BY GCWALISILE MHLABANE
MBABANE – Winners of the MulaSport ‘Crash and Win’ competition are set to secure more than just prizes, as they will receive structured business training and mentorship through a new partnership with the Small Enterprises Development Company (SEDCO).
The initiative follows the official signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between SEDCO and MulaSport, marking a strategic move to strengthen Eswatini’s private sector and empower emerging entrepreneurs.
Stakeholders gathered at the SEDCO Head Office in Mbabane on March 3, 2026, to witness the signing of the landmark agreement, which signals a new era of collaboration focused on providing structured and sustainable support to small businesses. The partnership will run from March to December 2026.
Unlike many competitions that end with prize-giving ceremonies, this initiative goes a step further by prioritising long-term sustainability and economic growth. Central to the agreement is a tailored support package for winners of the ‘Crash and Win’ competition, which runs from March 1 to March 31, 2026.
Competition Prizes:
- 1st Prize: E25 000 business funding + SEDCO training and mentorship
- 2nd Prize: E15 000 business funding + SEDCO training and mentorship
- 3rd Prize: E10 000 Build It voucher
- 4th Prize: E3 000 cellphone
- 5th Prize: E2 500 trolley dash
- 6th Prize: E2 500 trolley dash
- 7th–10th Prizes: E500 betting credits
MulaSport Director Khanya Magagula highlighted that sustainability remains the biggest hurdle for many start-ups.
“Starting a business is not the hardest part. The hardest part is sustaining it,” he said. “Many entrepreneurs have passion but lack structured mentorship and access to networks. This partnership ensures we are not just providing funding, but equipping winners with tools to survive, grow and succeed.”
Through the agreement, winners will benefit from a comprehensive support framework that includes structured mentorship from industry experts, intensive business development training covering financial literacy and market strategy, incubation support within SEDCO’s professional facilities, and access to strategic networking opportunities within the broader private sector.
A major component of the initiative is SEDCO’s commitment to decentralising business support. SEDCO Chief Executive Officer Khethiwe Mhlanga emphasised the importance of taking services to the grassroots level.
“We will have community engagements. Our services have to be visible at the tinkhundla level. We will go into different communities to identify businesses and share what MulaSport is doing to promote entrepreneurship in Eswatini,” she said.
By combining SEDCO’s established business development systems — including market linkages and technical training — with MulaSport’s community-focused approach, the partnership aims to nurture resilient, job-creating enterprises.
The collaboration will also include post-award monitoring to ensure winners remain productive and aligned with national economic goals. For both organisations, this initiative represents a practical roadmap towards economic independence — turning small ideas today into sustainable enterprises for tomorrow.
