Swaziland
Newsletter No. 915 – 20 February 2026
News from and about Swaziland, compiled by
Global Aktion, Denmark (www.globalaktion.dk)
in collaboration with Swazi Media Commentary (www.swazimedia.blogspot.com),
and sent to all with an interest in Swaziland - free of charge. The newsletter
and past editions are also available online on the Swazi Media Commentary
blogsite.
Textile
sector on brink as costs surge, orders shrink
By
Stanley Khumalo, Times of eSwatini, 16 February 2026
MATSAPHA: The textile and
apparel industry is warning of imminent retrenchments as operating costs spiral
beyond sustainability.
This sector employs more than
22 000 emaSwati and contributes about 7.6 per cent to gross domestic product
(GDP).
Factory owners claim a
convergence of pressures, a 15 per cent value-added tax (VAT) on water
introduced on February 1, 2026, steep electricity tariff increases effective
April 1 and a proposed 66.67 per cent salary increment over three years, have
pushed the sector to the edge.
On Tuesday, the Eswatini
Energy Regulatory Authority (ESERA) approved an average electricity tariff
increase of 13.61 per cent for 2026/27. While this is lower than the 20.67 per
cent sought by the Eswatini Electricity Company (EEC), the structure of the
hike has rattled manufacturers.
Corporate energy charges and
demand charges will each rise by 17 per cent. For textile factories, where
electricity accounts for roughly 40 per cent of total expenditure, the textile
industry players say the increase strikes at the core of production costs.
The employers argue that the
VAT on water further compounds their burden. They claim VAT refunds are only
claimable if a business accrues over E900 000 in profits, a threshold many say
is now unattainable amid declining orders.
“The cost of doing business is
no longer predictable. We are absorbing costs from utilities, rentals,
transport and raw materials, yet our selling prices are dictated by buyers
outside our borders,” said one industry insider.
South Africa remains the
primary market for Eswatini’s garments. However, textile firms report declining
orders from major retailers such as TFG Group and Woolworths.
While South Africa’s October
retail data showed a 5.8 per cent year-on-year increase in textiles, clothing
and footwear sales, industry sources say this growth is largely
promotion-driven, with retailers discounting heavily. That, in turn, pushes
them to procure at the lowest possible cost.
It is worth noting that South
Africa lost 194 000 jobs in retail and trade in 2025, the highest among all
industries, based on Statistics South Africa’s report, reflecting constrained
consumer spending.
The textile employers said
when retailers struggle, they inevitably feel the shock.
Local manufacturers said the
impact is visible. Drake Clothing closed last year, leaving about 350 workers
jobless. Golden Jubilee Textiles ceased operations, affecting roughly 650
employees, though it has pledged to reopen. In 2023, Kasumi Apparels Textiles
closed, costing 1 782 jobs before eventually resuming operations.
Against this backdrop, the
Amalgamated Trade Union of Swaziland (ATUSWA) has tabled a wage proposal.
Secretary General Wander Mkhonza confirmed the union would push for a
three-year increment that would raise average monthly wages from E2 400 to
about E3 900.
The union is also seeking
cost-of-living adjustments (CoLA), pension coverage and funeral benefits. While
acknowledging improvements by some firms that raised hourly rates from E15 to
E18, Mkhonza insists workers deserve dignity and security.
Prime Minister facing about R100million fresh scandal
By Zweli Martin Dlamini, Swaziland News, 15
February 2026
MBABANE: Prime Minister
Russell Mmiso Dlamini will soon face grilling by Parliament after secretly
transferring about R100million ($5.1million) to the corruption infested
National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA) without Parliament and/or Cabinet
approval.
It has been disclosed that,
the monies were paid by the Government of the United States (US) as a token of
appreciation after Eswatini accepted the dumping of dangerous criminals and/or
immigrants from the US, previously convicted by their respective countries of
murder and child rape among other serious criminal crimes.
But a high level investigation
conducted by this Swaziland News uncovered that, after the United States paid
about R100million as confirmed by Finance Minister Neal Rijikernberg when
addressing Parliament recently, the PM subsequently directed that, the money be
transferred to the NDMA, a department under the Deputy Prime Minister’s Office
where he previously worked as a Chief Executive Officer (CEO).
But worth-noting, Prime
Minister Russell Mmiso Dlamini, while working as the CEO of the Disaster
Management Agency allegedly failed to account for about R200million as per the
report of the Auditor General (AG) Timothy Matsebula, he was subsequently hauled
before the Parliament Public Accounts Committee (PAC) but again, failed to
clarify the audit queries.
It has been dislcosed that,
the PM recently summoned all Principal Secretaries of the various Government
Ministries and urged them to work directly and/or take orders from him not
their respective Ministers in what appears to be a serious threat by a sitting
Prime Minister to the proper administration of the entire Eswatini Government
systems.
As a result, Principal
Secretary in the Ministry of Finance Vusie Dlamini allegedly colluded with the
Prime Minister in the illegal transfer of the about R100million and it is
alleged that, after being captured by the PM and urged to disrespect the Finance
Minister, the Principal Secretary vigorously opposed Minister Neal Rijikernberg
during a recent meeting inside the Cabinet Offices.
