(At EIPA Offices)
MBABANE – With formal employment opportunities becoming increasingly scarce, sport is being positioned as a potential engine for job creation and sustainable livelihoods for young people.
Eswatini Investment Promotion Authority (EIPA) Chief Executive Officer Sibani Mngomezulu said the country must look beyond traditional employment pathways by strengthening the link between sport, culture and business.
Mngomezulu was speaking yesterday during the official 2026 Eswatini International Trade Fair (EITF) sponsorship presentation held at their offices in Mbabane, where MulaSport pledged E200 000 towards sporting activities yesterday. The sponsorship will benefit volleyball, basketball, netball and cultural dances, with each code receiving E50 000.
“As the host of this year’s Trade Fair, we are delighted that MulaSport has pledged a sponsorship of E200 000 towards the sporting activities that will form part of the Trade Fair programme,” Mngomezulu said.
He said the Trade Fair should not only be viewed as an exhibition, but also as a platform for discovering economic opportunities.
“The Trade Fair is more than a sporting platform. It is a marketplace of ideas, products, services and opportunities. We therefore believe there is significant value in closing the gap between sport and business,” he said.
Mngomezulu encouraged the sporting fraternity to take a greater interest in business, while urging the private sector to recognise sport’s potential as an industry and economic driver.
Meanwhile, MulaSport Country Manager Mukelo Magagula, speaking on behalf of Managing Director Khanya Magagula, said the company’s continued investment in sport and culture was driven by the need to create opportunities for young people.
“At a time when employment opportunities are becoming increasingly scarce, we recognise the urgent need to invest in sectors such as sport and culture and create an environment where talent can become a sustainable livelihood,” he said.
He further identified sports as a powerful contributor to the economy.
“We recognise that sport and culture are powerful contributors to both our society and our economy. They create opportunities, develop skills and, most importantly, provide our young people with positive spaces in which to express themselves,” Magagula said.
The preliminary games will begin on August 21, ahead of the official opening of the Trade Fair, providing teams and cultural groups with an early opportunity to showcase their talent. The 58th Eswatini International Trade Fair (EITF) will take place from August 28 to September 6, 2026, at the Mavuso Trade and Exhibition Centre in Manzini.
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