The Eswatini Consumer Forum (ECOF) has called for urgent government intervention to review major public infrastructure contracts, alleging procurement irregularities, inadequate local participation and failure to maximise economic benefits for emaSwati.
In a statement, the consumer advocacy organisation raised concerns over the procurement processes relating to the Central Bank of Eswatini (CBE) Complex Phase 1 project and the Eswatini Roads Infrastructure Improvement Programme (ERIIP).
ECOF argued that while it is not opposed to the participation of foreign firms in major projects, 
government institutions and regulators should ensure that procurement processes fully comply with laws aimed at promoting local participation, skills transfer, employment creation and citizen economic empowerment.
The organisation further claimed that tender requirements imposed on some of the projects may have unintentionally disadvantaged local contractors by creating financial and technical barriers that limited their ability to participate competitively.
According to ECOF, the country risks losing significant economic value when large-scale public contracts are awarded to foreign-controlled entities without sufficient mechanisms to retain wealth, skills and employment opportunities within Eswatini.
The forum also called for greater scrutiny of procurement processes and urged authorities to ensure that public infrastructure projects contribute meaningfully to national development objectives.
ECOF said it intends to engage relevant stakeholders, including government, regulators and industry bodies, to advocate for increased participation of local contractors in major projects.
The organisation further argued that structuring large projects into smaller work packages could create opportunities for a greater number of local contractors, while supporting job creation and enterprise development.
The forum said it remains committed to promoting transparency, accountability and economic justice in the use of public resources and infrastructure spending.