To read more of
this report, click here
http://swazilandnews.co.za/fundza.php?nguyiphi=11353
SNAT to defend 39 top-up headteachers
By
Nokuphila Haji, eSwatini Observer, 16 February 2026
After 39 headteachers were
charged by the ministry of education and training for charging top-up
fees, the Swaziland National Association of Teachers (SNAT) has resolved
to defend them through the Swaziland Association of School Administrators
(SASA).
These are headteachers who
are members of SNAT.
The Shiselweni region had 18
schools found to be unlawfully charging top-up fees.
There were 10 schools from the
Manzini region, seven from Lubombo and four from Hhohho region.
These headteachers met with
the SNAT National Executive at the SNAT Centre following the charges laid
against them by the ministry for allegedly collecting top-up fees illegally.
SNAT Secretary General Lot
Vilakati said the headteachers indicated during the meeting that government
grants under the Free Primary Education (FPE) programme and the Orphaned and
Vulnerable Children (OVC) scheme were insufficient.
He said teachers were also
concerned that the funds paid by government to schools were inadequate,
adding that the union supported an increase in FPE funding. He said government
needed to increase FPE grants, which was why some headteachers had asked parents
to contribute additional fees.
“As SNAT, we say government
should be the one paying the topup fees.
The headteachers are not at
fault; government is at fault because it is not fully funding pupils’ education
in the country, which has forced schools to request top-up fees,” he said.
Vilakati added that the
amount government was paying was below what had been recommended by the
task team responsible for drafting the free primary education implementation
framework.
To read more of
this report, click here
https://eswatiniobserver.com/snat-to-defend-39-top-up-headteachers/
See also
Head teachers resolve to close
schools if... (Times of eSwatini)
EU provides technical support to eSwatini’s education
sector
Statement, Press and information team of the
Delegation to eSwatini, 17 February 2026
In a Team Europe effort,
the European Union (EU) together with three EU Member States – Belgium, Finland
and France, has partnered with the Ministry of Education and Training to launch
the EU-Regional Teachers Initiative for Africa (RITA) Eswatini, an
initiative that seeks to avail European expertise to support Eswatini’s transition
to Competency-Based Education (CBE) with a strong focus on strengthening
teacher training and professional development in the country’s schools.
 |
© EU Eswatini
This partnership, however,
does not involve a direct financial donation to the country, but rather the
provision of high-level technical expertise to support ongoing education
reforms. This technical assistance will focus on five key areas – building capacity
for Competency-Based Education; reviewing teacher training curricula to align
with CBE and global standards; operationalising the Council of Educators Act;
developing CBE syllabi for Grade 8 – 11 learners and establishing a national
framework for in-service teacher training.
Speaking during this event
held in Mbabane on 13 February 2026, EU Ambassador to Eswatini, Karsten
Mecklenburg, expressed gratitude to the three EU Member States - Finland,
France and Belgium, for their support to this initiative.
“Education is more than a
policy priority; it is a promise to the next generation. A promise that every
child, every teacher and every citizen will have an opportunity to learn, to
grow and contribute meaningfully to society,” said Ambassador Mecklenburg.
On the other hand, Finnish
Ambassador to Eswatini, Satu Lassila, thanked the partnership noting that “it
would help in the drive for a knowledge driven future for all.”
In the meantime, the Minister
of Education and Training, Owen Nxumalo, expressed gratitude to the EU and its
Member States for their commitment to advance education in Eswatini noting that
this was a testament to partnership and shared values.
The initiative was launched under the theme: “Empowering Teachers for Eswatini’s Future.” The event was attended by development partners and education stakeholders.
Warders
claim EFF eSwatini member refuses to bath
By
Kwanele Dlamini, eSwatini News, 14 February 2026
MBABANE: Economic Freedom Fighters Eswatini member Siphosethu Malinga, who was
arrested for alleged terrorism in March 2023, claims warders assaulted him for
not combing his hair.
On the other hand, His
Majesty’s Correctional Services says Malinga does not want to bath yet the
facility puts a premium on hygiene.
Malinga was arrested with
Swaziland Liberation Movement’s (SWALIMO) son Zweli Simelane and SWALIMO member
Mxolisi Simelane. They face three counts of allegedly contravening the
Suppression of Terrorism Act, 2008, two of robbery and one of contravening the
Passport Act of 1971.
Through his legal
representatives, Professor M. Dlamini Attorneys, Malinga wrote to His Majesty’s
Correctional Services commissioner general to lodge a complaint. The letter is
dated February 5, 2026.
The letter reads: “Our client
instructs us that he was severely assaulted by prison officers for not having
combed his hair. Since then, the client has been trying to raise the issue with
the officer-in-charge at Sidwashini Correctional Services.
“It is common course that it
is not the first time that the complainant and other Suppression of Terrorism
Act detainees/suspects have complained of similar treatment at the hands of the
prison authorities in the past and no action has been taken.”
The letter states that all
detainees, including the Suppression of Terrorism Act offences detainees have
rights which need to be protected by all citizens of the country, including
Correctional officers.
It also states that detainees,
including Malinga, are presumed innocent until proven guilty or acquitted in a
court of law.
“To compel the detainee to
comb his hair when his conscience is against that, is a violation of his basic
fundamental rights protected by the Constitution. By this letter, therefore, we
demand that you duly investigate this abnormal behaviour by your officers and
if the complaints are proved to be true, the officers involved should be
subjected to disciplinary action,” further reads the letter.
The letter further urges the
Correctional Services to desist from acts of violating the rights of the
detainees in any manner whatsoever.
To read more of
this report, click here
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