Southern African nations implement measures to boost citizen-owned business participation

In Eswatini, the government has designated 50 per cent of annual procurement for citizen-owned companies under the Citizen Economic Empowerment Act (CEEA) of 2023. This initiative aims to increase economic participation for Emaswati, specifically targeting women, youth, persons with disabilities, and micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs). The regulations also include provisions for reserved trades, preferential procurement, and payment prioritization to assist smaller businesses with cash flow.

In Botswana, Morupule Coal Mine (MCM) and the Citizen Entrepreneurial Development Agency (CEDA) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to enhance citizen involvement in the mining value chain. The partnership focuses on enterprise development, business advisory services, and financial support to transform mining opportunities into sustainable citizen-owned businesses. MCM reported that its citizen procurement base has increased from 29 per cent to 53 per cent, supporting approximately 2,550 jobs. The collaboration will target sectors such as transport, logistics, and manufacturing, while also exploring joint venture funding and agro-processing initiatives.