Africa-Press – Eswatini. The power and potential of local production were on full display on April 25, 2025 at the Made in Eswatini Consumer Fair.
This energetic one-day event, organised through the collaborative efforts of A Peculiar Person and the Mbabane Municipality, successfully transformed the streets of Mbabane into a lively hub, showcasing the impressive variety and entrepreneurial spirit behind Eswatini-made goods.
The fairgrounds buzzed with unique Swati products, ranging from fashion and accessories to crafts, food, beverages, cosmetics, and technology services. This focused approach on local talent, intentionally limiting international exhibitors, effectively highlighted the capabilities and innovation of Swati businesses, attracting significant public attention.
Melusi “Zox” Dlamini, A Peculiar Person’s Chairperson, expressed his heartfelt gratitude for the overwhelming support from the Mbabane community and the enthusiastic participation of local businesses. He emphasised the fair’s role in celebrating the entrepreneurial spirit of Eswatini.
Paula Marques, Managing Director of Emlembe Beverages and Co-Founder of Eswatini Re-Tail Solutions, echoed the positive sentiment, highlighting the fair as an important avenue for economic empowerment within the country. She emphasised how initiatives like this help circulate money within local communities, fostering economic growth, and commended the municipal council for their collaborative role in making the fair a reality.
Beaming with pride, President of the Business Federation of Eswatini, Thuli Dladla-Dlamini, highlighted the positive trend of young people embracing entrepreneurship in Eswatini. “Seeing them actively building their futures instead of being inactive is wonderful,” she stated, also expressing her satisfaction with the strong attendance at the Consumer Fair.
Adding to the chorus of praise, Cafe 360’s Sindi Simelane extended heartfelt congratulations to A Peculiar Person, Melusi Zox Dlamini, and the Mbabane Municipality on a successful event. She shared that it was a pleasure to host and celebrate alongside the vibrant businesses and enthusiastic attendees.
Municipal Council of Mbabane CEO Gciniwe Fakudze, appreciated that the fair brought something new and exciting to the local scene. Nhlengentfwa noted the event’s success in gathering many local businesses together, saving them the need for individual repeated setups and offering a platform to reach a broader audience. She hoped the fair would become an annual fixture, further strengthening the local economy and showcasing homegrown products and services. The strong turnout and vibrant atmosphere demonstrated a growing appetite for locally owned and operated businesses.
Mbabane East MP Welcome Dlamini also hailed the Consumer Fair as a “brilliant concept,” emphasizing its potential to stimulate the local economy and provide a vital platform for Swati entrepreneurs to showcase their talents and reach a wider market. He expressed his delight in witnessing firsthand the energy and innovation on display, noting the fair’s positive contribution to the constituency and the nation as a whole.
Thando Dlamini, a satisfied customer, emphasised the fair’s importance in identifying local needs and providing multi-faceted opportunities for businesses. He urged organisers to expand the fair into a multi-day event and establish it as a regular feature on Eswatini’s business calendar, further energising the entrepreneurial landscape and boosting local commerce.
The evident excitement and demand underscored the extraordinary range of local products on offer, making the Swati Consumer Fair a clear success in promoting local businesses and fostering community spirit.
The fair created a lively atmosphere with food stalls, art displays, and shoppers enthusiastically filling their bags with locally sourced, high-quality products. Shoppers expressed their excitement in discovering a wide selection of distinctive, locally made goods under one roof.
Creativity was evident in the quality of displays and the affordability of the products, leading many attendees to make repeat trips to their cars to unload purchases before eagerly returning for more. One attendee described it as a “brilliant idea,” emphasising the reduced travel needed to find specific local brands and hoping the event becomes a regular occurrence.
The fairgrounds buzzed with unique Swati products, thoughtfully organized into clusters that highlighted the breadth of local talent. Attendees had the opportunity to explore a wide array of offerings, including:
Accessories, Home & Decor: Featuring the unique designs of Dala Spaces, Melane Leather, Tandla Tami, the aromatic Burnt Candles.
Beauty, Cosmetics, Wellness, Health & Hygiene: Luna Hair and Body, MyCoils, Chakaza Diagnostics
Fashion & Apparel: Presenting the stylish designs of Urban wear of Blaq Soul, the distinctive Touch of Soul, the crafted pieces from Crotchet by Selu.
Beverages: Local favorite Sibebe Premium Lager, the fine Imbali Gin, the selections from Aristocrat, the expertise of The Mixing Guru, the pure Emlembe Water.
Southern Trading: Offering essential goods including Sugar, Rice, Beans, Mealie Meal, Wors, Pop Corn, Somi Oil.
Food (Ready-to-eat): Serving up delicious options from Explorers Smash Burgers and Explorers Pizza, the treats from Sunbites, the delights of Yaya’s Confectionery Corner, the baked goods from MLH Bakery, the plant-based options from Vegan Eswatini, the sweet Doughy Creations, the frozen treats from Scoops N’ Giggles Ice Cream and Milo’s Ice Cream, and the fun offerings of S&A Candy Corner and Funtimes.
Food: Dairy: Featuring the products of Lactalis Eswatini (Parmalat), Umcenge Milk, various Yoghurt options, and the traditional Emasi Emndeni and Emasi Emvelo, as well as Juice.
Food: Value Add: Flavourful creations of Black Mamba (Sauces, Pestos, Chutneys, Jams), the offerings from Green Mamba Foods, the sweet Emlembe Honey, the convenience of Luju Sachets,
Transport & Tourism: SiyeSwatini Transmagnific,
Royal Science and Technology Park – Business Incubation Center: Highlighting innovative ventures in ICT
Technology: Featuring services from Leap IT Services, the Leap Taxi App, Stratcom Media & AI Marketing, Jolide Engineering, and The Money Network.Government Agencies: Youth Enterprise Fund and SEDCO.
For More News And Analysis About Eswatini Follow Africa-Press
