MBABANE – Minister of Commerce, Industry and Trade Manqoba Khumalo says the private sector must play its part in driving Eswatini towards development as envisioned by His Majesty King Mswati III.
Khumalo was addressing business leaders during the Inyatsi Vision Leadership Summit, which took place yesterday. He told the gathering that His Majesty’s goal of transforming Eswatini into a first-world nation would only be possible if the business community fully commits to the country’s development agenda.
The summit was hosted by Inyatsi Group Holdings, a local company with operations in six countries. According to Dr Thokozani Nkambule, a member of Inyatsi’s Executive Committee, the company is currently handling projects worth over E4 billion, employs more than 6 000 people in Eswatini, and contributes E1.1 billion annually to the national fiscus through taxes and dividends.
Khumalo told participants it was refreshing to see a successful business run by non-white senior executives. He said seeing local professionals lead major business operations should inspire more emaSwati to believe in their own potential.
The minister said His Majesty’s vision for Eswatini should not be viewed as just political talk but as a national goal every citizen and local company must work towards. He warned against relying on external support, saying, “If we are going to look to the west to attain this vision, we might as well forget it.”
Dr Nkambule described Inyatsi as a business built on diversification and resilience. He said the company not only exports skills through over 60 emaSwati working abroad but also supports local families through a wage bill of E700 million. Nkambule added that Inyatsi works with more than 2 200 subcontractors and suppliers, creating jobs and strengthening small businesses across the country.
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