Africa-Press – Eswatini. SEDCO CEO Khethiwe Mhlanga says Manzini’s youth are leading the charge in entrepreneurship, with 60 young business owners entering the 2025 Regional Awards and showing strong potential for economic growth.
Speaking at the 2025 Entrepreneur of the Year Awards (EYA) Manzini Regional ceremony held at The George Hotel on July 31, Mhlanga said she was impressed by the increased participation and innovation displayed by Manzini’s business community.
She revealed that out of the 412 national applications received, 136 came from the Manzini region alone.
“This region has shown us once again that there is increasing business activity, particularly among youth and women entrepreneurs. Of the 136 applications from Manzini, 68 were women and 60 were youth entrepreneurs,” she said.
Mhlanga commended the entrepreneurs for their drive and encouraged communities and corporates to support locally owned businesses. “For us at SEDCO, this is the kind of growth we aspire to see with our MSMEs across the country,” she said.
The event also highlighted the impact of inclusive economic participation, with one of the winners, Brenda Nhlengetfwa, a visually impaired entrepreneur, scooping the Regional Outstanding Business Owned by a Person with Disability award.
The vibrant event was attended by the Minister of Commerce, Industry and Trade, Honourable Manqoba Khumalo, government officials, corporate partners, and aspiring business owners.
Winners were announced in various categories including technology, handicrafts, green business, youth-owned enterprises, and agribusiness. EHome Africa, a youth-led construction firm converting cargo containers into eco-friendly housing units, won both the Overall Regional Award and Regional Outstanding Green Business, taking home E20 000.
Mhlanga also noted the strong presence of women-led ventures, such as SKYE M, which manufactures organic cosmetics, and Berachah Kitchen, which started as a student kiosk and now operates a permanent base at Palm Beach Centre.
She thanked FNB Eswatini and the FNB Foundation, the event’s title sponsors, along with other partners for supporting the programme.
“Our goal is to ensure SEDCO services reach all Tinkhundla and support entrepreneurs in remote areas. Through training, mentorship, incubation, and market linkages, we aim to build a stronger entrepreneurial ecosystem,” she added.
Mhlanga encouraged all participants to keep engaging with SEDCO programmes to grow their businesses beyond the competition.
The Manzini Regional Awards marked the conclusion of the EYA regional phase, which previously took place in the Shiselweni, Lubombo, and Hhohho regions, ahead of the national finals set to take place later this year.
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