BUSINESSES RESERVED FOR SWAZIS POSITIVE

Sir,

It is indeed such an honour and privilege to be allowed to express my thoughts and feelings in such a platform. May I commend the move by government to restrain some trade in terms of the Trading Licence Order 1975. It is indeed a positive move towards the right direction, one which is meant to, by extension, empower Swazis.

However, looking at the list of businesses it is very disheartening, not because the businesses listed should not be strictly reserved for Swazis.

It is my firm belief they should. My worry is the absence of more industrious, more innovative, more manufacturing, more designs and architecture and many more. These are but most of the progressions and or industries which most young people in the country have qualifications for are unavaulalbe. Besides the qualifications, the stage which we are now, the world is at the stage where we need brains as opposed to manpower and if we are to take this country where we want it to be, we need to invest, empower young people, not only legislatively but financially and otherwise.

The King has a vision of the kingdom being a First World country come 2022. Now we need to move out of the spaza shop mentality; we as a country, all citizens and body corporate must begin to think globally, we need to start having Swazi brands going international. That can only happen when and if we change our attitude and mindset, when we begin to level the ground for all Swazi entrepreneurs to strive and prosper, when we begin to allow every dreamer to dream and be provided with the resources they need.

It would be a great achievement for the lawmakers in the kingdom to enact statutes that really talk to the big industries or that play a key role in the Swazi economy and that is not to say, however, the mentioned list does not.

It is my belief, and I am advocating for a vibrant economy driven by Swazis, especially the young people who have the dreams, brains, zeal, desire, hunger and will to succeed. It is about time we think and act beyond what already has been done or said before.

When the dreamers of this country finally wake up to make their dreams come true, when the entrepreneurs finally decide to act, when the young professional chooses to implement, government should come to the party. We need such platforms on a larger and broader scale.

C N

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