The countdown is on for the Made in Eswatini Consumer Choice Awards 2026, with voting entering its final days ahead of the awards ceremony on Thursday, September 17, at Hilton Garden Inn Mbabane.
Held under the theme ‘Imagine the Impact’, this year’s awards celebrate Eswatini-made products, services, experiences and designs, while allowing consumers to recognise the local brands they choose to support.
Public voting closes on September 16, making the final days particularly important for nominees still competing for the top spots in their respective categories.
The awards are organised as part of the broader Made in Eswatini movement, developed by A Peculiar People to increase the visibility, trust and market access of enterprises producing, transforming, designing or delivering from Eswatini.
Executive Chairman of A Peculiar People, Melusi ZoxDlamini, says the response to this year’s awards has highlighted the role consumers can play in shaping the local business environment.
“These awards were never intended to simply be a popularity contest. They are an opportunity for consumers to say which local brands they believe deserve to be seen, supported and celebrated,” says Dlamini.
This year’s edition has introduced a digital voting system powered by MTN MoMo, with each vote costing E1. Consumers can vote for one or several nominees and cast multiple votes across their preferred brands.
Votes are only counted once payment has been successfully confirmed, with the voting system designed to prevent double counting.
As voting moves towards its deadline, nominees are also encouraging their customers, supporters and communities to get behind them.
Dlamini says the competition has seen different forms of support emerge, with some brands relying on established customer loyalty, while others are mobilising their communities and using their stories and products to attract support.
“What is exciting is that we are seeing different kinds of support emerge. Some brands have strong consumer loyalty, some are mobilising their communities, while others are benefiting from the strength of their products and the stories behind their businesses,” he says.
With voting still open, the organisers are reminding nominees and consumers that the final positions cannot be taken for granted.
“The leaderboard can change very quickly in a consumer-voted competition. A brand that is behind today can potentially close the gap tomorrow,” says Dlamini.
Beyond the competition itself, the awards form part of a wider conversation around buying local and the economic value of consumer decisions.
Dlamini describes every purchase of a local product or service as part of a broader economic chain, where consumer demand can contribute to the growth of businesses and the creation of opportunities.
“Every buying decision is economic activism. When we deliberately choose a product, service, experience or design created here in Eswatini, we are helping create demand. Demand creates markets, markets create businesses, and businesses create opportunities and jobs.”
The awards follow the launch of the Made in Eswatini definition by HRH Princess Sakhizwe in July 10, 2026. The definition identifies qualifying products, services, experiences and designs as those genuinely created, produced, transformed or delivered from Eswatini by responsible enterprises.
For the businesses and individuals competing this year, the awards offer another platform to put local work in front of consumers and celebrate the people behind the brands.
With just days remaining, the organisers are making a final call for consumers to participate before voting closes.
“This is the final stretch. If there is a local brand you believe in, now is the time to show it. Don’t simply tell them you support them. Vote for them. Share their story. Buy from them. Recommend them,” said Dlamini.
The winners will be announced on September 17, at Hilton Garden Inn Mbabane, where nominees, previous winners, partners, sponsors, business leaders and other stakeholders will gather for the 2026 Made in Eswatini Consumer Choice Awards.
Voting remains open until 16 September through the official Made in Eswatini Consumer Choice Awards platform, with votes processed through MTN MoMo.
