Swaziland Newsletter No. 761 – 20
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.
Accusations of use of
mercenaries to suppress opposition in eSwatini
By , SABC News (South Africa), 17 January
2023
The
Swaziland Solidarity Network (SSN) has accused the government of the Kingdom of
eSwatini of hiring mercenaries to assist its security forces to suppress
opposition parties.
The
SSN spokesperson, Lucky Lukhele says former apartheid operatives are leading
mercenaries that are operating in the country.
Lukhele says the mercenaries terrorise
communities and attack political activists. He says they have reported the
matter to the South African government.
“As the Swaziland Solidarity Network we
can confirm that there are mercenaries in Swaziland coming from South Africa
wearing balaclavas, conducting road blockades. Some are deployed within the
army and the police. This has been confirmed and we have got their addresses
both in South Africa and they are using South African registration cars. This
has also cause some uncertainty in the security forces in Swaziland where they
feel undermined”
However, the Kingdom’s government has
denied the allegations.
Spokesperson Alpheous Nxumalo says the
network is merely seeking unnecessary attention.
“The government will simply respond to
this allegation by first and foremost stating clearly that this is a false
operation, they are peddling lies not only against our leaders here. They are
peddling lies also against the minister of finance and I have got no doubt
whatsoever in my mind that this is the same narrative they have been driving
with other past allegations. They are trying to get attention, they are trying
to get support from local and international people.”
Russia ready to assist eSwatini on security -
Ambassador
By Nonduduzo Kunene, Times of eSwatini, 18
January 2023
MBABANE: The Russian Government says it stands ready
to assist Eswatini in strengthening the security of the kingdom and its armed
force.
This was the response that was given by the Ambassador
of the Russian Federation to Eswatini, Alexander Surikov, during a press
conference held at the Hilton Garden Inn in Mbabane yesterday. This
reporter had asked the ambassador if his country had army personnel training
army recruits at Mbuluzi Army Barracks. The ambassador was also asked if his
country, by any chance, would assist the kingdom if it needed assistance to
strengthen security as well as the army in times of need.
In response, the ambassador said that would depend on
discussions the two countries might have. He stated that in any case, it was
always up to the Ministry of Defence to develop a method it would like to use to
strengthen its military force. Surikov said if the need arose for the defence
wing to reach out to the Russian Federation Defence, they would gladly assist.
“If you need help, why not? It is possible and open for discussion (sic),” he
said. He explained that for them to reach that point, the governments, in
terms of the ministers, could discuss if really there was a need to assist.
“It is not up to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, but
the other ministries like the defence ministries in both countries. We are
friends with Eswatini, therefore, what it needs, we can be of great use,” he
said. The ambassador clarified that at the moment, the two countries had
not engaged in those talks, therefore, there were no Russian troops that were
in the country training army officers or recruits. He said the only
training that existed between the two countries in terms of army training
personnel were the existing ones. He stated that there were army officers who
were undergoing military training in Russia but could not disclose the
number. “We are not preparing any attacks but we are training
professionals,” said.
To read more of this report, click here
http://www.times.co.sz/news/138478-russia-ready-to-assist-eswatini-on-security-ambassador.html
See also
eSwatini pro-democracy groups warn
Russia against supporting eSwatini conflict to create a market for weapons
https://www.swazilandnews.co.za/fundza.php?nguyiphi=3712
UNESWA students petition Govt over
scholarships
Nhlanganiso
Mkhonta, Times of eSwatini, 19 January 2023
They
are demanding that all students who had been admitted to the facility be afforded
scholarships. The students marched to the ministry to deliver their
petition yesterday morning. They were led by their union, the Swaziland
National Union of Students (SNUS) and comprised of first-year students, among
others. SNUS Mbabane Branch Chairperson Sambulo Shongwe said the reason
they visited the ministry was to raise a concern about the first-year students,
who had learnt that they had not been granted scholarships despite being
admitted to study at the facility.
He stated that the students learnt that
they had not been awarded scholarships on Tuesday when government issued the
list of students who had been awarded scholarships. Shongwe said this was
painful because the students were already on campus and had started their
lessons, but since some of them had not been awarded scholarships, they would
have to return home as they would not afford to pay their tuition fees on their
own. Shongwe said about 70 or 80 per cent of the students who were
admitted by the institution did not get scholarships and such showed a huge
decline in the number of students who were awarded scholarships this year.
Principal Secretary (PS) in the Ministry
of Labour and Social Security Makhosini Mndawe, who attended to the students,
said he would meet with the minister to deliberate on the issues raised by the
students. It is worth noting that last year, government allocated E78
million for scholarships of 2 550 students in the 2022-23 academic
year. This is a 35 per cent drop in the number of students who were sponsored
by government last year, with the number having stood at 4 100. Minister
of Labour and Social Security Phila Buthelezi, said the country only had E78
million available to fund new students in the coming academic year. He said it
was difficult to even come up with this amount as funds were hard to come by.
ITUC denounces brutality and harassment of trade unionists by authorities
International Trade Union Confederation statement, 18 January 2023
: Eswatini MICHELE SPATARI AFP
The ITUC is deeply concerned by the recent attacks on trade unionists
and pro-democracy campaigners by government forces in Eswatini.
