Times Of Swaziland: WHAT IS NEXT FOR ESWATINI?

WHAT IS NEXT FOR ESWATINI?
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The Editor on 12/04/2021 07:37:00


Sir,
What is the next big thing for Eswatini? We have to ask this question because to
pull the country out of the current mess of economic stagnation and poverty, we
have to create new big opportunities that can be seized by all emaSwati.
Currently, sugar is the best descriptor of Eswatini’s economy.And indeed,
there is absolutely nothing wrong with the sugar industry. In fact, we should
commend government and the private sector for all the investments they have made
to make the sugar industry the massive contributor to GDP and employment
creation that it is today.
Economy
However, is the sugar industry the glass ceiling of Eswatini’s industrial
sector and the economy at large? Besides sugar what other industries of the
economy can our government and theprivate sector develop? Can we grow beyond
sugar, forestry, and textiles? Why is it that the NGO sector seems to be growing
faster than the private sector in Eswatini? We have to reimagine new sectors of
the economy that can expand our economic base and make sure that everyone is
able to contribute to economic activity in this country.
Focus
Government should focus on growing the economy, and for that to happen, it
simply needs new brains and muscles to work on resuscitating what is left of our
economy, especially the private sector. Without a fresh start, which will get
rid of all the policies of yesterday, we might find ourselves in the same
predicament we are currently in years later. To refresh the economy, government
must first recognise that it is not okay that some people can hold key public
sector positions for years upon years such that key institutions, departments
and parastatals become synonymous with these certain individuals. How do you
develop new talent and leaders of tomorrow when we insist on keeping the same
people in positions of power?