MBABANE – A landmark hotel management partnership is set to position Ezulwini Palazzo as a world-class destination connecting Eswatini with SADC, Africa and global markets.
The vision of the late His Majesty King Mswati III to transform Ezulwini into a meeting place for nations has moved closer to full realisation following the signing of the Hotel Management Agreement for Ezulwini Palazzo.
Palazzo Chairman Mbuso Simelane said the agreement represented more than a business transaction, describing it as the fulfilment of a vision that had its roots in the country’s history.
Speaking before the signing ceremony at Ezulwini Palazzo on Friday afternoon, Simelane said the Board remained deeply grateful to King Mswati III for having envisioned the area as a place where nations could converge.
He said what was once seen by others as a grazing area had been recognised by the King as a potential meeting place for emaSwati and the wider world.
“The vision was His Majesty’s. We cannot take that away. It was his vision. The resolve has been Government’s, and the labour has been ours. Today, the partnership is sealed,” Simelane said.
He commended the Government, under the leadership of the Prime Minister, as well as the Minister of Tourism and Environmental Affairs Jane Simelane, for supporting the vision and providing guidance throughout the process.
Simelane also praised the board and technical working committee for their role in bringing the negotiations to conclusion, revealing that members had worked for long hours to secure the partnership.
He said the board had confidence in Palazzo Hospitality’s plans and ambitions to transform Ezulwini Palazzo into a “living legacy destination” serving the sub-region, SADC, Africa and the world.
According to Simelane, the hotel and conference facility had already begun attracting major regional and international activity, with COMESA and African Union meetings among events hosted at the facility, alongside SADC engagements and local events such as the King’s Cup.
He said the facility had demonstrated its potential to host more than 1,000 international delegates, with its current capacity reaching up to 2,000 people.
Simelane further said the Board expected the hotel to generate a full return on its working capital within 10 years, describing the projected performance as a significant milestone for the enterprise.
He stressed that the anticipated prosperity should benefit ordinary emaSwati through employment and opportunities for local businesses to supply goods and services.
He noted that supermarkets, vegetable suppliers and other businesses had already benefited from increased demand generated by activities at the facility.
The chairman said the hotel’s operations had also created wider economic benefits for the hospitality industry, with hotels in surrounding areas accommodating delegates while Ezulwini Palazzo continued to expand its operations.
The signing ceremony was facilitated by the Minister of Tourism and Environmental Affairs Jane Simelane. Also in attendance were Principal Secretary in the ministry Hlobsile Dlamini, Saif Darcosh Mastafa, Mazane Zeine Edding and Santosh Santa from Dubai, who will operate the hotel.
Simelane called on all stakeholders to build on the partnership and make Ezulwini Palazzo a source of national pride and a destination recognised globally.
“Let us now go forward and make Ezulwini Palazzo a source of pride for every Swati and a destination the whole world will come to know,” he said.
