Mbabane – Emaswati may soon be able to use movable assets such as machinery, vehicles, livestock, crops, inventory, receivables and intellectual property as collateral when applying for loans, as the country works towards establishing a Movable Collateral Registry.
The Central Bank of Eswatini (CBE), in partnership with the Alliance for Financial Inclusion (AFI), hosted a workshop on Monday morning bringing together commercial banks, micro-lenders and government ministries to advance the reform.
Opening the session, CBE Director of Financial Regulation Lungile Dlamini said the lack of collateral remains one of the biggest barriers to accessing finance, particularly for women-led micro, small and medium enterprises. 
She said the country’s financial system has long relied heavily on immovable assets like land and buildings, yet many entrepreneurs own valuable movable assets that are not fully recognised by lenders.
“Establishing a Movable Collateral Registry is therefore not just a technical reform, but a step toward fairness, efficiency, and unlocking economic potential. Anchored in the National Financial Inclusion Strategy 2023–2028 and the Gender Inclusive Finance Roadmap, the initiative aims to expand inclusive access to credit and strengthen participation in the economy,” she said.
