BY MFANUFIKILE KHATHWANE
MBABANE – The Eswatini private sector is stepping up for a sustainable future. Business Eswatini, in partnership with the International Labour Organisation (ILO) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), launched the Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) State of Play Report at Mountain View on September 19, 2025.
Speaking at the launch, Zandile Mthembu, Programme Analyst at UNDP, highlighted the strategic importance of ESG, noting that the event is more than a milestone, it signals that the private sector in Eswatini is ready to lead, innovate, and invest in a future that is inclusive, resilient, and responsible.
She emphasized that ESG is not a luxury but a necessity, allowing companies to align profit with purpose and growth with impact.
“In Eswatini, where challenges are real but potential is vast, ESG provides a blueprint for sustainable development,” Mthembu said. She added that UNDP and Business Eswatini recently signed a landmark partnership to advance ESG principles, creating a framework to mobilize private sector resources in alignment with national development priorities and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), positioning Eswatini as a regional hub for ethical business and inclusive growth.
Mthembu, who previously worked as a sustainability manager in the private sector, stressed that ESG reflects a company’s values and leadership, emphasizing that sustainability must be co-created, local, lived, and led by those who understand both risks and possibilities. She also highlighted key business benefits, including attracting ethical investors, mitigating risks, building trust, and unlocking new markets.
The Business Eswati CEO E Nathi Dlamini echoed these sentiments, asserting that ESG is central to competitiveness and that companies that align with ESG standards not only protect themselves from risks but also unlock opportunities in trade, investment, and finance.
He outlined the three pillars of ESG, emphasizing that the environmental aspect supports Eswatini’s Nationally Determined Contributions under the Paris Agreement, promotes renewable energy, and protects biodiversity; the social aspect drives community well-being through corporate social investments, inclusive employment, and skills development; and the governance aspect ensures transparency, accountability, and ethical conduct as the foundation of successful ESG initiatives.
Tadianashe Dube, ILO representative, reinforced the business case for ESG, noting that companies with strong ESG practices often outperform peers financially, enjoy lower costs of capital, attract investors, retain talent, and inspire customer loyalty. Dube commended Business Eswatini for championing the ESG agenda and emphasized that the launch of the State of Play report equips businesses to thrive responsibly in the 21st-century economy.
In closing, stakeholders agreed that ESG is not a passing trend but a strategic imperative, with the private sector in Eswatini poised to move from being a spectator in development to a driver of sustainable, inclusive, and competitive growth.
