🛒Eswatini's "Shop Local" Movement Just Exploded

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In today’s email…

• Made in Eswatini Fair a Resounding Success

• Eswatini Just Dodged a Tax Bullet (Thanks, South Africa)

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Made in Eswatini Fair: Local is the New Global (and Everyone's Loving It)

Forget your usual humdrum market. This past weekend, along the bustling Dr. Sishayi Road in Mbabane, something special brewed: the inaugural Made in Eswatini Consumer Fair. Think of it as the ultimate "shop local" extravaganza, cooked up by the folks at A Peculiar People.

And boy, did it deliver. A whopping 138 local brands showed up, slinging everything from tasty grub and slick fashion to cutting-edge tech, wellness wonders, and handcrafted gems. The theme? Simple: support your neighbor, boost your kingdom.

Melusi Zox Dlamini, the head honcho at A Peculiar People, nailed it when he said the goal was to make local goodies easily accessible. "We want to connect the public with these amazing businesses," he explained. Turns out, the public felt the same way. The buzz was so intense, people were already clamoring for this to be a monthly affair.

The sheer variety on display underscored the kingdom's entrepreneurial spirit. We're talking small startups rubbing shoulders with established players and even government agencies, all under one "choose local" banner.

Dlamini, clearly stoked by the turnout, hinted at bigger things to come, even though they had to turn some businesses away due to space constraints. Big props to the attendees, partners, and the public, he said, for "igniting the economy and creating more jobs." He's even dreaming of making April 25th the annual date for this local love-in.

But the love didn't stop there. Mbabane East MP Welcome Dlamini was so impressed, he wants to see this roadshow hit other towns across Eswatini, giving even more local businesses a chance to shine. "This event needs to be held regularly," he declared, emphasizing its power to strengthen the local economy.

Gciniwe Fakudze, the CEO of the Municipal Council of Mbabane, echoed that sentiment. Mingling with the vendors, she was blown away by the creativity on display. "Buying local products is not a downgrade," she asserted, highlighting the quality and diversity of the homegrown brands. Mbabane is buzzing with pride for hosting this "citizen-led catalyst for sustainable economic development."

The takeaway? Despite being packed to the brim, the energy at the Made in Eswatini Fair was infectious. It wasn't just a market; it was a celebration of local ingenuity and a powerful reminder that sometimes, the best stuff is right in your backyard. Keep an eye out, because this feels like just the beginning of something big in the Kingdom of Eswatini.

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Eswatini Says "Nah" to VAT Hike, Because South Africa Said So

Remember that tiny little bump in VAT Eswatini was considering? Yeah, scratch that. The government just pulled a U-turn faster than you can say "fiscal policy."

Finance Minister Neal Rijkenberg dropped the news on Wednesday, explaining that while the House of Assembly had already given the thumbs-up to the 0.5% VAT increase, they're now tapping the brakes. Why the sudden change of heart? Turns out, big brother South Africa decided to ditch a similar VAT hike, and Eswatini's singing the same tune.

"We've noticed that South Africa has made a decision not to go ahead with the 0.5% increase in VAT, and in Eswatini, we will follow suit and do our best to do likewise," Rijkenberg stated. Translation: When your economy is this intertwined, you don't want to be doing the cha-cha while your partner's doing the tango.

The VAT regulations were all set to hit the Senate floor on Wednesday, but now they're heading back for a little more chin-wagging, specifically about that pesky 0.5%.

Rijkenberg didn't mince words about why this alignment is crucial. "If we put 0.5% and South Africa does not, it would have been chaos. The other way around would have been chaos, too," he pointed out. Keeping tax policies in sync with their giant neighbor is key to avoiding economic headaches.

So, what's next? After the Senate has its say, any tweaks will head back to the House of Assembly for a formal do-over. The goal? To pass the rest of the VAT regulations without that extra half-percent tacked on.

The Bottom Line: Eswatini is playing it smart by mirroring South Africa's VAT stance. It's a reminder that in the global (or regional) economy, sometimes the best move is to move in step. Now, you can breathe a little easier knowing that extra few cents on every purchase aren't coming your way... for now, at least.

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