BY MBONO MDLULI
MBABANE– Swaziland Building Society (SBS) has reaffirmed its strong commitment to national development, transparency and media excellence by announcing its sponsorship of the Journalist of the Year – Broadcasting Award at the upcoming National Media Awards, with a cash prize of E25 000.
The announcement was made on Tuesday, 9 December 2025, at Mountain View in Mbabane, during an engagement with the Eswatini Editors’ Forum (EEF) and the Eswatini National Association of Journalists (ESNAJ).
The sponsorship forms part of SBS’s broader efforts to strengthen partnerships with key national institutions as it progresses through its historic transition into a medium-sized commercial bank. The meeting, which primarily focused on updating editors and journalists on the bank conversion process, also became a platform for celebrating the vital role of the media in shaping informed public discourse and driving accountability.
The National Media Awards, scheduled for 20 December 2025, mark a significant return after a 13-year break, with the last awards having been held in 2012. The revival of the prestigious event has been widely welcomed by journalists across the Kingdom, as it restores an important platform for recognising excellence, professionalism and impact within the media industry.
SBS’s sponsorship of the Journalist of the Year – Broadcasting category is a powerful endorsement of quality journalism, particularly within the fast-growing electronic and broadcast media space. The E25 000 cash prize is expected to motivate journalists to continue producing impactful, ethical and development-driven content that informs and empowers the nation.
The announcement also highlighted the remarkable journey SBS has travelled in its conversion process, which officially began in 2012. Over the past 13 years, the building society has invested more than E50 million into this transformation, underscoring its long-term vision of becoming a modern, competitive and inclusive financial institution. As SBS prepares to emerge as SBS Bank Eswatini, its support for the media reflects a clear understanding of the importance of transparency, communication and public trust in the financial sector.
The National Media Awards will feature a wide range of competitive categories designed to celebrate excellence across print, online and electronic platforms. These include Journalist of the Year, News Story of the Year, Regional Integration Award, Editorial Leadership Award, Lifetime Achievement Award, and the Investigative Reporter Award, among others.
Other categories such as the Community Impact Award, Emerging Reporter Award, Business Reporter Award, Sports Reporter Award, Environmental and Climate Change Reporter Award, and Columnist of the Year Award ensure that journalists working in diverse and highly specialised fields receive the recognition they deserve. The inclusivity of the awards reflects the evolving nature of modern journalism and the growing influence of digital platforms.
By sponsoring one of the flagship categories, SBS is not only investing in media excellence but also strengthening the democratic values of accountability, truth and public engagement. The institution’s support arrives at a time when journalism plays an increasingly vital role in informing citizens about economic transformation, governance and national development.
The partnership between SBS, EEF and ESNAJ demonstrates a shared commitment to building a professional, ethical and impactful media industry in Eswatini. It also highlights how corporate institutions can contribute meaningfully to skills development, recognition and motivation within the journalism profession.
As the countdown to the National Media Awards continues, excitement is building across newsrooms throughout the country. For many journalists, the awards represent more than trophies – they symbolise recognition, validation and the encouragement to push boundaries in pursuit of excellence.
For SBS, the sponsorship is a celebration of progress, partnership and purpose. As the institution transitions into a commercial bank, it is also positioning itself as a champion of national dialogue, professional integrity and social responsibility.
In supporting the media today, SBS is investing in the storytellers of tomorrow – those who inform, inspire and hold the nation together through the power of truth and communication.
