…as Entrepreneur of the Year Awards race heats up
BY EPN REPORTER
MBABANE – “The youth of Shiselweni is willing to pursue entrepreneurship and create economic activity in their own region.”
These were the economic observations of Minister of Commerce Industry and Trade Manqoba Khumalo when speaking at Shiselweni today. Khumalo was awarding the winners of the Shiselweni Region Entrepreneur of the Year Awards 2023, building up to the national awards.
“The purpose of the Entrepreneur of the Year Awards is to uncover and reward exceptional MSMEs regionally and nationally who are making an impact in their communities through job creation, innovation and economic growth,” said Khumalo.
Minister Khumalo crowned Nkululeko Simelane (54) of koNtshingila as the regional winner of the Shiselweni Region Entrepreneur of the Year Awards 2023. Simelane is the owner of Pragmatic Wooden Things, a pine door manufacturing business based at Sibetsamoya in Hlatikulu.
Other winners in different categories were Selusiwe Lukhele of Happiness Junction Café (youth), Siphamandla Mamba of High Purpose Investment (agribusiness) and Nozizwe Ginindza of Butternice farm (women owned). Also awarded were Grace Mdluli of Vuka Mfati Co-op (Handcraft), Sithembile Simelane of Highly Favoured (retail) and Themba Mngometulu of Annointed Hands (Techno savvy).
Minister Khumalo congratulated all the businesses which participated, and reminded them of their importance to the economy of Eswatini.
“MSMEs are important to us as a Ministry and in line with His Majesty’s remarks during His Speech from the Throne, MSMEs drive domestic economic growth and massive job creation. They also collectively contribute significantly to our country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP),” noted the Minister.
“In Eswatini, we currently have more than 59 000 MSMEs which represents 10% of our population. These small businesses employ about 16% of the total working-age population and play a crucial role in addressing the country’s challenges with poverty and high youth unemployment rates,” revealed Minister Khumalo.
Minister Khumalo added that he was pleased to learn that half of the EYA applicants received from the region were young people. He noted that this is an improvement from 2019 where the youth only made up 24% of the total applicants.
“This is good news for us because it indicates that the youth of Shiselweni is willing to pursue entrepreneurship and create economic activity in their own region,” said the Minister.
“This also means that we need to come together and strengthen our efforts in developing their capabilities by equipping them with entrepreneurship training, coaching and mentoring, and by providing easy access to business development services,” expanded the Minister of Commerce.
He also noted that the Shiselweni region continues to grow in manufacturing and this is great for the economy of this region and the country. He said that this presents an opportunity for to strengthen linkages between local small businesses and the large firms by introducing measures that will mainstream local MSMEs into the value chains of these large firms.
FNB Chief Marketing Officer Zethu Dlamini, who was speaking on behalf of the sponsors, also thanked everyone who participated in the business competition which recognizes excellence. “To both the shortlisted and actual winners of the Shiselweni Region EYAs, we applaud you and acknowledge you for the role you play in anchoring not just yourselves but your families and communities. We applaud you because, let’s be honest, entrepreneurship is a long journey of both wit and endurance,” said Dlamini.
