Manzini – The Citizens Economic Empowerment (CEE) Regulations have been approved, at least by stakeholders following the validation meeting on Wednesday.
Organised by the Citizens Economic Empowerment Council in conjunction with the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Trade (MCIT) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), stakeholders shaped the framework that empowers emaSwati to move beyond participation in the economy to becoming active beneficiaries of sustainable economic transformation.
The Citizens Economic Empowerment Council (CEEC) Chairperson, Lincoln Motsa, said the gathering represented the final opportunity to ensure the regulations reflect national priorities and real industry needs.
He noted that the draft regulations were informed by extensive nationwide consultations conducted earlier this year, which engaged micro-enterprises, women, youth, private-sector actors, and civil-society organisations. These consultations, Motsa said, provided essential insights that now form the foundation of the regulatory framework under consideration.
According to Motsa, the CEE regulations are intended to expand economic opportunities, promote local ownership, strengthen fair and inclusive procurement, support skills development, and foster a transparent and accountable economy where every Liswati has the opportunity to thrive. He called on stakeholders to actively contribute during the workshop, ensuring the regulations emerging from the process are both practical and transformative.
He added that the ultimate success of the regulations would depend on the collective commitment of government, the private sector, and communities to turn the framework into real opportunities, stronger businesses, and empowered citizens.
The director of MSMEs, Mluleki Dlamini, echoed Motsa’s sentiments, emphasizing that the workshop presents a valuable opportunity for MSMEs to actively contribute their insights.
He highlighted that participants can share suggestions on how their respective sectors can foster growth and development for entrepreneurs, as well as provide input on how the Citizens Economic Empowerment regulations should be structured to effectively support business growth.
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