Swaziland
Newsletter No. 906 – 5 December 2025
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.
New HIV jab targets young
women first
By
Xolisile Sacolo, eSwatini Observer, 3 December 2025
Minister of Health Mduduzi Matsebula says
young women and adolescent girls, who remain at the highest risk of new HIV
infections will be the main target group for Eswatini’s new long-acting HIV
prevention jab.
The much-awaited Lenacapavir (LEN)
injectable PrEP is finally in the country. It was officially launched on Monday
at Hhukwini, a major milestone in Eswatini’s fight against HIV/AIDS.
This long-acting injection is expected to
be a true game changer, offering a powerful new option for protection.
Matsebula said protecting these priority
groups was at the centre of the national HIV prevention strategy, noting that
women and girls continued to carry a disproportionate share of new infections.
He said it offered a crucial opportunity
to give them a discreet, long-term prevention method that fit their needs and
daily realities. He described the jab as ‘a powerful and convenient tool’ for
people who wanted reliable HIV protection without daily pills.
Eswatini is preparing to offer the
long-acting injectable PrEP to more than 70 000 people. Matsebula said reaching
the targeted people, especially young women and girls, would require strong
collaboration between government, implementing partners and community
organisations.
He emphasised that the ministry aimed to
make sure every eligible person received accurate information, accessible
services and proper follow-up support. Matsebula further noted that while the
focus was on preventing new infections, maintaining stable treatment for people
already living with HIV remained essential.
The introduction of long-acting PrEP is
part of a broader national effort to strengthen community-level prevention and
push the country toward achieving its 2030 HIV targets.
The minister also highlighted ongoing
supply chain upgrades, saying these improvements reflected the ministry’s
commitment to delivering better services. He said a reliable supply chain was
crucial for ensuring access to lifesaving medicines and supporting HIV, TB and
malaria programmes while preparing the system for new technologies such as the
injectable PrEP.
“Eswatini’s achievements surpassing the
UNAIDS 95-95-95 targets with 98-98-98 show the impact of strong health
systems,” he said, adding that gains in malaria control and TB treatment
success rates further demonstrated the value of sustained investment.
He said the combination of tools like
lenacapavir and stronger supply chains would help the country move faster in
reducing HIV infections and improving health outcomes.
See also
EmaSwati rush for new HIV jab (Times
of eSwatini)
Prime Minister Russell Mmiso Dlamini
wants eSwatini to reduce HIV new infections to zero
By
Bongiwe Dlamini, Swaziland News, 1 December, 2025
MBABANE: Prime Minister Russell Mmiso
Dlamini commemorated the World AIDS Day at Hhukwini Inkhundla on Monday by
officially launching the new Lenacapavir Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)
prevention injection.
Addressing the Nation, the PM said
Eswatini “aspires to reduce HIV new infections” to zero adding that, “this
year’s commemoration is not just a symbolic observance” but a reminder to
safeguard the gains made in the HIV response and the need to confront emerging
challenges.
“We cannot be comfortable when thousands
of our young people are newly infected with HIV every year. As parents,
leaders, communities and as a nation, we must stand together to protect our
children and youth, so they can pursue their education and dreams without the
burden of unplanned pregnancies, HIV infection and violence hanging over their
future. Overcoming disruptions and transforming the AIDS response means
strengthening prevention, promoting behaviour change, encouraging abstinence,
faithfulness and responsible choices, and ensuring access to condoms, voluntary
medical male circumcision, PrEP and life-saving treatment for all who need it,”
said the PM as quoted by Government online platforms.
On another note, the Prime Minister
described the new HIV prevention injection as an innovation that “brings
Eswatini closer to the vision of ending AIDS as a public health threat by
2030”.
 |
| Prime Minister Russell Mmiso Dlamini with Health Minister Mduduzi Matsebula during the 2025 World AIDS Day Commemoration |
Woman
shot during unrest sues UEDF for E3.5m
By
Kwanele Dlamini, eSwatini News, 29 November 2025
MBABANE: A woman who was allegedly shot along with her
boyfriend by soldiers during the civil unrest is suing government E3.5 million.
