- ERS expands outreach to businesses on Swazi Nation Land
MBABANE – The Eswatini Revenue Service (ERS) is making significant progress through its Bafundzise Campaign, an outreach and education initiative launched in March of this year to improve tax compliance and strengthen engagement with businesses across the country.
The campaign, which focuses on both registered and unregistered businesses, including Small, Micro and Medium Enterprises (SMMEs), employers, and more, has already reached thousands of clients in major towns. The Bafundzise team will be kicking off, engaging businesses in Siteki from the 28th of August 2025, after successful engagements in Manzini, Matsapha, Mbabane, Ezulwini and Nhlangano.
Strengthening Partnerships with the Ministry of Tinkundla
On August 13, 2025, the ERS Commissioner General, Brightwell Nkambule, met with the Minister of Tinkhundla, Honourable Sikhumbuzo Dlamini, Principal Secretary Nonhlanhla Dlamini, Under Secretary Ngcayizivele Dlamini, Regional Administrators for the Manzini and Hhohho regions, and representatives from the Tinkhundla Administration Offices.
The discussions focused on developing a collaborative approach to reach businesses in
rural areas. It was agreed that Regional Administrators would facilitate engagements with Chiefdoms to explain the purpose of the campaign and secure support to work with local businesses. A detailed rollout plan will then be shared, while the Ministry of Tinkhundla and ERS coordinate communication and mobilisation ahead of the activities.
Bafundzise in Numbers
Since launch, the campaign has engaged more than 5,000 clients across five major urban centres. Key results include:
- Manzini: 1,777 businesses engaged (69.4% holding Tax Identification
Numbers (TINs)
- Matsapha: 931 businesses engaged, recording the highest compliance rate
so far (88.9% holding TINs)
- Mbabane: 1,667 businesses engaged (72.1% holding TINs)
- Ezulwini: 229 businesses engaged (89% holding TINs, one of the strongest
rates)
- Nhlangano: 522 businesses engaged (73.8% holding TINs)
In addition, ERS has facilitated onsite TIN registration for over 300 clients, a service that remains in high demand.
Educating, enabling and empowering local businesses
The Bafundzise Campaign is designed to educate. The sessions and one-on-one consultations cover a wide range of tax-related topics, including Presumptive Tax for small businesses, Corporate Income Tax, PAYE, including schedule completion and submission on the TaxEase digital platform. Also covered are TIN registration and the importance of compliance, navigation and use of TaxEase and customs-related enquiries. Businesses that are behind on their obligations are also being encouraged to use the Sondzela Sikhulume solution, which supports clients requiring debt management assistance.
By addressing both general tax knowledge and practical steps for compliance, ERS is empowering businesses to adopt best practices and use digital tools to simplify their tax obligations. Feedback from clients has been overwhelmingly positive. Many businesses, particularly SMMEs, welcomed the campaign’s door-to-door approach, saying it provided them with direct access to tax education and services they might not have sought out on their own.
Building a culture of compliance
“Clients are beginning to see ERS not only as a collector of taxes, but as an institution committed to helping them understand their obligations, grow their businesses, and contribute meaningfully to the economy. By making tax education accessible, relevant, and supportive, ERS is laying the foundation for a stronger culture of compliance across Eswatini,” says Ntobeko Dlamini, ERS Director of Communications and Marketing.
As the campaign continues, its success will not only be measured in numbers but in the strengthened relationship between the tax authority and the business community.
(Courtesy Pics)
