MBABANE – Government’s approval of a seven per cent increase in the price of bread has sparked widespread discontent among members of the public.
They are of the view that the hike will worsen the already high cost of living. The announcement, confirmed by the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Trade, means that from November 1, 2025, the price of an 800-gram loaf of white bread will increase from E16.73 to E17.90, while brown bread of the same size will cost E15.60, up from E14.58.
Although the rise may appear marginal on paper, consumers say it will translate into a heavy financial blow for thousands of households already battling rising costs of food, fuel and transport.
The hike in the 800g-loaf of bread with E1.17 amounts will cost a consumer who buys a loaf of bread every other day, E4.68 more weekly which amounts to E243.36 per year. However, it will be double this amount for a family of four with minimal resources as bread is consumed often to subsidise the high cost of food. This is because they will buy a loaf of bread daily, which cumulatively will amount to E486.72 per year.
The decision has ignited a wave of frustration across the kingdom, with many emaSwati accusing government of ignoring the plight of the poor.
During interviews conducted by this publication, several residents described the adjustment as a huge blow to those who live from hand to mouth.
“I was shocked to hear about the increase. We are already struggling to buy basic groceries. For the poor, this is not just about bread, it’s about survival,” said one consumer.
Another consumer in Mbabane said the hike showed a lack of empathy from policymakers.
“The timing is terrible. The cost of everything is up and now they are raising bread prices again. Government should have found another way to support bakeries without punishing consumers,” she said. For many low-income earners, bread remains a dietary staple, often the only meal that children have before school.
“Every Lilangeni counts. When the price of bread goes up, it affects everyone, especially those earning below E2 000 a month. It means skipping breakfast or sending a child to school on an empty stomach,” said a resident of Simunye.
The seven per cent increase comes just three years after Cabinet approved a 20.76 per cent rise in July 2022, which pushed bread prices to record highs. Many consumers say they are still reeling from that previous hike and had hoped that prices would stabilise.
“It’s becoming a cycle. Every time the cost of living goes up, we are told it’s because of rising input costs. However, we never see the same energy to protect consumers or increase wages for private-sector workers,” said a consumer from Nhlangano.
Others linked their frustration to the recent salary adjustments for civil servants, saying the timing of the bread price hike was unfair.
“We are not all civil servants. We didn’t get the raise. Now those who didn’t benefit from the salary review will be hit even harder,” said another consumer from Mbabane. According to the Ministry of Commerce, the increase follows a request submitted in April this year by the Eswatini Bakers’ Association (EBA). The association argued that sustained rises in production costs were threatening the survival of bakeries across the country.
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EmaSwati rely on loans as economy tightens
MBABANE – Household borrowing continues to rise as Central Bank data shows that emaSwati took E8.8 billion in credit by August 2025.
Middle-class emaSwati are turning to quick personal loans just to get by, leaving them struggling with debt. This financial struggle is confirmed by the Central Bank of Eswatini (CBE) in its August/September 2025 Monthly Statistical Report.
The CBE reported that the total credit given to households and non-profit groups (NPISH) reached E8.8 billion in August 2025. This figure shows a small rise of one per cent compared to the previous month and a 2.8 per cent growth year-on-year.
The rise in household borrowing was driven by a 2.6 per cent increase in car loans, which reached E1.3 billion. “There was also a two per cent rise in unsecured personal loans (like bank overdrafts or simple personal loans), bringing that total to E3.3 billion.”
However, most emaSwati reportedly did not seek loans to fund property, as mortgage loans declined by 0.2 per cent, standing at E4.2 billion. In contrast, ordinary savings deposits increased by one per cent, reaching E2.1 billion.
The country’s annual inflation rate rose slightly to 2.8 per cent in September from 2.6 per cent recorded in August 2025, according to the latest Consumer Price Index (CPI) released by the Central Statistical Office (CSO).
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Inflation dilemma: EmaSwati struggling despite economic growth
MBABANE – The ordinary citizen is not feeling any economic growth as prices and inflation rise faster than salaries.
The cost of living is increasing rapidly, influenced heavily by the South African markets. Eswatini relies heavily on South Africa for most products, including basic goods, which are imported into the kingdom.
The tight financial challenges faced by low-income earners contrast sharply with the country’s economic growth, which averaged 5.4 per cent and the latest World Economic Outlook projects, the country’s growth at 4.3 per cent.
This disparity exists despite the fact that, on average, low-income earners receive a maximum of five per cent salary increment, which is lower than the percentage increase in tariffs.
For instance, electricity tariffs rose by eight per cent early in the year, while water tariffs increased by four per cent in December 2024.
Despite being stagnant for seven months, the cost of fuel continues to influence the cost of most commodities in the country, including basic items imported from South Africa.
In South Africa, where most of the local commodities are sourced from, the News 24 reported that key food items saw significant price hikes: Tomatoes jumped 26 per cent, carrots 20 per cent, onions 11 per cent and oranges 18 per cent.
This hike is contrary to the average annual wages increments awarded to workers, which average five per cent annually. This mismatch also has to support an increase in other staples such as potatoes, spinach, cabbage and beef, which also rose between six per cent and seven per cent. Even essentials like maize meal, full cream milk and brown bread registered increases of two per cent or more.
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High cost of living fuels gambling, alcohol addiction
MBABANE – Growing gambling and alcohol sales suggest frustrated consumers are seeking temporary relief from financial struggles.
The economist said the fact that sectors like gambling and entertainment were growing suggests that consumers are frustrated and seeking an outlet to momentarily ‘live’ their challenges. He said those who gamble are doing so with the illusion or quest of deserting their financial challenges by hitting the ‘jackpot’.
The same goes for those who imbibe in alcohol, he said, elaborating that they are seeking, for a moment, to neglect their challenges, which include ‘black tax’ and the skyrocketing cost of living.
“What needs to be considered if the economy is growing and the public is having any money in their pockets are things like the buying of property and cars. Such commodities depict whether money is available for the consumers to engage in huge investments,” he said.
The ongoing debate around minimum wage has also reignited, as more families struggle to make ends meet and unions call for it, claiming their members can barely afford basic commodities. It is worth noting that retrenchments increased by 63 per cent, affecting 2 056 employees across 16 redundancies in the quarter under review.
The Ministry for Labour and Social Security reported that during the quarter under review, a total of 16 redundancies were reported, affecting 2 056 employees, compared to six redundancies involving 133 employees in 2024 and 14 redundancies affecting 1 072 employees in 2023.
This, it was said, indicates a 63 per cent increase in reported retrenchments, with a total of 1 923 employees losing their jobs in the process. The ministry reported that the sudden surge in redundancies is a result of the United States Presidential Order reducing funding to member States under the PEPFAR Project.
*Full article available in our publication.
Government’s approval of a seven per cent increase in the price of bread has sparked widespread discontent among members of the public. (Pic: Global Insights)