Manzini – Thirty-eight days after being the 2025 Entrepreneur of the Year Awards (EYA), Duncan Dlamini, of DJD Investments said he is looking to expand into an export-ready national abattoir business that would allow local farmers to reach international markets.
Dlamini spoke after scooping the FNB Eswatini’s sponsored award which was held on 7 November in a ceremony graced by His Majesty King Mswati III, saying his piggery and butchery enterprise at Matsetsa in the Lubombo region would get a boost by replacing his worn-out delivery bakkie which had run him in over E200 000 costs in repairs.
“I will never forget Mrs Bhembe at FNB Lifestyle Manzini Branch. I came to FNB stressed and confused, with her assistance I managed to sort out my penalty and secured a brand-new truck through FNB Vehicle Finance. That truck changed everything. It improved our deliveries and FNB further helped us complete our waste management system,” he said.
Dlamini said he shares his success with his community. As EYA 2025 winner, Dlamini walked away with a brand-new Toyota Hilux single cab worth E600 000, courtesy of FNB Eswatini. He’s already hiring locally, including builders, and is sourcing services from within the community while continuing to inspire aspiring pig farmers through a mentorship programme.
“We must be intentional about creating a local economy so that money circulates within our communities,” he says.
Looking forward, Dlamini says his dream is for Eswatini to build an export-ready national abattoir that would allow local farmers to reach international markets, similar to opportunities available in Mozambique.
More on his growth plans is opening a second farm, introducing modern farming units and helping local pig farmers build a cohesive value chain, similar to the sugarcane farmer model.
“Entrepreneurs should use opportunities like EYA as evaluation tools,” he adds.
FNB Eswatini’s executive head of commercial banking, Chantell Littler, said the bank was committed to helping local entrepreneurs like him grow.
“Entrepreneurs are the heartbeat of our economy… We are reminded that every great business starts with a single brave step. At FNB Eswatini, we are committed to walking that journey with entrepreneurs, helping them turn growth ideas into real businesses and challenges into opportunities. We remain committed to giving them the support and tools they need to expand, innovate and create lasting impact in our economy,” she says.
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