Ezulwini – Simunye Fest is set to make a felt economic impact in the Lubombo region, capitalising on the rebirth of the East 3 Route connecting Eswatini, South Africa and Mozambique.
The festival is projected to generate E6.5 million gross revenue and over E2 million net profit in the three-day period banking on 5000 attendees when it premiers on October 23-25, 2026, in Vuvulane in the Lubombo region.
Msutfu Masilela, a member of the Simunye Fest organising committee, told journalists at the media launch at Happy Valley that as a numbers game, reaching 10,000 attendees improves the odds, with the event projected to exceed E5.5 million, while at 20,000 pax in an optimised scenario, the model projects gross revenues of over E37 million and a net profit of E26 million. 
Simunye Fest, themed ‘One People, One Rhythm, One Moment’, plans to feature over 80 food stalls feeding over 5,000 people, with a per-attendee revenue of roughly E1,900 inside the perimeter. The location has been viewed as a window to the continent, boosting local tourism.
“But those numbers only capture what happens inside the fence. Outside the fence, cross-border visitors from Mozambique and South Africa will spend on fuel, accommodation, food and local attractions as they travel through eastern Eswatini. Local MSMEs will gain market access and business development support through our Impact Hub. Vuvulane Town Board vendors, crafters, and service providers will be the direct economic beneficiaries of every edition of this festival. The East 3 corridor has been underutilised as a tourism and economic route. Simunye Fest changes that – permanently”, Masilela said.
The event promised community responsibilities beyond economics. It combines a family gathering with a dedicated children’s play area while also addressing important themes of mental health and education. It will include ‘three non-negotiable community pledges’. These are: a men’s mental health campaign in collaboration with Men’s Corner Eswatini, a community charity drive in collaboration with the Vuvulane Town Board, a STEM education program at Vuvulane Primary School, and co-funding of a fully functional STEM and ICT laboratory in the school while also offering direct support for the Vuvulane Carepoint, ensuring the most vulnerable children in the host community are seen, celebrated, and cared for during the festival and beyond.
“We are not visitors to Vuvulane. We intend to be partners every single year. Ladies and gentlemen of the press – you are the first to hear this. Simunye Fest is coming. October 23 to 25, 2026. Vuvulane, Lubombo. When we were told Simunye Stadium was no longer available, we could have stopped. Instead, we found a community that said yes – and we found a route that connects us to the continent. This festival is more than an event. It is a movement rooted in culture, creativity, entrepreneurship, and unity. And today, that movement has an address,” Masilela said.
Simunye Fest information can be found at simunye-fest.com and through contacting admin@simunye-fest.com or 76699984.
