MBABANE- The Eswatini Competition Commission (ESCC) approved six merger and acquisition transactions worth more than E4.96 billion during the first quarter of the 2026/27 financial year.
According to the commission’s latest newsletter for the period April to June 2026, four of the six approved transactions were international deals with a combined transaction value of approximately E4.85 billion.
The report states that the combined annual turnover or assets of these international transactions amounted to about E51.08 billion, highlighting the significant scale of foreign investment activity reviewed by the competition regulator.
The approved international transactions were concentrated in the fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG), agriculture and forestry sectors.
Domestically, the commission approved two merger transactions with a combined value of E110 million. These transactions had a combined annual turnover or asset value of approximately E6.42 billion.
The ESCC said its mergers and acquisitions function plays a critical role in promoting investment while ensuring that market competition is not undermined.
Under the Competition Act of 2007 and the Competition Commission Regulations of 2010, the regulator examines merger notifications to determine whether proposed transactions are likely to substantially lessen competition. Depending on the outcome of its assessment, the commission may approve a transaction unconditionally, approve it subject to conditions or prohibit it altogether.
…received 49 consumer complaints, resolves 45
Beyond regulating mergers, the commission also reported strong performance in consumer protection during the quarter.
The ESCC received 49 consumer complaints between April and June, of which 45 were resolved amicably, translating into a 91.8 per cent resolution rate. Only four cases remained outstanding at the end of the reporting period and will be carried over into the second quarter.
The reported consumer complaints involved claims exceeding E175 000, while complaints successfully resolved accounted for more than E140 000.
The commission said it took an average of four days to resolve a consumer complaint during the quarter.
As part of its consumer protection mandate, the ESCC conducted three joint shop inspection exercises with the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Trade, targeting expired and unsafe food products.
The inspections covered retail shops, restaurants, convenience stores and pharmacies selling food products, with inspectors checking compliance with consumer protection legislation relating to dairy products, cereals, grains and beverages.
One notable discovery involved a restaurant found to be illegally selling an alcoholic beverage containing 53 per cent alcohol by volume (ABV).
Investigators further established that the highly alcoholic beverage had been sold to minors.
The Royal Eswatini Police Service supported the inspections by providing security, making arrests and issuing admission-of-guilt fines where violations of the law were detected.
The commission said unsafe products were confiscated while business owners were educated on the importance of complying with consumer protection laws to safeguard public health, consumer safety and the integrity of the retail market.
The ESCC also intensified consumer education initiatives during the quarter.
The commission conducted awareness programmes for students at the University of Eswatini (UNESWA) and participated in a consumer protection workshop organised by the Ministry of Health at Bhunya on June 16.
The workshop attracted about 60 participants, who were trained on Eswatini’s consumer protection framework, as well as consumer rights and responsibilities when engaging with businesses.
According to the commission, the engagement also provided valuable insights into challenges facing consumers and businesses around Bhunya, with participants expressing interest in similar programmes in future.
Building on partnerships established during the Bhunya workshop, the ESCC later participated in another consumer awareness session at LaMgabhi Inkhundla on June 30.
The commission said additional consumer education engagements are planned for Mangcongco and Mhlambanyatsi during the second quarter as it continues strengthening public awareness and promoting fair trading practices across the country.
