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Businesses owned by Asian nationals are being closed across Eswatini as the government moves to enforce a new law aimed at increasing local ownership and participation in the economy.
The crackdown follows Parliament’s approval of the Citizen Economic Empowerment Act, which seeks to give emaSwati, as citizens of the kingdom are known, greater control of selected business sectors.
The legislation comes amid complaints from local traders that foreign-owned enterprises are expanding into traditional retail markets, intensifying competition and threatening the livelihoods of local entrepreneurs, according to BBC.
However, its implementation has sparked debate in Parliament, with legislators divided over how quickly foreign business owners should be required to exit the market.
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Mbabane East Member of Parliament, Welcome Dlamini, told Parliament on Tuesday that trade ministry officials had already started enforcing the law by closing Asian-owned shops.
Hhohho Regional MP Tanele Magagula called for immediate action, arguing that foreign-owned businesses in rural areas should be seized without delay.
“Businesses owned by foreigners in the rural areas must be seized immediately,” she said.
But Dlamini questioned whether local entrepreneurs were adequately prepared to take over the businesses, suggesting that foreign owners should be given time to train their successors.
“Why can’t we give the Asians or foreigners at least three years before ‘kicking them’ out so that emaSwati can learn to run the businesses?” he asked.
Magagula rejected the proposal, questioning why local traders should continue struggling while waiting for foreign business owners to leave.
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