Mbabane – A 7% increase in the price of bread has ignited public outrage across Eswatini, with many citizens voicing frustration over the country’s worsening cost of living amid stagnant wages and mounting economic pressure.
Public sentiment expressed through readers’ comments reveals growing despair as consumers struggle to cope with rising food prices while salaries remain largely unchanged. Many described the price adjustment as yet another blow to an already strained household budget, with calls for government intervention becoming louder.
Members of the public lamented that while bakeries and producers face increased production costs due to higher flour and input prices, ordinary citizens particularly low-income earners bear the brunt of the impact. One reader pointed out that most workers continue to earn as little as E1,200 per month, describing the current situation as one where “people feel like they are drowning.”
Others urged government to urgently address the issue, expressing hope that Cabinet would consider measures to cushion consumers. Commenters also noted that civil servants have gone for years without a salary review, making basic commodities increasingly unaffordable.
Economic observers argue that the price hike reflects a broader pattern of inflation affecting essential goods and services. Some compared the situation to that of neighbouring countries, noting that bread and electricity prices in Eswatini now rival those in economically troubled Zimbabwe, an alarming sign for a nation priding itself on relative stability.
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