Mbabane – A total of 194 products, brands, services and experiences have been nominated for the 2026 Made in Eswatini® Consumer Choice Awards following a consumer nomination process that attracted more than 260 entries across the Kingdom.
The nominees were selected between 12 July and 12 August 2026 and will compete across 20 categories as part of the third edition of the awards, which seek to recognise and promote local excellence.
The nominations follow the launch of the Made in Eswatini® definition by Her Royal Highness Princess Sakhizwe on 10 July 2026. The definition sets out the standard for products, services, experiences and designs that may carry the Made in Eswatini® identity.
“Made in Eswatini® refers to products, services, experiences and designs that have been genuinely created, produced, transformed or delivered from Eswatini, by responsible enterprises.”
According to Melusi Zox Dlamini, Chairman of A Peculiar People, the organisation behind the awards, the nomination process showed that consumers were taking a more active role in shaping the future of local businesses.
“This is an awards program driven by the consumer. They have nominated the brands they buy, the experiences they enjoy, the businesses they trust and the products they believe deserve to be celebrated,” said Dlamini.
The awards cover various sectors of Eswatini’s consumer economy, including food and agriculture, fashion, technology, tourism, manufacturing, creativity and personal brands.
Tourism, Fashion, Health and Wellness, Personal Brands and Event Experiences recorded some of the strongest fields, with each category attracting more than 10 nominees. Organisers said the response reflected the diversity and growth of businesses serving consumers in Eswatini.
Voting opens
Public voting opened on 14 August 2026 and will close on 16 September 2026. Each vote costs E1.00 and can be submitted through MTN MoMo via the official website, www.madeineswatini.africa.
Dlamini said the voting process was central to the purpose of the awards, as it placed consumers at the centre of the initiative.
“We want to put the consumer with the actual brand at the centre of this concept – not the entreprenuer,” Dlamini said.
“A business can tell us that it is excellent. A marketing campaign can tell us that a product is the best. But ultimately, it is the consumer who decides where they spend their money, what they recommend and what they return to. The Consumer Choice Awards simply gives that voice a platform.”
Awards ceremony
The awards, launched by the Minister of Commerce, Trade and Industry, MP Manqoba Khumalo, will be held under the theme, “Imagine the Impact”.
The ceremony is scheduled for Thursday, 17 September 2026 at the Hilton Garden Inn. The event will be supported by Hilton Garden Hotel and the Hospitality and Tourism Association of Eswatini, known as HOTAES.
The partnership is expected to demonstrate the contribution of the hospitality and tourism sector in creating market access for locally produced goods, services and experiences.
Guests attending the ceremony have been encouraged to wear local fashion in line with the awards’ fashion theme. Organisers are calling for bold, sophisticated and inspiring designs, including contemporary clothing, sustainable fashion, locally made accessories and other distinctive creations.
The attire is intended to reflect progress, possibility and national pride while promoting the country’s fashion industry.
The Consumer Choice Awards form part of the broader Made in Eswatini® Ecosystem, which seeks to build consumer confidence and increase support for products and services made in the Kingdom.
A Peculiar People said the recognition of local brands should be accompanied by opportunities to access markets.
“These 194 nominees are a snapshot of what Eswatini is capable of producing, creating and delivering. They represent entrepreneurs who have taken risks, created jobs, built brands and continued to believe in this Kingdom. We want consumers to look at this list and realise that there is an extraordinary amount of talent and excellence already around us. Now we want consumers to do what they do best, which is to choose.”
The organisation has called on consumers, entrepreneurs, business leaders, development partners, policymakers and institutions to participate in the awards by voting for their preferred local brands.
Leave a comment