MBABANE:Prime Minister Russell Mmiso Dlamini has warned the Federation of eSwatini Business Community(FESBC) against what he described as bringing “discord and confusion within the business community”.
This comes after FESBC leadership wrote to the Eswatini Competition Commission(ECC) reporting Inyatsi Group Holdings,Montigny Investments and the Royal Eswatini Sugar Corporation(RESCorp) for alleged unfair competition and monopolizing the economy,resulting to companies owned by indigenous businesspeople struggling to breathe.
FESBC,through their Safety and Security Unit headed by former Army Commander and Head of Intelligence Jeffery Shabalala further threatened to invade businesses owned investors of foreign origin and arrest the investors for alleged commercial crimes.
The PM met the FESBC leadership at the Cabinet Offices on Tuesday and subsequently, he released a statement where he stated categorically that, FESBC was advised to desist from confronting other businesses.
“In the same vein,Government has taken note of what appears to be a campaign by the leadership of the Federation of the Eswatini Business Community(FESBC) to bring discord and confusion within the business community. As such, Government invited FESBC to a meeting held the Private and Cabinet Offices on Tuesday, 02 January 2024, where they presented their objectives and modus operandi as an organization.FESBC was advised to focus on their business objectives, which are basically to empower local businesses.FESBC was strongly advised to desist from confrontation with other businesses but to seek peaceful redress through relevant institutions and following laid down procedure”,said the Prime Minister through the statement.
King Mswati directly and indirectly allegedly owns shares in various giant companies and this has proven to be an obstacle preventing FESBC from challenging the giant companies.
The FESBC leadership had vowed to challenge the giant companies without targeting the King.
But the King’s Government subsequently issued an order stopping FESBC from challenging the giant companies.
The matter appeared to be sensitive as pictures of the said meeting was subsequently deleted from Government online pages and one FESBC leader who is also a political activist was allegedly ordered to delete the pictures from her online platforms.
Eswatini has about 70% of the population living below the poverty line and indigenous businesspeople are complaining that,their companies are struggling as a result of a monopolized economy.

Prime Minister Russell Mmiso Dlamini, Deputy Prime Minister Thulisile Dladla and FESBC leaders.