Africa-Press – Eswatini. A couple of moons ago I was diplomatic in addressing the issue between the Federation of Eswatini Business Community (FESBC) and Inyatsi Group, which ought to be mediated by the Eswatini Competition Commission (ESCC).
I have coined the article ‘tiger by the tail’ because I fear that is exactly what we are faced with as a nation. On one end we have FESBC coming out to state that they feel threatened and have since acquired arms for personal protection, Inyatsi, on the other end of the spectrum, is utilising the courts with unprecedented damage claims against FESBC. Government on the apex is raising concerns on the armed FESBC, terming it a militant entity. The ESCC on the fringes is handling the issue professionally outside the public relations domain.
Role of government
It is the role of government to engender a level playing field for all to engage in commerce for both domestic and international entities. Also, it is the role of government to remain neutral and set up systems for the mediation of disputes in an economy, the government invests in the industrial court system, conciliation and arbitration commission and now the revenue appeals tribunal. These are the entities that government funds with public coffers to ensure that the playing field is level. The case in point is a competition issue and government has no role in mediating the issue, the press statements and editorials coming through from government in my view, are not at all necessary. I fear that the government has in the process alienated local business owners, in a bid to protect foreign direct investment. It may not be a deliberate move on the side of government, however, to an independent analyst, such as myself, it does look like that. I find it bemusing how government has not come out with a statement, aimed at curtailing the action of big businesses. We have seen bold claims emanating from big business and none of those have been called to order by government.
The claims
A couple of moons back, we saw FESBC being labelled a terrorist entity by one of the big businesses, and this was out in the papers, and government did not issue even a single statement. FESBC has been dragged into courts, faced with a long list of charges and a very hefty unprecedented claim leveled against the entity and no one says a thing about this; granted, this is a court process and the courts are to make a determination on the claims. However, I argue or contend that this is viewed is an old technique that big industries utilise to throttle small business out of the space. The technique is ‘keep them occupied with a heft lawsuit, either they will drop their claims or bleed them dry, until they run out of money and the case dies a natural death’. I would argue that the actions of big businesses are actually just making FESBC’ case, at least in the eyes of emaSwati and the government machinery is seen as enabling big businesses. Hence, I contend that the government is indeed creating a scenario of a tiger by the tail.
Instigating instability
In its court application big business contends that FESBC will insight the people to revolt or place it in the direct path of the people’s wrath as the entity once witnessed resulting in losses of property to the tune of millions of Emalangeni. I argue that in the current economic climate, the actions of the titans of industry attains the same outcome. The titans are placing themselves in a catch 22 situation, which can be avoided entirely if we allow the ESCC to do its job, investigate and present its findings and recommendations as per its mandate. The indifference of government to the actions of industry titans, while becoming critical on the actions of FESBC, fuels instability, instead of creating a stable environment for both local and international businesses to thrive. The right move for government, is to offer no comment on the issue and allow the ESCC to work on the issue and the court system to address the issue, where the ESCC has failed.
I caution government that its actions and efforts to protect foreign direct investment may actually repel it. I ask if you would want to come and set up shop in a country where the government will not allow institutions it has setup itself, to mediate the business environment, but rather it be seen trying to mediate the issue in a skewed manner. All businesses seeking to establish in the country, will consider the impacts on their operations when the favour of government is not skewed in their direction. This is something Inyatsi Group and all other stakeholders are also considering and they would not be proper business entities if they did not consider this, because the wheel of fortune always turns.
Proper channels
I urge all stakeholders involved in the issue, to allow the right institutions to mediate on the issue, for the sake of our people, peace and stability in the country.
Source: times
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