By Mbono Mdluli
EZULWINI – “We cannot afford to allow businesses to close, jobs to be lost, or markets to be eroded.”
With these firm words, Prime Minister Russell Mmiso Dlamini set the tone at the Inyatsi Leadership Forum held on Wednesday, 14 January 2026, at Royal Villas in Ezulwini, underscoring Government’s determination to safeguard employment and restore confidence across key economic sectors.
Delivering the keynote address, the PM emphasised that the loss of a single job weakens families, communities and the nation’s social fabric.
He stressed that Government would not stand by while jobs disappear due to operational or market challenges, calling instead for sustained engagement between the public and private sectors to find practical, forward-looking solutions.
The forum, convened by the Inyatsi Group, brought together business leaders and policymakers at a time when the construction, meat and mining industries, long regarded as pillars of Eswatini’s economy, are under pressure.
The PM acknowledged the historic contribution of these sectors to growth, livelihoods and national revenue, reiterating Government’s commitment to revitalising them through collaboration, policy certainty and targeted support.
He urged companies to continue engaging Government openly, whether to share innovative ideas or to seek assistance, noting that Eswatini remains well positioned to provide a conducive environment for doing business while facilitating access to regional and international markets.
The PM further encouraged stakeholders to fully utilise existing preferential trade arrangements to protect jobs and unlock new opportunities for expansion.
Recent developments have heightened concerns around employment, particularly the temporary suspension of beef exports to some European Union markets following outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease, which has affected throughput in the meat sector. In mining, retrenchments at Maloma Mine linked to global market conditions have underscored the vulnerability of workers to external shocks. While acknowledging these realities, the PM cautioned against pessimism, insisting that coordinated action and decisive leadership could stabilise affected industries without losing focus on the forum’s core objective, strengthening partnership and resilience.
Adding his voice, Minister of Commerce, Industry and Trade Manqoba Khumalo commended Inyatsi Group for creating a platform that promotes dialogue and skills development among Emaswati. He said such engagements were vital in aligning Government policy with private sector needs, particularly as the country works to build competitive industries capable of withstanding global headwinds.
As the Inyatsi Leadership Forum progressed, a unifying message emerged: Eswatini’s economic challenges are real, but so too is the collective resolve to overcome them. Through continued cooperation, a stable policy environment and shared purpose, Government and business leaders expressed confidence that growth can be reignited, employment protected and new opportunities created—ensuring that no sector, and no worker, is left behind.
