By Ncaba Ntshakala
POLITICS, the private sector and business, go hand-in-hand and when the relationship is built on a solid foundation, service delivery takes place.
This is the view of Inyatsi Group Holdings Chairman Michelo Shakantu. The businessman said in a video on his Tik Tok account that a radical shift in thinking was needed when one thinks of the role of the government and business. He said the two are not adversaries, but partners in progress.
“When you separate the two, then the goals become different. When you bring them together, the goals are purposefully the same”, Shakantu said. This philosophy, rooted in the belief that development necessitates collaboration, challenges the traditional dichotomy between government and business in Africa.
The Executive Chairman argues that both sectors operate within the same society, serving the same customers and communities. Therefore, their objectives should be intrinsically linked. He emphasises that “if the government has a program, the private sector should support it. If the private sector has a program, governments must support it.”
This synergy, he believes, is the key to unlocking a “meaningful and sound impact” on societies. Inyatsi Group Holdings is a diversified corporation with a presence in nine African countries. It is also one of the leading and most successful corporations in the region.
Originally established in 1982 as a construction company, the Group has established itself as a leading player in multiple sectors including construction, mining, telecommunications, financial services, health care, insurance, manufacturing, media, and property.
The construction division of the Group has a reputation for delivering high-quality infrastructure projects, including roads, bridges, airports, water treatment plants, dams and commercial buildings. With a team of experienced engineers and project managers, the construction arm has completed several high-profile projects across the countries of operation.
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Inyatsi is a 100% Eswatini-owned company which strives to be Africa’s Leading Integrated Business Partner. Expanding on his reasoning, Shakantu is of the view that governments, with their broad reach and regulatory power, can create an enabling environment for businesses to thrive.
Conversely, a vibrant private sector generates taxes and employment, providing the resources governments need to address social issues and invest in infrastructure. This symbiotic relationship, Shakantu argues, is the very essence of development.
Inyatsi’s Executive Chairman has dispelled the notion that either sector can achieve progress alone. “Government on its own can’t deliver development,” he asserts. “The private sector on its own without government support will not deliver development.” Instead, Shakantu advocates for “cohesion,” for “partnership,” for a unified pursuit of common goals.
This alignment, Shakantu believes, will yield tangible results. “That’s the only way we can begin to see the results and see actual positive growth in economies,” he declares. Shakantu paints a picture of a future where both sectors pull in the same direction, driving “win-win” outcomes for communities, businesses, and governments alike.
The Inyatsi leader’s words are in line with what is fulfilling development in the globe. The age-old narrative of government versus business is crumbling. In its place, a new paradigm has emerged, one where governments and businesses join hands as co-pilots, navigating the complex skies of development together.
This synergistic dance, far from being theoretical, has already yielded breathtaking results in nations that have embraced collaboration as their compass. Singapore, the gleaming jewel of Southeast Asia, stands as a testament to this power. Its remarkable economic transformation, from an impoverished backwater to a global powerhouse, was fueled by a strategic partnership between a proactive government and a dynamic private sector.
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The government provided fertile ground with visionary infrastructure projects, skilled workforce development, and transparent regulations. The private sector, in turn, responded with innovation, investment, and job creation, propelling the nation forward. Moreover, Rwanda, rising from the ashes of genocide, offers another poignant example. Public-private partnerships tackled healthcare challenges, spearheaded digitalisation efforts, and revitalised the agricultural sector.
Government investment in irrigation systems was met with private sector expertise in sustainable farming practices, leading to a remarkable agricultural boom. This collaborative approach transformed a nation on the brink into a beacon of hope and progress.
Across the Atlantic, Denmark’s green energy success story further underscores the potency of this partnership. Audacious government targets for renewable energy were met with private sector ingenuity. Wind farms sprang up across the landscape, powered by Danish engineering prowess and fueled by government incentives.
Today, Denmark is a global leader in wind energy, its streets humming with electric vehicles, a testament to the transformative power of collaborative ambition.
