By Zweli Martin Dlamini

While we celebrate and applaud the announcement by Finance Minister Neal Rijikernberg suggesting that, Government has paid suppliers, we must never disregard the financial challenges caused by the delays resulting to some companies shutting down.

It is very unfortunate to note that, in this country local businesses are made to suffer but when these companies owned by emaSwati collapse, we are quick to laugh saying “emaSwati are lazy kute intfo lephilako lengentiwa liSwati abetsi utama kwentani yena?”.

As a country, we must learn to celebrate and support businesses owned by citizens of this country, emaSwati are not lazy but the environment is not supportive or conduit for them to strive in business, we need policies that support businesses owned by emaSwati.

Mancoba Khumalo, the Minister of Commerce, Industry and Trade has been seen officially opening new businesses owned by emaSwati, some might mock this but, it’s a huge support for that particular business when a Minister endorses it.

Government suppliers have been struggling in this country for years as payments delay resulting to the collapse of various companies, Parliament must consider establishing a Select Committee to investigate this particularly, the causes of delays in the payment of Government suppliers.

We can’t have a country where companies owned by the citizens are made to suffer either by powerful individuals or the very same Government tasked with improving the ease of doing business.

Well, the delays in the payment of Government suppliers cannot be entirely be attributed to the Minister of Ministry of Finance, there’s a corrupt syndicate within Government forcing suppliers to pay bribes before processing the payment documents, Finance Minister Neal Rijikernberg might not be aware of what is happening within the lower State Departments.

It is therefore important to conduct an investigation to ascertain what exactly is forcing indigenous companies to close and, if Government tenders are properly distributed and, to the benefit of emaSwati.

This country is fast becoming hostile to its own citizens, we need Government policies or a law that will prioritize companies owned by emaSwati in the distribution of tenders otherwise, emaSwati will become beggars in their own country.

This thing started when companies and even Government, opted to contract artists from South Africa and pay them more money than eSwatini artists, there’s a culture of self-hate in this country and it’s very unfortunate.

Perhaps let me clarify that, there’s nothing wrong with contracting foreign artists but, it’s wrong to underpay local artists and pay more money to foreigners with the same skills.

This is exactly what is happening to local businesses, emaSwati struggle to secure tenders but even if they could secure those tenders, Government will delay the payment or pay peanuts just because there’s an oppressive culture in this country suggesting that, emaSwati must be deprived financial independence so that, they can fully depend on the Monarchy for survival.