EEMPA urges events to comply with regulations

MBABANE – The Eswatini Events Managers and Promoters Association (EEMPA) released a statement over the weekend noting with great appreciation the emergence of new events and festivals in the Kingdom of Eswatini.

The association’s statement noted that such initiatives create significant opportunities for economic growth, employment creation, tourism development and the advancement of the arts and creative industries. “As the body entrusted with coordinating, promoting and stimulating responsible participation within the events sector, EEMPA wishes to encourage all new entrants into the eventing space to contribute positively to the growth of the industry by formally registering their businesses in accordance with the laws of the Kingdom of Eswatini and by adhering to the established policies, regulations and frameworks governing the staging of events and festivals,” read the statement.

In their regard, EEMPA commends the proponents of all proposed festivals for their interest in investing in the local events landscape and encourages them to make formal application through the relevant structures to enable all new festivals to trade and operate within the kingdom in a lawful and structured manner. “EEMPA believes that a formally established trading entity operating within the prescribed regulatory framework is fundamental to the successful delivery of any event and provides assurance to sponsors, partners, artists and the public. The association further welcomes any festival’s intention to collaborate with ministerial or government entities, particularly where such partnerships seek to advance social inclusion and create opportunities for vulnerable and marginalised groups, including artists with disabilities,” further read the festival’s statement.

In their statement, the association also emphasised that partnerships of any nature should be guided by transparency, accountability and a genuine commitment to programmes that benefit the broader Eswatini community, without exploiting social causes for personal or commercial gain. “EEMPA, together with the Eswatini National Council of Arts and Culture (ENCAC), stands ready to support initiatives that contribute meaningfully to the development of the events and creative sectors. Such support, however, is contingent upon full compliance with existing policies, regulatory requirements and due processes governing the organisation and management of events in the Kingdom of Eswatini,” concluded their statement.