MBABANE – In a tone that blended admiration with challenge, Prime Minister Russell Dlamini threw a rhetorical question that echoed through the hall: “If not Inyatsi, then who?”
His words were not merely praise, but a bold affirmation of confidence in local enterprise and leadership.
Speaking during Inyatsi Group Holdings’ annual Leadership Forum, the premier lauded the company’s remarkable growth and resilience, qualities that, he noted, have not gone unnoticed.
He described Inyatsi as a lead tax-compliant contributor in the Eswatini construction sector.
“The Group’s record of employing thousands of emaSwati, coupled with its distinction as the leading tax-compliant contributor in Eswatini’s construction sector, having paid over E1 billion in taxes and dividends, underscores its role as a genuine partner in national development,” stated the premier.
Worth noting is that the Group has made a significant impact through the creation of over 6 000 jobs locally and spending E700 million annually on its wage bill—something which has directly fuelled household income, dignity and economic activity.
He acknowledged that the Group’s expanding footprint has sparked debate in some circles, with critics questioning why the multinational continues to acquire major businesses.
“To this, I have always responded: ‘If not Inyatsi, then who?’ We operate in a free market and your leadership has consistently demonstrated audacity and resilience,” the PM said.
The premier endorsed the Group’s impact in the country, stating categorically that government is pleased with the growth of the multinational corporation.
“We would like to see Inyatsi grow even bigger and we stand ready to provide our support,” emphasised the premier.
The premier further shared government’s staunch support of the Group, highlighting that unequivocally, government is committed to supporting emaSwati-owned businesses to grow such as Inyatsi Group Holdings.
“We will support Inyatsi in its continued expansion – without hesitation,” detailed the premier.
The Group was further hailed by the premier for its impactful Corporate Social Investment initiatives and also encouraged to teach and mentor young entrepreneurs on how to run successful businesses.
“While this may seem ironic for a business, we encourage you to make it a deliberate objective to nurture and give rise to other entrepreneurs like yourselves,” said the PM.
The PM also urged the group of executives to uphold the highest standards of integrity by partnering with government in the fight against corruption.
“Do this by refusing to engage in unscrupulous dealings and by reporting any government officials who engage in corrupt practices,” stated the PM.
Meanwhile, the PM stated that he regards the Group’s Leadership Forum as a valuable opportunity to share His Majesty’s vision, as articulated in the Nkwe Programme of Action for 2025–2028 and the Grand Plan for National Transformation.
“Allow me, at the outset, to commend Inyatsi Group for convening this important session. It is both prudent and commendable for organisations to pause, reflect honestly on the challenges they face and proactively strategise on how to adapt and strengthen their future performance,” stated the PM.
According to the premier, government is in full recognition of the immense contribution that Inyatsi Group Holdings has made to the economy through its diversified investments across multiple sectors.
Besides creating employment opportunities and spending millions on the wage bill, the minister also applauded Inyatsi Group for empowering small and medium enterprises (SMEs), highlighting its network of over 2 200 subcontractors and suppliers.
The Inyatsi Group Holdings Leadership Forum was hosted under the theme: Super Results: Designing the future, leading with clarity, executing with precision.
Worth noting is that the Group’s mission statement or vision is to be Africa’s Leading Integrated Business Partner. This is accompanied by the Group’s lived and implemented values which are Agility, Accountability, Commitment, Teamwork and Embracing Change.
PM addresses critical challenges, paves way forward
MBABANE – The premier has revealed that government is scaling up an aggressive and coordinated intervention to the challenges confronting the construction, meat and mining sectors.
This he stated during his address at Inyatsi Group Holdings’ annual Leadership Forum.
The premier said he was aware that the nation is confronting critical economic challenges in the aforementioned industries, stating that these sectors have historically formed the backbone of Eswatini’s economy – driving growth, sustaining livelihoods and contributing significantly to national revenue and social stability.
“Government is acutely aware of the severe challenges confronting the meat industry, particularly the devastating and persistent impact of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD).
“This crisis poses an existential threat, especially to small-scale farmers who are the foundation of this value chain,” stated the premier.
He highlighted that the recent loss of Eswatini’s European Union (EU) beef export grading has been a painful setback – not only for farmers, but for the national economy as a whole.
The intervention includes a nationwide mass livestock vaccination programme that will soon be implemented to curb the spread of the disease.
“Samples are already being analysed by the Botswana Vaccine Institute to identify the specific FMD strains present in the country, ensuring that our response is both targeted and effective,” stated the PM.
He expressed that the objective was clear: To restore animal health integrity, rebuild producer confidence, revive production levels and reopen high-value export markets, including the EU.
