Soldiers from Swaziland /
eSwatini who are receiving military training in Russia want to go home because
they are ill-treated and suffer racism.
Also, they say, the Swazi
Government is slow in sending them their allowances and this makes it difficult
for them to live.
The Swazi Observer reported on Monday (10 December 2018) the soldiers from the
Army, officially known as the Eswatini Umbutfo Defence Force (UEDF), were threatening to leave Russia and return to
Swaziland. It reported the soldiers were ‘ill-treated in Russia because of the
colour of their skin. Russia is one of the countries in the world that
records high cases associated with racism.’
It added, ‘According to
sources closer to the matter the Swazi government is not making things better
for them. Amongst other things, it is said that their allowances take a
significant time to be deposited into their accounts.’
It quoted an unnamed source
saying, ‘Imagine living in a foreign country without money, with no relatives
to help you. Russia is not just a country next door of which you can just take
a bus home.’
The number of Swazi
soldiers in Russia was not disclosed for security reasons.
The Observer reported soldiers were afraid to voice their concerns
because they feared they would be sacked.
The source said, ‘The last
time one newspaper reported such information, those who communicated with the
newspaper were brought back home and were also fired.’
UEDF Communications and Information Officer Lieutenant
Officer Tengetile Khumalo denied the
claim.
The Observer reported on Wednesday a ‘concerned UEDF
member’ said, ‘It is a pity that our grievances are “censored” by those in
senior positions in the army. Last year alone, two soldiers returned to
Eswatini but they are afraid to talk about it in fear of losing their jobs.’
It quoted Khumalo confirming three soldiers returned
without completing the course in Russia, ‘because of their personal problems’.
Khumalo added soldiers faced no ill-treatment and hardship.
In 2010, a contract was
signed between the Russian Ministry of Defense and the Swaziland Ministry of
Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation providing Swazi military
personnel to be educated in Russia on a number of military disciplines that
include medicine, artillery and engineering.
See also
Why so much military training?
https://swazimedia.blogspot.com/2011/03/why-so-much-military-training.html
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