On the 11 January 2023, the name of Sticks Nkambule, the Secretary
General of the Swaziland Transport, Communication and Allied Workers Union
(SWATCAWU), was published by the police as a wanted person for alleged criminal
conduct. This follows the union’s announcement of a “job stay away”, 13-14
December 2022, with a demand to improve working conditions and the release from
prison of two members of the Eswatini Parliament, Mduduzi Bacede Mabuza and
Mthandeni Dube.
On 29 December armed police raided the village of Sticks Nkambule and
harassed his family.
The ITUC is also alarmed by:
The security forces’ disruption of a trade union workshop at the
Global Village Guest hotel, 15 November 2022.
The shooting of Kayise Qwabe by security forces on 11 November 2022.
The withdrawal, without justification, in October 2022 of the
salary of Mbongwa Dlamini, President of the Swaziland National Association of
Teachers. Earlier in April, Mbongwa’s home was attacked by security forces with
live bullets.
ITUC Deputy General Secretary Owen Tudor said: “These events are very
troubling and part of a long campaign of
anti-union, anti-democracy harassment by the
Eswatini government.
“The government of Eswatini must stop the harassment and wanton arrests
of trade unionists and citizens. It must respect its obligations as a member of
the ILO.
“The ILO’s principles on freedom of association say that authorities
must guarantee that trade union rights can be exercised in normal conditions
with respect for basic human rights, in a climate free of violence, pressure,
fear and threats of any kind.
“Allegations of criminal conduct should not be used to harass trade
unionists.
“It is time to find a path away from repression to peace and shared
prosperity through a process of social dialogue with trade unions to find
solutions to the problems affecting the country.”
Nurses’
union warns: Deaths looming as eSwatini faces shortage of ARVs.
By Nokwanda Mamba, Swaziland News, 19
January, 2023
MBABANE: Mayibongwe Masangane, the
Secretary General of the Swaziland Democratic Nurses Union (SWADNU) has warned
that more emaSwati will die due to the shortage of Antiretroviral (ARVs) drugs
in hospitals.
Speaking to this Swaziland News on
Thursday,the SWADNU Secretary General blamed Government for focusing too much
on the Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PreEP) programme while neglecting those who
were already infected with HIV.
“Already patients are given alternatives
which are closely related to their regimen and the stock is getting depleted at
a high rate. Some people might stop taking these alternatives as their bodies
react to them thus increasing the death rate of HIV patients,” he said.
Reached for comments, Dr Simon Zwane, the
Principal Secretary (PS) in the Ministry of Health said the allegations of ARVs
shortage were not true.
“It is different preparation and
packaging, doctors then rearrange accordingly,” said the Health PS.
Three gunmen invade army camp, soldier shot dead
By Themba
Zwane, Times of eSwatini, 16 January 2023
PIGG’S PEAK: Another member of the Umbutfo Eswatini Defence Force (UEDF)
was shot dead yesterday morning.
The soldier, aged 55, was reportedly shot dead by three unknown armed
men who are said to have attacked the UEDF camp at Bulembu, yesterday at around
9am. According to sources close to the matter, the trio of gunmen first
shot the deceased; they then tried to shoot another but failed. The assailants
then immediately fled the scene. The sources disclosed that the trio
invaded the army base, one armed with a rifle and the two armed with pistols.
They are said to have sneaked into the army base, shot the soldier dead and
tried to sneak into the area where army weapons are kept. It could not be
ascertained how many soldiers were at the camp in total.
“It appeared as if they knew the set-up at the army base because the
other soldier met them while they were seemingly going to steal guns, where the
ammunition is kept, at the army base,” said a source. It could not be confirmed
if any weapons were taken by the gunmen. Bucopho at Bulembu, Gcina Msibi,
confirmed having heard of the soldier who was shot dead.
Sources at Bulembu highlighted that members of the UEDF were dispatched
to the area for the better part of yesterday, where they were patrolling the
area. It is unclear why the unidentified gunmen targeted the army camp, but
sources also claimed that the attack could be politically motivated and that
they wanted to steal guns.
The name of the soldier has been deliberately withheld as efforts to get
hold of his family were futile. Deputy Police Information and Communications
Officer Inspector Nosipho Mnguni confirmed the matter. “We do have a report of
a 55-year-old man who was shot dead,” she said briefly. UEDF Public
Affairs Officer 2nd Lieutenant Tengetile Khumalo also confirmed the
incident. However, she said her office was still awaiting a datailed
report from the battalion in charge of the operational area.
In December 2022, unknown gunmen opened fire at Zibonele Army Camp. The
camp is situated near Eswatini’s boundary with South Africa and it is an area
usually used by dagga dealers to smuggle dagga into the neighbouring
country. Sources revealed that there were several gunshots heard by
residents of the area, starting from around 8pm. During a visit to the area,
a single tent was found pitched, surrounded by a thicket. Though sources
claimed that during the exchange of gunfire, the tent was riddled with bullet
holes, when this reporter arrived at the camp, the tent was found intact. It
could not be ascertained if a new one had been pitched, as none of the soldiers
present wanted to entertain the media. There were no casualties during
this incident. In May 2022, a soldier, popularly known as Me Dlamini, was
killed by unknown people at New Village in Manzini. At Mathangeni, a
49-year-old soldier was also shot in the stomach by an unknown man at about
8pm.
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