“This is particularly critical given that Eswatini Meat Industries (EMI) remains one of only three facilities in Africa accredited for EU exports, representing a strategic national asset that must be protected and strengthened,” stated the PM.
He also highlighted the issues surrounding the mining sector, stating that while historically resilient, it was facing challenges arising from a weakening global demand and price volatility.
“Government recognises that mining is not only a source of foreign exchange earnings, but also a vital employer,” stated the premier.
He mentioned that to sustain the sector, government is committed to providing a stable, predictable and investor-friendly policy environment, while engaging stakeholders to ensure operational viability.
Dlamini further said the State’s priority is to safeguard existing investments, preventing further job losses and encourage value-addition and downstream beneficiation, so that the country derives greater economic returns from its mineral resources.
Meanwhile, regarding the construction sector, prime minister said the recent slowdown in the participation of local contractors in large infrastructure projects has resulted in company closures and retrenchments.
“This is not merely an economic concern – it is a social one. Every construction firm that closes represents lost skills, lost livelihoods and diminished hope for families.
“Government acknowledges that infrastructure development remains a critical engine for economic recovery and growth,” he said.
He said government was committed to engaging the industry meaningfully, listening to its concerns and implementing corrective measures that promote greater local participation, fair procurement practices and sustainable project pipelines.
“Let me assure you, your concerns do not fall on deaf ears. Government’s commitment to revitalising the construction sector – alongside mining and agriculture – remains unwavering,” stated the PM.
Let’s work to build resilient sectors – PM
MBABANE – The Prime Minister, Russell Dlamini, has detailed how through the ‘Nkwe’ Programme of Action Grand Plan, government wants a private sector-led development.
The PM said as he has mentioned in his keynote address, His Majesty’s government is guided by a clear and deliberate policy direction, anchored in the National Development Plan, the Nkwe Programme of Action and the Grand Plan for National Development.
“The Nkwe Programme of Action represents government’s commitment to economic recovery and structural transformation; job creation and inclusive growth; private sector-led development; fiscal discipline and accountability and improved service delivery and institutional efficiency. We are looking at double digit annual GDP growth by the year 2029,” he detailed.
He stated that at its core, Nkwe recognises that government alone cannot drive growth. The premier recognised that the private sector is not a peripheral player – it is a central engine of economic expansion, innovation and employment creation.
“The Grand Plan translates these priorities into actionable programmes by accelerating infrastructure investment in energy, water, roads and logistics; strengthening agriculture and agro-processing value chains, including livestock and exports; promoting industrialisation, localisation and value addition; enhancing the ease of doing business, regulatory efficiency and investor confidence and building human capital through skills development and technical training,” he explained in detail.
The PM told the executives that together with the private sector, these frameworks signal a decisive shift towards a collaborative development model, where government plays the role of enabler, regulator and strategic partner, while the private sector drives production, investment and innovation.
“In this context, government is looking for serious mega investors to partner with. There are clear and immediate opportunities for collaboration, including Public–Private Partnerships (PPPs) in infrastructure development and energy; joint investment in agroprocessing, cold-chain logistics and export readiness; skills development partnerships aligned to industry needs,” added the PM.
He also included the local contractor participation frameworks in major projects; mining beneficiation and supply-chain localisation; disease control, veterinary services, pharmaceuticals and agricultural resilience programmes.
“Let’s work together to build resilient sectors, competitive
Govt commits to aggressively address private sector challenges
MBABANE – The premier has announced government’s commitment to working diligently to address the challenges facing the private sector and to revitalise the most challenged sectors.
“We cannot afford to allow businesses to close, jobs to be lost, or markets to be eroded. Every job lost weakens our social fabric and places additional strain on families and communities,” said Prime Minister Russell Dlamini.
“We, therefore, encourage you not to hesitate to engage with us – whether to share innovative ideas or to seek government support,” added the premier.
He said the kingdom is also well poised to provide a conducive environment for doing business locally while facilitating access to international markets.
“We must take full advantage of the preferential arrangements available to us,” said the PM.
“Together – government and the private sector – must create a stable, predictable and supportive economic environment that fosters growth, protects employment and unlocks new opportunities. Let us harness our collective strength, shared purpose and unwavering determination to overcome the challenges confronting these critical sectors of our economy,” emphasised the premier.
While commending the Group for its continued impact in Corporate Social Investment initiatives, he has appealed to the corporation to teach and mentor young entrepreneurs on how to run successful businesses.
“This may seem ironic for a business, we encourage you to make it a deliberate objective to nurture and give rise to other entrepreneurs like yourselves,” stated the PM.
Inyatsi Group is holding the annual week-long summit at the Royal Villas in Ezulwini. The summit is aimed at assessing the Group’s objectives and achievements in the previous year as well as paving a way forward for the first half of 2026.
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