BY THEMBA ZWANE
MBABANE – Government, through the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Trade, has encouraged Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) not to just embrace, but take the initiative to fulfill Eswatini Revenue Service (ERS)’s Tax Compliance obligations.
Addressing woman bakers at the SME Business Connect Session at Mountain View on 25 March 2025, Philisiwe Dlamini from the SME Unit under the ministry, informed bakers that dodging the ERS Tax Compliance Certificate (TCC) regulations yielded no good returns in as far as their business was concerned. In fact, she noted that taking the initiative to comply with ERS Tax Compliance regulations will take their businesses to greater heights.
Dlamini said the fear of ERS was the fear of growth.
“Let us not be afraid to grow. Let us not fear the ERS. If they begin to take notice of your business and track you down, it should not be problematic to you, it should be a sign that it has grown into big reputable business enterprise. I therefore urge all informal businesses to take the important step of registering. Being unregistered does not mean you are illegal; it simply means you are operating informally. However, registration opens doors—to opportunities, to support, and to growth,” said Dlamini.
She added that, as government, they were truly grateful to MTN Eswatini for convening the SME Business Connect Session. Platforms like these, she said, were essential in empowering business people with knowledge and skills.
“Baking, in particular, is a very critical skill, one that can drive economic growth, create employment, and uplift families. It is time we change our mindset as a society,” she said.
Dlamini added that parents must stop looking down upon practical work—what is often called umsebenti wemakhono —such as baking or plumbing. She recalled an example where a parent told her child to work hard in school or risk “ending up” as a baker or a plumber. Such statements, she said, were discouraging and deeply unfair.
“Today, I want to say to every baker and entrepreneur, do not look down upon yourselves. Honest work is dignified work. Being a baker or a plumber does not make you a failure—it makes you a contributor to society and the economy. I further encourage you to come together and form a cooperative. Let us work towards establishing an Eswatini Bakers’ Cooperative—an organized body that can serve your interests, financially sustain you, and expand your opportunities,” she said.
She urged bakers to be as committed to the cooperative as they are to stokvels, many of which are not even formally registered. “Imagine the impact if that same level of commitment was directed toward a structured, recognized business entity.”
She said she would personally follow up on this initiative to see how far the bakers have progressed in as far as establishing a bakery, fully owned and operated by emaSwati women bakers.
“I urge you all to register your businesses with the relevant SME platforms. This will ensure that, as government, we have accurate data on operational SMEs in Eswatini, allowing us to better support and grow the sector.”
#MTN Eswatini #AgricultureMinistry #CommerceMinistry #SMEBusinessConnect #BakingIndustry #EconomicGrowth
