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Friday 13 January 2023

Swaziland Newsletter No. 760 – 13 January 2023

 

Swaziland Newsletter No. 760 – 13 January 2023

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.

 

PUDEMO Women’s League President Xolile Dlamini-Malinga attacked by State agents at night, 28 bullets fired

By Zweli Martin Dlamini, Swaziland News, 9 January, 2023

SOURCE

 

MATSAPHA: Xolile Dlamini-Malinga, the President of the People’s United Democratic Movement (PUDEMO) Women’s League, was in the early hours on Monday, attacked allegedly, by King Mswati’s State agents.

Eswatini is in the midst of a political unrest, King Mswati has intensified attacks on pro-democracy activists, dozens have been killed by security forces since the unrest started.

It has been disclosed that the alleged State agents arrived at Dlamini’s rented house at Mobeni, Matsapha and randomly fired twenty-eight (28) bullets.

The PUDEMO Women League President and her husband Penuel Malinga, the organization’s National Organizing Secretary (NOS)were renting a house in Matsapha after Mswati’s forces attacked and destroyed their home at Mbekelweni, a Ford Ranger valued R1million was burnt.

A questionnaire was sent to Superintendent Phindile Vilakati, however, she had not responded at the time of compiling this report.

Reached for comments, Wandile Dludlu, the PUDEMO Secretary General confirmed the attack on the Women’s League President.

“PUDEMO condemns this barbaric attack of our leaders and their properties, particularly comrade Xolile Malinga and Penuel, the National Organizer. We find this to be a barbaric program that we know has been adopted and sanctioned by the State. We want the State to know that we will not retreat, we will stand on and we will not be intimidated by this act. We support our leaders and we will do our best to ensure that the truth is uncovered as to who is responsible in the State organs, because we know it’s the State. We are grateful that no one was injured, but the damage is huge,” said the PUDEMO Secretary General.

 

See also

EFF condemns callous attacks on PUDEMO's Xolile Dlamini

https://www.politicsweb.co.za/politics/callous-attacks-on-xolile-dlamini-condemned--eff

 

COVID-19 among reasons for insulin shortage - minister

By Nkosingiphile Myeni, eSwatini Observer, 10 January 2023

SOURCE

 

Minister of Health, Lizzie Nkosi, has assured the public that they are working around the clock to get insulin supplies to normalise the situation.

The minister expressed her concerns with the rising number of diabetic people and that diabetes created difficulties for the population.

She revealed that the Mbabane Government Hospital alone attends to 180 clients per week.
She said although the number of patients in the government database being treated for diabetes could not be disclosed, they account for one of the higher intensities among the non-communicable diseases burden.

Nkosi said the country last conducted the STEPS survey in 2014, which revealed a 14.2 per cent prevalence of diabetes in the population.
She explained that the shortage was caused by suppliers who closed shops for the festive holidays.

She said local suppliers as well as the surging COVID-19 were major causes of the disruption of the supply chain.

“The shortage of insulin is one of the supply chain challenges that are as a result of interruptions from COVID-19 and delayed delivery of the insulin by local suppliers,” she said.

Nkosi said the ministry was inundated with health facilities’ reports of a shortage of certain types of insulin.

“The ministry has been discussing with the suppliers on how this can be sorted.  However, the festive holidays came up during which supply companies had to close,” she said.

She further stated that discussions with suppliers included the alternatives of getting the supplies into the country, adding that the ministry was in constant touch with them and requested that they urgently deliver.

Nkosi said orders were made last year and this day was unanticipated.
The minister advised that patients should not relent but continue to visit the nearest health facilities if they felt unwell.

She said health facilities were still open for advice, treatment and diabetes management, adding that while medicines were critical, they alone were not the overall package.

“The management of diabetes requires constant self-monitoring of the blood sugar, which is not possible because the self-testing or home testing tools are unaffordable for most of the diabetes sufferers in the country,” the minister said.

Nkosi said dietary control for diabetes was challenging to diabetic persons due to the poor practice of eating a diversified diet among the population.

“Diabetes is a difficult disease to treat, thus the failure of prevention approaches, resulting in high obesity trends in the population and a major cause of diabetes in adults,” she said.
The common reasons that diabetic patients may visit health facilities include hyperglycaemia (high blood sugar), hypoglycaemia (low sugar) emergencies and other complications.

The minister further stated that the burden of non-communicable diseases was a growing public health threat not only in the country but globally.

She said diabetes management required constant self-monitoring of the blood sugar and costs implications for people living with diabetes.

The minister said the costs of diabetes prevalence in the country had not yet been quantified due to the complexity of the disease process and the tendency of existence of co-morbidities, making it more challenging to isolate purely diabetes treatment and management costs.
She said the analysis was still possible but not yet confirmed.

Adding, she said the ministry was preparing to conduct another STEPS survey this year.

 

This is a direct attack - transport union warns police boss

By Pholile Masuku, Swati Newsweek 12 January, 2023

SOURCE

 

MANZINI: The Transport Union SWATCAWU has criticized Police leaders after they published a picture of their vocal secretary General Sticks Nkambule as one of the most wanted person in their list.

