MBABANE:Johannes Manikela,the Business Federation of Eswatini(BFE) Head of Retail has appealed to Government to consider engaging China and establish diplomatic relations.
This comes after Beijing restricted emaSwati from visiting China, eSwatini citizens are currently struggling to obtain visas at the Pretoria-Chinese Embassy thus frustrating the direct importation of goods.
It has been disclosed that, some businesspeople are now using South African agents thus increasing import costs, reducing profits and threatening the sustainability of businesses.
“We urge the Government to engage China and establish diplomatic relations because as the situation stands, businesspeople are struggling and businesses are collapsing. Most goods in the country are sourced from China so if businesspeople are now restricted or struggling to travel to China, this means more businesses will collapse and the economy will be affected,” said the Business Federation of Eswatini Head of Retail when speaking to this Swaziland News on Wednesday afternoon.
Foreign Affairs Minister Pholile Dlamini-Shakantu was not immediately available for a comment in this matter.
Eswatini is the only country in Africa currently undermining the United Nations(UN) Resolution 2758 of 1971 that recognized the One China Principle by maintaining diplomatic relations with Taiwan, a Chinese Province.
Even though the Taiwan-eSwatini diplomatic relations benefits the King in his personal capacity, most emaSwati particularly businesspeople are increasingly getting frustrated after Beijing restricted travels for eSwatini citizens eeking to visit China.
Eswatini citizens remain banned from visiting Beijing as tiny Kingdom holds to Taiwan, Business Federation urges Government to engage China and establish diplomatic relations amid struggle to import goods(pic: Wikipedia).