Megan Fourie of Qobonga, Mbabane has
instituted proceedings in the High Court and cited the Umbutfo Eswatini Defence
Force (UEDF) and attorney general as the first and second respondents,
respectively. She is demanding E3 550 000 at nine per cent per annum
calculated from the date of service of the summons to the date of final
payment.
In the summons, she alleged that on
November 14, 2022, around 12:30am, she was negligently and intentionally shot
at, execution style, by members of the UEDF.
She stated that the incident occurred at
Nkoyoyo, Mbabane, and involved approximately five members of the UEDF. At the
time, Fourie submitted, the soldiers were allegedly driving in a black SUV
motor vehicle.
The identities and ranks of the soldiers,
as well as the registration number of the vehicle, are stated as being unknown
to the plaintiff. Fourie told the court that she was in the company of her
boyfriend, Muhamed Alusta, and that they were headed home to Nkoyoyo from a
location in Ezulwini.
She pointed out that she was in no way
engaged in illegal activity. The filed papers state that at the material time
of the shooting, Fourie was not engaged in any criminal activity nor was she
participating in any unlawful activity.
She was allegedly shot while inside the
car with her hands held up. The summons further alleged that the UEDF members
simply fired at the vehicle in which she was an occupant without asking any
questions.
Fourie contended that the conduct of the
soldiers on that date was unlawful, wrongful, intentional, unwarranted and
unjustified in the circumstances.
Based on the principle of vicarious
liability, the UEDF is cited as being vicariously liable for the conduct of its
member or officers, who are alleged to have been acting within the course and
scope of their employment at the time of the incident.
“At all material times of the shooting of
the plaintiff, she was in the company of her boyfriend Muhamed Alusta and they
were headed home at Nkoyoyo from Cuddle Puddle in Ezulwini.
“The said members of the Umbutfo Eswatini
Defence Force were acting within the cause and scope of their employment as
members of the Umbutfo Eswatini Defence Force.
SNAT
to lobby MPs for GBV to be declared a disaster
By
Nokuphila Haji, eSwatini Observer, 1 December 2025
The Swaziland
National Association of Teachers (SNAT) says it will be lobbying
Members of Parliament to have gender-based violence (GBV) declared a national
disaster, as many families continue to be torn apart by the scourge.
This was revealed by SNAT Gender and Human
Rights Officer, Sifiso Vilakati, during a live address to members as the
organisation marked the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence on
Saturday.
Vilakati said the organisation, which has
over 13 000 members, opposed any form of violence, regardless of where it
occurred. She added that the 16 Days of Activism was a global campaign observed
annually from November 25 to December 10, culminating with Human Rights Day.
“The campaign is meant to push our
governments to act against GBV, and in Eswatini the situation is worse because
we receive daily media reports of people killing and injuring each other. We
have a parliament that we, as SNAT, are asking to declare GBV a national
disaster,” she said. She explained that if GBV was declared a national
disaster, government would be able to intervene more effectively and invest
resources into ending it.
She said SNAT would be approaching MPs
elected by the people to lobby them to support the declaration this year, as
many families were breaking apart and the number of child-headed households
continued to grow.
“This is a national problem. We also have Convention C190, which Eswatini has
still not ratified, yet it is aimed at preventing violence and harassment at
work. This is where much of the violence occurs, and we are calling on
government to ratify the convention so that it can be domesticated and used to
curb workplace GBV,” she said.
SNAT Secretary General Lot Vilakati added
that as a human rights organisation, they always hold a march against GBV. He
said both the police and the Manzini Municipal Council had granted approval for
the march, which would be open to everyone.
“We are all affected by abuse, whether in relationships, families, or the
workplace,” he said.
Disability Inclusion – A Cost or Investment?