The statement reads, “We have noted with shock the circulating notice by the Royal Swaziland Police to the effect that our General Secretary (GS) is wanted for alleged but unfounded contempt of court.”

“Not long ago, the Commissioner of Police contacted the GS seeking audience with SWATCAWU. It is very astonishing that despite having our GS's phone number, the Police and its Commissioner neglected to attempt to contact him before issuing of such a derogatory notice.”

“The said notice by the police is not only vague but a direct attack and continuation of harassment and intimidation of the GS. This we say against the background that the Police have already invaded the residence of the GS in full military gear.

“On vexatious contempt, we wish to place it on record that to date we have not been served with any court process regarding it. We were shocked to learn that an order was issued against us without our being made aware of the proceeding.

“What brings more confusion to this matter is that we have not received any contempt of court applications to enable us to respond to them. It is our strong conviction that;- this being a civil matter, it falls outside the scope and jurisdiction of the police. Furthermore, it is apparent from the defective court papers that there were three respondents cited. Which begs the question, Why is our GS the only one pursued?;

“We have since come to the conclusion, therefore, that the police are abusing their power and are being used by the government for the purposes of union bashing. We wish to remind the government that the right to associate, peaceful assembly, human dignity: - and expression is

constitutionally guaranteed and protected. The government has also committed itself internationally to respect these rights.

“As a union, we remain firm and resolute in our just cause for better service conditions for our members. We shall not be deterred by the cowardly show of force by the oppressive regime. The law shall not be massaged and manipulated to find fault with the just. We are engaged in wide consultations amongst our partners for an appropriate response.

Until then, Aluta Continua!!! Until Victory Always!!!”

 

Free Primary Education grants unpaid: pupils brace for lessons on empty stomachs

By Joseph Zulu, eSwatini News, 7 January 2023

SOURCE

 

MBABANE: It is not a secret that thinking on an empty stomach is very difficult, now imagine trying to solve math problems while hungry.

As school head teachers gear themselves up for reopening of schools on January 17, 2023, many of the schools do not have food to support the feeding schemes. The schools’ feeding schemes also known as Zondle, provide meals to pupils, but for many children in rural communities, this also becomes their main meal for the day. Head teachers, particularly in primary schools, stated that they had not yet received the free primary education (FPE) grants. They said this meant that they would not be able to supplement school meals through the Zondle programme.

The head teachers also revealed that food normally used for the feeding schemes had not yet been delivered to the schools. This publication spoke to some school head teachers as well as parents who expressed concern that it would be difficult for their children to focus on their schoolwork if there was no food. Some of the head teachers who were interviewed declined to speak on the record, stating that they did not want to be victimised for revealing the lack of food in schools.

“There is no food as it finished long before the official closing of schools,” said a head teacher. Some of the head teachers said they had only been left with rice, but that this was already rotten by now. “By the time we open, the rice will not be fit for consumption,” said *Jomo who is a teacher in one of the schools in the Lubombo Region.

Jomo, who heads a primary school revealed that at his school, more than half of his 600 pupils were classified as Orphaned and Vulnerable Children (OVCs). He said because of this they depended on meals at school. “If we do not have a meal, there is no way they could learn,” said Jomo.

He said it was not uncommon for pupils to collapse at his school due to hunger. He said this usually happened during assembly. Further, he revealed that after noticing that a majority of the pupils were from poor backgrounds, the school also started to provide breakfast in form of soft porridge but this was difficult to continue. He said the school did this as a pilot project.

 

Govt postpones schools opening

By Sifiso Dlamini And Bodwa Mbingo. eSwatini Observer, 12 January 2023

SOURCE

 

The ministry of education and training has postponed the opening of schools to January 24 following consideration of the delayed release of the Junior Certificate (JC) and Eswatini Primary Certificate (EPC) results.

Schools were initially scheduled to open on Tuesday. The postponement was announced by Minister of Education and Training, Lady Howard-Mabuza, during the release of the EPC and JC results yesterday.

The minister had earlier announced that government had considered postponing the opening of schools.

She acknowledged that there were challenges regarding the writing of examinations, which were periodically interrupted due to the prevailing political situation in the country.

Mabuza said this also resulted in the delayed release of the results.

She said the ministry and the Examinations Council tried by all means to fast-track the marking and release of the results in time to allow parents to prepare for the opening of schools.

“Following engagements with relevant stakeholders, the ministry has resolved to postpone the opening of schools from next Tuesday to Tuesday January 24, 2023,” said Mabuza.

The minister further stated that government was in the process of facilitating the payment of free primary education and OVC grants in preparation for schools opening. Mabuza said this was in collaboration with the ministry of finance.  

She said the postponement of the opening of schools would allow government more time to finalise the payment of the grants.

“As a ministry, all we know is that the ministry of finance through the treasury department is continuing with the payment of the grants and hope this will be completed before schools open,” she said.

With regards to feeding schemes, Mabuza said the ministry was also confident that by the time schools open, food would be delivered to all schools in the country.

