committed to laying a red carpet for investors. When we say investors, we mean all investors. We want Eswatini to be a business-friendly country, and we are ready to make necessary policy adjustments to achieve this,” he added.