Local businesses rally behind growing buy local movement

MBABANE – A growing wave of confidence in locally produced goods is sweeping across the country, as evidenced by a sharp rise in participation in the Made in Eswatini movement.

This is seen through the growth registrations for the upcoming consumer fair more than doubling this year.

The initiative, spearheaded by A Peculiar People under the leadership of Chairperson Melusi ‘Zox’ Dlamini, has recorded an overwhelming 309 business registrations for the 2026 Made in Eswatini Consumer Fair, up from 141 exhibitors in its inaugural edition last year.

The fair is scheduled for May 1, 2026, along Dr Sishayi Road in Mbabane. This significant increase is being hailed as a clear signal of rising trust in local platforms and a renewed commitment by entrepreneurs to drive domestic production and economic self-reliance.

Speaking during the official launch of the fair at the Municipal Council  of Mbabane offices, Dlamini highlighted the structural imbalance in the country’s economy, noting that Eswatini continues to consume far more than it produces. “Across the world, economies grow stronger when their people produce more than they consume. Yet, here in Eswatini, imported goods continue to dominate our retail shelves, while local producers struggle with visibility, market access and scale,” he said.

Dlamini explained that the Made in Eswatini initiative seeks to reverse this trend by fostering a culture where consumers actively support local businesses, while entrepreneurs are empowered to expand production and create jobs.

Central to this vision is the Unlock Made in Eswatini Strategy, launched in late 2025 at the UN House. The strategy brings together public and private sector stakeholders to chart a pathway towards strengthening domestic manufacturing, expanding structured market access and nurturing a new generation of entrepreneurs. “Our vision is to build a self-reliant Eswatini economy where consumers become advocates for local products, producers become job creators and innovators become builders of the next-generation economy,” Dlamini added.

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