The announcement will come as a relief for parents as they had pleaded with government to postpone the opening of schools by at least a week to grant them ample time to secure spaces as this was not an easy task.

Secretary General of Eswatini School Committees and Parents Association, Cyprian Dlamini said this would also allow parents time to secure spaces for their children who sat for the external examinations and government to address some of the issues that have been raised by the Swaziland National Association of Teachers (SNAT).

Meanwhile, Eswatini Principals Association (EPA) President Welcome Mhlanga welcomed the postponement and said this would grant them enough time to register new pupils, as well as allow parents sufficient time to pay school fees, which usually takes about a week to finalise.

Mhlanga said it was not easy for them to comment on the matter prior to the official announcement by government because the release of the results was delayed.
“We will only be able to get the results today, which means parents can only collect their children’s results on Monday, which would not have been enough time,” he said.

Adding, he said this would have frustrated all those involved as they would not have had enough time to prepare.

He said it was better for pupils who had already been registered and admitted, but it would not have been the case for those who were still waiting for their results.
“As much as we were prepared to do the best we can, we welcome the decision by government as it will give all involved enough time,” said Mhlanga.

 

4 721 miss measles vaccination

By Sithembile Hlatshwayo, Times of eSwatini, 12 January 2023

SOURCE

 

MBABANE: At least 4 721 children missed the measles rubella (MR) immunisation last year.

The country recorded a national coverage of 4 250 children who were fully vaccinated for measles rubella (MR) last year. This is according to the Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI), Proxy Indicators Performance report as of November 2022. The country has a total of 33 000 children, who are eligible for vaccination in their first year of life and around 155 000 are under five years old. The Manzini Region recorded the most vaccinated children, with 1 678 and it was followed by the Hhohho Region, with 1 450. The Shiselweni Region recorded 744 and the least number of immunised children were recorded in the Lubombo Region.

At national level, the country’ target for MR was 90 per cent and by November 2022, it stood at 83.1 per cent. Meanwhile, Polio immunisation coverage was above 100 per cent. This was so because the 2021 coverage was at 69 per cent but strategies were used last year to trace all children who had missed the vaccination. EPI Programme Manager Xolisile Dlamini clarified that the gaps in vaccination were as a result of challenges in tracking the parents of the children, who at times relocated from their previous homes. She said some of the children who were closer to the borderline relocated with their parents to neighbouring countries such as South Africa and Mozambique.

 

eSwatini journalists covering Incwala forced to wear traditional attire.

By Wendy Magagula, Swaziland News, 12 January 2023

SOURCE

 

LOBAMBA: Eswatini journalists who were covering Mswati’s Incwala ritual ceremony on Tuesday were forced to wear a traditional attire as part of their accreditation conditions.

Journalist Themba Zwane and other scribes from the State controlled newspapers were seen clad in their traditional attires, however, even journalists were not allowed to enter Sibaya with their cellphones.

“We were forced to wear a traditional attire, that’s why I didn’t attend,” said one journalist working for the State controlled media. 

Reached for comments on Wednesday, King’s Spokesperson Percy Simelane said as the King’s Office, they didn't handle accreditation for journalists, he referred comments to the Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Information, Communication and Technology (ICT).

“Journalists are accredited by the Ministry of ICT through the Department of Information and Media Development. Kindly take it up with the Directorate there or the Principal Secretary (Mr Phesheya Dube).We don't handle accreditation and we would therefore be irrelevant in enforcing or suggesting conditions for it,” said the King’s Spokesperson when responding to questions from this Swaziland News.

A questionnaire was sent to Phesheya Dube, the Principal Secretary in the Ministry of ICT, however, he had not responded at the time of compiling this report.

Journalists in eSwatini are restricted from criticizing Mswati and his royal family, some are members of Mswati’s regiments(emabutfo).

 

Warders accused of covering up riot

By Nkosingiphile Myeni and Andile Dlamini, eSwatini Observer, 13 January 2023

SOURCE

SIDWASHINI Correctional Services facility warders are accused of covering up a riot by inmates that was allegedly caused by an argument over a girlfriend.

One of the three inmates facing charges of a foiled prison break, Bonginkhosi ‘Skyper’ Dlamini claimed that a warder, whom he identified as Sibusiso Magagula, was provocative and blames him as the cause for the riot.

Dlamini said Magagula repeatedly told him that he saw his girlfriend coming out of the residential quarters of the officers.

He said this infuriated him and he found himself man-handling Magagula.
“I confronted him and held his arm and told him to desist from saying those things. He then hit me and kicked me, saying I should return where I came from,” he said.

According to Dlamini, the other warders did not notice the  confrontation between Magagula and him but rushed to defend one of their own.

Dlamini, who was arrested with Gugulethu Ngwenya of South Africa and Mpendulo Msibi of Mkhondvo, stand accused of planning and attempting a prison break at Sidwashini correctional facility on October 17, 2018.

They made their submissions during their appearance before acting High Court Judge, Fikile Hlophe.

These are allegations whose veracity is yet to be determined by the court.

To read more of this report click here

http://new.observer.org.sz/details.php?id=19679

 

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