PM urges emaSwati to operate rural businesses
MBABANE – Prime Minister (PM) Russell Dlamini says emaSwati are to blame for the influx of foreign nationals who operate businesses in rural areas.
The PM took to his social media pages on Tuesday in a recently introduced segment known as #askThePM and urged emaSwati to work hard and operate businesses in rural areas, instead of renting out their structures to foreign nationals. He was responding to a question that was posed by a member of the public.
Insight
The Facebook user had asked the PM to provide insight into government’s policy regarding foreign nationals operating businesses in rural areas.
The premier highlighted that the 11th Parliament, during its last session, passed the Citizen Economic Empowerment Act, which calls for the reservations of certain industries in the business sector strictly for emaSwati.
“That Act has the best interests of emaSwati at heart, and I would encourage every liSwati to familiarise themselves with this legislation,” he said. Noteworthy, the Act was gazetted late last year but it does not have regulations to operationalise it. Its regulations are yet to be tabled in Parliament by the Minister of Commerce, Industry and Trade, Manqoba Khumalo.
The PM noted that the foreign nationals who operate stores in rural areas rent these permits and buildings from emaSwati.
“I would love to encourage emaSwati to work hard to operate these businesses. The foreigners who run these businesses in rural areas use structures or infrastructure that belong to emaSwati, even the land. It is those who do not want to work, but want to get money by giving their businesses to foreigners,” he said.
He urged emaSwati to empower themselves to run these businesses and protect what is theirs. Observably, the comment section was abuzz, as Facebook users were providing reasons why emaSwati were unable to operate these businesses after spending thousands of Emalangeni building the structures.
One of the users said: “I was looking forward to government’s effort in prioritising the welfare of indigenous emaSwati. What are you doing to empower emaSwati to ensure that their businesses grow? I am asking that foreign nationals who want to run businesses should go to the Matsapha Industrial Site and rent factory shells. Groceries and supermarkets should be reserved for emaSwati. Sibukeleni ndvuna, akusiwo umona, kephasibuka nawa ematfubalatfolwa tinini telive abe emaSwati agocetandla angasitakaLI KANtsI BANAsO LEsIfisO mane financially beswele.”
Another Facebook user urged the PM not to blame emaSwati for renting out their stores. The member of the public said the problem was that emaSwati did not have access to capital.
“These Asians are succeeding in these businesses because they work as a team and make capital accessible to their countrymen. These people own wholesalers and they give credit to their countrymen not to emaSwati,” read some of the comments.
Discourage
Others blamed high taxes that discourage people from running businesses.
They suggested that emaSwati should have a special taxation bracket that would encourage them to start businesses just like the tax holiday for foreign nationals.
Another individual suggested that the PM should commission a survey to assist in shaping the future of the nation.
“EmaSwati are going through a lot that cannot be defined as laziness. First and foremost, why did the government allow unnecessary competition that the so-called investors come to run businesses like spazas/ grocery shops where the locals are underpaid without given day offs?
Lastly, please Your Excellency survey to shape up the future of this beautiful nation regarding cash flow investments.”