In today’s email…

• Local builders in Eswatini are getting shut out of government contracts

• Luju Festival’s Recipe for Success

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Eswatini's Construction Industry Has a Problem (And It's Not What You Think)

The short version: Local builders in Eswatini are getting shut out of government contracts because they can't navigate bureaucratic red tape, even though they're pretty good at, you know, building stuff.

Here's what's happening...

Picture this: You're a skilled contractor who's been building houses in Eswatini for decades. You know, concrete like your grandmother's recipe for sishwala. But when the government puts out a tender, you're automatically disqualified because you don't have the right paperwork.

Meanwhile, companies with pristine documents but questionable track records enter the scene and secure contracts.

Sound backwards? The industry thinks so too.

The man with the stick and mud

Maurice Du Pont from Du Van Developers dropped this gem at a recent industry panel: There was a guy in the Shiselweni region who built a double-storey house using just a stick and mud for measurements.

Instead of celebrating his ingenuity, people mocked him.

"That man had a skill," Du Pont said. "All he needed was technical guidance, not ridicule."

Why this matters

The Construction Industry Council (CIC) was founded to build local capacity. But their current tendering system is doing the opposite; it's excluding the very people it was meant to help.

The irony is thick: Informal contractors have been the backbone of Eswatini's construction workforce for years. They've delivered projects, built communities, and kept the industry running. But bureaucratic requirements favor paperwork over proven ability.

Continue reading 🔗 

Luju Festival’s Recipe for Success: Partnerships, Creativity, and Empowering Eswatini’s Talent

Yo, let’s talk about a cultural juggernaut in Southern Africa that’s cooking up more than just good vibes. At the official launch of this year’s Standard Bank Luju Food & Lifestyle Festival at House on Fire in Malkerns, Standard Bank Eswatini’s Chief Executive, Mvuselelo Fakudze, dropped some serious knowledge. The festival’s meteoric rise? It’s no happy accident. It’s the result of strategic partnerships, bold creativity, and a laser focus on uplifting local talent, perfectly in line with the bank’s mantra: Eswatini is our home, we drive her growth.

The launch was a star-studded affair, with heavyweights like Prime Minister Russell Mmiso Dlamini, Minister of Sports, Arts & Youth Affairs Bongani Nzima (joining virtually), Minister of Tourism Jane Mkhonta, and Minister of Commerce Manqoba Khumalo in the mix, alongside the National Arts & Culture Council’s CEO, festival sponsors, and partners.

Now in its 7th year, Luju has leveled up into one of Southern Africa’s must-attend cultural experiences. Fakudze didn’t hold back on the stats: in 2024, the festival drew crowds from 23+ countries, raked in E2.5 million for SME traders, and solidified its rep as a go-to platform for food, fashion, and the arts. It’s not just a party, it’s a life-changer for local entrepreneurs and a booster for Eswatini’s economy.

But wait, there’s more. Fakudze highlighted how Luju’s strategic moves, like the Grow Beyond Borders SME Seminar, are helping entrepreneurs scale up, tap new markets, and seize real opportunities. This year’s seminar is set to be a game-changer, with B2B matchmaking, panel discussions on fashion, logistics, and African trade, and connections to regional funders. It’s like a masterclass in cross-border hustle.

Oh, and did we mention the bragging rights? Luju snagged the Best Event & Experience at the 2024 UBORA Awards, outshining other events across Africa and South Africa. It’s now a premium sponsorship property for the entire Standard Bank Group.

Fakudze wrapped it up with a heartfelt shoutout: “Big thanks to His Majesty’s Government for the unwavering support, our sponsors and partners for believing in purpose-driven collabs, and our artists, chefs, designers, traders, and entrepreneurs for being bold, brave, and brilliant.”

Luju’s not just a festival, it’s a movement. Keep an eye on this one, folks. It’s proof that when you mix vision, hustle, and heart, you can build something that resonates far beyond Eswatini’s borders. 🌍

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