# Southern African citizen economic empowerment initiatives > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/southern-african-citizen-economic-empowerment-initiatives > Updated: 2026-09-28T12:45:09.000Z. Sources: 6. Developments: 2. Southern African nations are implementing strategies to increase citizen participation in the economy through targeted procurement and enterprise development. In Eswatini, the government has utilized the Citizen Economic Empowerment Act of 2023 to designate 50 per cent of annual procurement for citizen-owned companies. This initiative specifically targets women, youth, persons with disabilities, and micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) through preferential procurement and payment prioritization. Following these domestic efforts, Prime Minister Russell Dlamini has urged the African Development Bank (AfDB) to adjust its procurement frameworks. He emphasized that development partnerships should prioritize local businesses and young people to ensure projects provide tangible benefits to citizens, such as employment and improved livelihoods, rather than focusing solely on infrastructure completion. In Botswana, efforts to integrate citizens into the mining value chain have progressed through a partnership between Morupule Coal Mine (MCM) and the Citizen Entrepreneurial Development Agency (CEDA). This collaboration focuses on enterprise development, financial support, and business advisory services. MCM reported that its citizen procurement base has increased from 29 per cent to 53 per cent, supporting approximately 2,550 jobs. ## Timeline ### 2026-09-28: Eswatini PM urges AfDB to prioritize local business procurement Eswatini Prime Minister Russell Dlamini urged the African Development Bank to expand procurement opportunities for local businesses and youth during a review of major infrastructure projects. 4 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/eswatini-pm-urges-afdb-to-prioritize-local-business-procurement ### 2026-09-02: Southern African nations implement measures to boost citizen-owned business participation Eswatini has set aside 50% of annual procurement for citizen-owned firms, while Botswana’s Morupule Coal Mine and CEDA partner to boost citizen participation in the mining value chain. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/southern-african-nations-implement-measures-to-boost-citizen-owned-business-participation --- Cite as: Southern African citizen economic empowerment initiatives. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/southern-african-citizen-economic-empowerment-initiatives