BY KWANELE DLAMINI AND NTOMBI MHLONGO
MBABANE – The minister for Commerce, Industry and Trade has rejected claims that government’s business inspections are xenophobic.
The inspections, according to the Minister, Senator Manqoba Khumalo, apply to all businesses.
He said the nationwide exercise was neither intended to target foreign nationals nor frustrate emaSwati. He said it was aimed at ensuring that all businesses complied with the country’s laws and regulations.
In a press statement issued yesterday, Khumalo said the inspections were not targeting any particular individual, group or nationality, following public reactions and what the ministry described as misinformation surrounding the exercise.
“The inspections were initiated on May 5, 2026, through a collaboration between the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Trade and other key stakeholders,” Khumalo said.
According to the minister, a total of 3 226 businesses had been inspected across the country, with 69.4 per cent found to be non-compliant. The retail sector accounted for 68.9 per cent of the businesses inspected.
Khumalo emphasised that the inspections were being conducted in all four regions of the country, guided by existing legislation, including the Trading Licences Order No. 20 of 1975, the Immigration Act No. 17 of 1982 and the Income Tax Order of 1975.
He said the exercise should not be interpreted as xenophobic, adding that its purpose is to safeguard the safety and well-being of emaSwati.
The minister’s clarification comes amid growing public and parliamentary debate over the inspections and closure of businesses operated by foreign nationals, particularly in rural areas.
As previously reported by the Times of Eswatini, Khumalo disclosed that Somalis and Ethiopians accounted for between 60 and 70 per cent of non-compliance cases identified among businesses operating on Swazi Nation Land (SNL).
He said some of the affected operators did not possess the correct legal documents to remain in the country or the requisite documentation to operate businesses. The minister also maintained that the Trading Licences Order of 1975 prohibited foreign nationals from trading on SNL.
The inspections have also attracted attention in Parliament, where legislators expressed differing views on the treatment of foreign-owned businesses found operating in violation of the country’s laws.
In its November 11, 2026 edition, the Times of Eswatini reported that Members of Parliament had adopted a recommendation that foreign-owned businesses found operating unlawfully be given 12 months to regularise their operations or close.
The parliamentary debate exposed differences among legislators, with some proposing shorter transition periods while others called for more time to allow affected business operators to adjust and ensure that communities were not left without access to essential goods and services.
Minister Khumalo, however, clarified that the current inspections were not being conducted under the Citizens Economic Empowerment Act of 2024.
He said the ministry was still developing the necessary regulations for the implementation of the Act, meaning it was not being enforced as part of the ongoing exercise.
The minister further acknowledged the need for a fair and practical transitional arrangement for foreign nationals who were lawfully present in the country, but operating in sectors reserved for emaSwati.
He said such an arrangement would give affected operators adequate time to adjust while ensuring that the implementation of the law was orderly.
However, he stressed that this consideration would not extend to individuals staying in the country illegally or those whose immigration status did not permit them to engage in commercial activities.
Khumalo maintained that compliance with both immigration and business regulations remained non-negotiable and that everyone operating businesses in the kingdom was expected to abide by the country’s laws.
He also expressed confidence in the ability of emaSwati, particularly young people, to participate meaningfully in the retail sector.
He said this was consistent with government’s intention to build a youth-led private sector economy, urging the nation to trust local entrepreneurs, support their ambitions and create opportunities for them to succeed.
He appealed to the nation and business community to continue cooperating with the relevant authorities by ensuring that they fulfilled all legal and regulatory requirements governing business operations.
Government, he said, remained committed to promoting a fair, lawful and competitive business environment that supports economic growth, investment and national development.
The inspections have also attracted attention beyond Eswatini’s borders, with international and South African media reporting on the closure of foreign-owned businesses.
In a report published on November 11, 2026, the BBC linked the developments in Eswatini to growing pressure on foreign-owned businesses in the region, particularly in South Africa, where anti-immigrant campaigns have been accompanied by attacks on foreign-owned shops. South African publication SA People, meanwhile, described Eswatini’s enforcement exercise as an ‘aggressive regulatory sweep’ targeting Asian-owned convenience shops and groceries.
