Eswatini MP calls for gambling regulation to move to Commerce Ministry
Masiphula Mamba’s comments come amid renewed scrutiny of the country’s gambling industry after reports of two young deaths linked to problem gambling.
Eswatini.- An Eswatini lawmaker has suggested shifting gambling regulation from the Eswatini Ministry of Tourism and Environmental Affairs to the Eswatini Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Trade to improve supervision of betting operators.
Masiphula Mamba, representing Kubuta constituency, raised the proposal during debate on the tourism ministry’s Annual Performance Report, arguing that it is not doing enough to effectively regulate the gambling sector.
Mamba’s comments come amid renewed scrutiny of the country’s gambling industry after reports emerged that problem gambling contributed to two young deaths and significant financial losses in Kubuta. According to the MP, one young person died by suicide after gambling away school fees, while another, a mobile money agent, reportedly lost employer funds through betting.
He said the incidents illustrate the “devastating social consequences” of uncontrolled gambling and underscore the need for stronger regulation of the sector.
Mbabane East MP and Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Tourism and Environmental Affairs, Welcome Dlamini, echoed the same concerns, stressing that student gambling is a growing problem and that current awareness campaigns and warnings are failing to curb the trend.
He said: “The warnings that are published through advertisements do not seem to make any difference. In many cases, they appear on media platforms that are not frequently accessed by emaSwati.”
In response to rising concerns over gambling-related harms, the government has introduced a voluntary self‑exclusion programme to help individuals limit losses and manage addictive behaviour. Recently, Tourism and Environmental Affairs Minister Jane Mkhonta-Simelane announced that more than 27 individuals have signed up for the platform.
The ministry has also announced plans to collaborate with telecom providers to block mobile wallets for individuals under 18, while requiring customer registration with national ID documents to prevent underage gambling and improve age verification.
