Business Eswatini Newsletter – July Edition
Senior: Trade & Commerce Officer
August 4, 2026| Welcome to the very first issue of Voice of Business, the official monthly newsletter of Business Eswatini. As the apex body representing over 90% of the private sector GDP in the Kingdom, our voice carries the weight of our nation’s economic future. This newsletter is our commitment to you, our members and the wider business community, to amplify that voice. The Voice of Business is more than just a publication; it is a platform for connection, a source of critical insights, and a testament to our collective strength. In this inaugural edition, we set the stage for a dialogue that will shape Eswatini’s economic landscape, starting with the opportunities and challenges of July. |
CEO’s Foreword – E.Nathi Dlamini It is with great pleasure that we introduce the inaugural edition of our monthly newsletter, a new platform through which we will keep our members, partners and stakeholders informed, connected and engaged on matters shaping Eswatini’s business environment. This is the first of many editions to come. |
| While this inaugural issue focuses primarily on trade and commerce updates, future editions will broaden the conversation to include economic developments, industrial relations, policy and regulatory developments, and other issues of strategic importance to business. As an organisation committed to advancing a more competitive and resilient private sector, we believe that informed business is empowered business. We therefore look forward to making this newsletter a valuable source of insight, information and dialogue as we continue working together to shape an enabling environment for business and economic growth. |
| From the Trade and Commerce Desk – Musa Maseko Turning Member Concerns into Practical Advocacy Welcome to the engine room of Business Eswatini’s advocacy efforts. The Trade and Commerce Desk is where your day-to-day challenges are transformed into targeted, high-level interventions with Government, regulators, and regional partners across the SADC and COMESA corridors. |
| Tax Practice Notes: Keeping the Dialogue Open with ERS We’re keeping the conversation flowing with the Eswatini Revenue Service (ERS) on four tax practice notes affecting businesses and employees. Our advocacy is focused on five practical asks: Meaningful consultation before changes land; Clear, practical guidance on how requirements apply; Reasonable implementation periods for payroll and compliance adjustments; Consistent communication of final notes and effective dates; and Minimal compliance costs and uncertainty. We fully support effective tax administration; but changes must be transparent, predictable, and business-sensitive. We’re staying engaged with ERS and will keep you updated as things progress. Forest Bill: Balancing Conservation and Productive Forestry We’re keeping the conversation flowing with the Eswatini Revenue Service (ERS) on four tax practice notes affecting businesses and employees. Our advocacy is focused on five practical asks: Meaningful consultation before changes land; Clear, practical guidance on how requirements apply; Reasonable implementation periods for payroll and compliance adjustments; Consistent communication of final notes and effective dates; and Minimal compliance costs and uncertainty. We fully support effective tax administration; but changes must be transparent, predictable, and business-sensitive. We’re staying engaged with ERS and will keep you updated as things progress. |
| Upcoming Regional Trade-Facilitation Engagements BE is gearing up for bilateral engagements involving the Eswatini Revenue Service, the South African Revenue Service, and South Africa’s Border Management Authority. Key discussions will centre on implementing the Ngwenya–Oshoek One-Stop Border Post and operationalising mutual recognition arrangements for Authorised Economic Operators. |
| Practical matters on the table include coordinated border processes, operating procedures, information exchange, agency responsibilities, and the treatment of accredited traders. Successful implementation could bring major wins, including reduced border delays, faster cargo clearance, improved agency coordination, lower logistics costs, enhanced supply-chain security, and preferential treatment for trusted traders. BE will continue pushing for arrangements that deliver measurable improvements, not additional administrative layers. |
