Eswatini's Economic Conditions Worsen

As the government concludes a five-year term marked by the Covid-19 pandemic and civil unrest in June 2021 (Amnesty international, 2023), economic warning signs are flashing red, reports Sipho Kunene for Afrobarometer.

With national parliamentary elections (which will usher in the next government) set for 29 September, the latest Afrobarometer survey in Eswatini suggests that the new government will need to act urgently to improve the quality of life of Emaswati.

Most economic indicators have taken a nosedive since 2018. Large majorities of citizens say the country is headed in the wrong direction and describe both the national economy and their personal living conditions as bad. Increasing numbers went without basic life necessities during the previous year, and few citizens are optimistic that things will get better anytime soon.

Overwhelming majorities give the government poor marks for its performance on economic issues. On the bright side, a majority of citizens who accessed key public services last year say they encountered few difficulties, although a substantial number say they had to pay bribes.