By
Pinky Sithole, United Nations Development Programme, 3 December 2025
Every year on 03 December, the world
pauses to mark the International Day of Persons with Disabilities. The 2025
theme, “Fostering disability-inclusive societies for advancing social
progress,” carries particular significance for Eswatini, where
strengthening inclusion is essential to ensuring equal access to education,
employment, and public services for persons with disabilities.
We talk about inclusion often, but when
budgets are tight, one perspective keeps resurfacing: can we really afford it?
The real question is whether we can afford not to. Reasonable accommodation is
not a cost; it is an investment in human potential, productivity and progress.
According to the UN Convention on the Rights of
Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), which Eswatini ratified in 2012,
reasonable accommodation means making the necessary and appropriate adjustments
that do not impose a disproportionate burden, so that persons with disabilities
can participate fully and equally in all areas of life. It is about removing
avoidable barriers, not providing special treatment.
In practice, reasonable accommodation can
take many forms. It can involve physical and environmental changes that make
spaces easier to navigate. It can include communication and information
support, such as introducing easy to read formats for documents by using more
visuals and less text, large fonts and simple language. This will enable people
with visual impairment and learning disabilities to easily access the
information. It may also mean administrative adjustments, like sharing
agendas and minutes in advance or allowing additional time to review materials.
For many people, accommodation is simply
about flexible ways of working. This might involve working from home, flexible
hours or reshaping tasks to match individual abilities. For persons who are
neurodivergent (people whose brains work differently), accommodations can
include sensory-friendly environments, clear written instructions or
predictable routines that reduce stress and enhance focus.
The belief that disability inclusion
drains resources does not stand up to evidence. The International Labour
Organization (ILO) has consistently found that most workplace
accommodations are low-cost or no-cost, and that when costs do arise, they are
usually an initial once-off expense such as a procuring a large-print keyboard
or a screen reader licence for a staff member. According to a 2019-2022 survey
by Job Accommodation Network, 53% of businesses reported productivity
improvements after implementing accommodations.
While data is limited in Eswatini,
regional findings show a similar pattern: the main challenges are often not
financial but linked to limited awareness of what reasonable accommodation
involves. The most expensive approach to accessibility is to address it only
when problems arise such as introducing a ramp because one of the existing
staff members suddenly using a wheelchair because of an accident. When
inclusion is planned from the start, it avoids costly retrofits, supports
stronger performance and saves money in the long run.
Exclusion, on the other hand, comes at a
hefty price. This cost is collectively shared and ultimately falls on all of
us. The World Bank estimates
that excluding persons with disabilities from employment can cost a country
between 3 and 7 percent of GDP. For Eswatini, this suggests potential losses of
hundreds of millions of Emalangeni each year in foregone productivity, even
though precise national figures are not yet available. The National Disability Plan of
Action (2024–2028) confirms this pattern, highlighting lower labour force
participation, higher unemployment and persistent barriers to skills
development and decent work for persons with disabilities.
Exclusion weakens the entire economic and
social system: the country loses productive capacity, families shoulder heavier
financial and caregiving burdens, businesses miss out on valuable talent, and
government collects less tax revenue while facing higher demand for social
support. Over time, these pressures compound into slower growth, deeper
inequality and reduced national resilience.
The loss of this productive labour implies
increased social protection costs for families, communities and the state.
Persons with disability who could work, but cannot work due to lack of
investment in reasonable accommodation will have to fall back on social
protection nets provided by their families, communities or the state.
Inclusion is smart economics. Ramps help
parents with baby prams, captions help people in noisy rooms and flexible work
helps staff balance family life. When systems are accessible, everyone
benefits. That is why reasonable accommodation should be viewed as an economic
multiplier, not just a tick-the-box activity. It supports the development goals
Eswatini is pursuing.
Sustainability is about more than clean
energy or balanced budgets; it is about ensuring that every citizen has the
chance to contribute to the country’s progress. A society is strongest when no
one is left behind. By investing in inclusion, Eswatini strengthens its
economy, its communities and its long-term development path.
SWAZI
MEDIA COMMENTARY
Find us:
Blog: https://swazimedia.blogspot.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/142383985790674
