Eswatini MPs want chiefs stripped of stamp issuing powers
Lawmakers debated the Youth Enterprise Revolving Fund, raising concerns about underfunding and land insecurity.
Members of Parliament in Eswatini have called for chiefs to lose the power to issue umphakatsi stamps for young entrepreneurs. They proposed that these stamps should instead be available at tinkhundla centres. MPs voiced concerns yesterday during the debate on the Finance Committee’s report on the Youth Enterprise Revolving Fund (Amendment) Regulations, 2025.
Lawmakers highlighted fragmentation in youth empowerment, insufficient funding, and land insecurity as major obstacles to tackling youth unemployment. They advocated for a unified governance strategy to improve coordination and ensure funds reach young people effectively. The Youth Enterprise Revolving Fund, they noted, only reached a few hundred micro-enterprises, leaving thousands of applicants without necessary capital.
The Finance Committee Chairperson, Marwick Khumalo, stated that Regulation 7 has been amended to address the stamp issue, clarifying that the process begins at the chiefdom and does not require a stamp initially. Young people also proposed allocating underutilized farmland to them for agricultural development and food security.
Why it mattersMembers of Parliament in Eswatini are seeking to reform how young entrepreneurs access necessary documentation and resources, while also addressing broader issues of youth unemployment and land access.