BY GCWALISILE MHLABANE
MANZINI – Eswatini is preparing to update its national business database as the Central Statistical Office gears up to begin fieldwork for Phase Two of the Economic Census on Wednesday, October 14, 2026, an exercise expected to provide critical insights into business activity, employment and the country’s evolving economic landscape.
The Ministry of Economic Planning and Development (MEPD), through the Central Statistical Office (CSO), is calling on businesses across the country to cooperate with enumerators, with the information collected set to strengthen the evidence used to guide economic planning and decisions affecting the private sector.
Speaking on Eswatini TV’s Kusile Breakfast Show on October 13, 2026, Principal Statistician Hanson Dlamini highlighted the importance of the exercise in mapping businesses, tracking economic activity and providing a clearer picture of the contribution enterprises make to Eswatini’s economy.
“The information we collect helps us understand the businesses operating in the country, where they are located, the sectors they operate in and the contribution they make to employment and economic activity,” Dlamini explained.
The census, also known as the establishment survey or business register, covers businesses across sectors, including agriculture, manufacturing and transport.
Enumerators will collect information on business locations, employment levels, turnover, assets and other operational characteristics. The data will also help classify enterprises as micro, small, medium or large, providing a more detailed picture of the structure and distribution of businesses in Eswatini.
Figures from the 2019 Economic Census recorded 27462 active establishments, compared with 17069 in 2011, representing an increase of more than 10000 establishments over the eight-year period.
Phase Two will update the existing database and help establish how the business environment has changed, including following the disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
For businesses, reliable statistics can help policymakers identify economic trends, assess employment patterns and make informed decisions on interventions that respond to the needs of different sectors.
The census will also gather information on business turnover, staffing and financial reporting practices, including whether enterprises have audited financial statements.
Preparations for fieldwork are under way, with the Central Statistical Office having conducted training to equip enumerators with the skills needed to engage business owners professionally and collect accurate information.
Dlamini has urged business owners to cooperate with enumerators, acknowledging that some may have demanding schedules. He encouraged those unable to make time for interviews to consider providing their financial statements as an alternative, allowing data collection to proceed while minimising disruptions to daily operations.
He further explained that the exercise operates under the Statistics Act, which provides a legal framework for protecting confidential statistical information against unauthorised disclosure, including access by third parties or tax authorities.
The Ministry is calling on all businesses approached during fieldwork to provide the requested information.
By participating in the census, businesses will contribute to a more accurate understanding of Eswatini’s economy, helping inform policies that affect enterprise development, employment and national economic planning.
(Courtesy Pic)
