MBABANE – ESWACOS Executive Director Mmeli Hlanze says royalties will start to be paid this year according to their calendar for 2026/27.
He noted that royalties will be paid annually as it is impossible to pay artists monthly. The Eswatini Copyright and Neighbouring Rights Society (ESWACOS) is an umbrella Collective Management Organisation (CMO) in Eswatini dedicated to safeguarding and advancing the economic interests of copyright holders across various creative industries.
ESWACOS operates under the mandate granted through the Copyright and Neighbouring Rights Act, Act No. 4 of 2018, which establishes ESWACOS as the sole organisation responsible for the administration of copyright and neighbouring rights in Eswatini. Its mission is to generate substantial economic value for rights holders, both domestically and internationally, through comprehensive registration and licensing of their works.
The society is responsible for the collection and distribution of royalties, ensuring that creators receive fair compensation for the use of their works. ESWACOS has not yet announced the specific date for the commencement of payments.
Hlanze revealed this during the third edition of the Eswatini Art Summit held from March 11 to 13 at IDM. During a panel discussion, he mentioned that only those who have applied with ESWACOS will be able to benefit from the royalties.
He noted that as of February 2026, there are 203 registered creatives who will be able to get paid. He said the tracking tool is already being piloted ,but that it is not possible to pay royalties monthly.
“Most Collective Management Organisations pay annually. The process of paying royalties is a long one and it also requires extensive analytics,” he said.
Hlanze also noted that unregistered candidates can register online. He stated there is no need for those who are far away to travel to ESWACOS offices to register.
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