Swaziland
Newsletter No. 771 – 31 March 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.
There is
political will to host dialogue – US
By Bodwa
Mbingo, eSwatini Observer, 25 March 2023
The United States of America (USA) has noted a political will to hold a
national dialogue from all stakeholders, particularly His Majesty King Mswati
III, civil society and other actors, within the country in a year when national
elections will be held.
US Department of State Deputy Assistant Secretary (DAS), Bureau of
African Affairs, Robert Scott in a digital press roundtable organised by the
Africa Regional Media Hub yesterday, told the media that everybody he met with
while in the country acknowledged that the dialogue needed to occur.
While in the country, he said he teamed up with the team from the US
embassy to Eswatini at a time that had been highlighted by the upcoming
national elections and a call for a political dialogue.
Scott said this was at the centre of his interaction with government,
civil society and the media.
He said what they were calling for was a rapid engagement towards the
dialogue, but also do not want to be in a position where they were saying that
by this date, what should have happened.
It was also his understanding that the king had made previous statements
regarding the need and his acceptance and support for the dialogue.
He said all that was needed now was for the people of Eswatini, the
leaders of the country and non-governmental organisations to arrive at a way
forward.
Scott noted that there were many other political actors, including the
Southern African Development Community (SADC) through its Troika and African
Union (AU) to engage.
“I think it’s there (the political will). It is a question of
taking the first step and being able to agree to a forum and it is our hope
that this will occur. Again, we can’t prescribe, you know, it is our role to
support the institutions that can make this happen so we engaged with civil society
where there are partners for many actors, including the government and ready to
support a move towards dialogue,” he said.
To read more of this report, click here
http://new.observer.org.sz/details.php?id=20141
No
immediate preps for dialogue, says Alpheous
Nhlanganiso
Mkhonta, Times of eSwatini, 28 March 2023
MBABANE: Despite the environment on the ground suggesting
calmness, government says there are no immediate preparations in respect to the
national dialogue.
This was stated by Government
Spokesperson Alpheous Nxumalo, in an interview yesterday. Nxumalo had been
asked if there were any preparations being made in respect of the national
dialogue, having observed that there was some calmness in the
country. This also emanates from the fact that government has been adamant
that the dialogue would not be held until the political climate became
conducive. This was in reference to violence that had engulfed the country,
where business establishments were burnt and there were unprecedented killings
of state security personnel and civilians. In his response, Nxumalo said
there were no immediate preparations to host the dialogue, except for the
budgetary provision as presented by the Minister of Finance Neal Rijkenberg,
when delivering his budget speech in Parliament in February.
Rijkenberg announced that E30
million had been set aside for the national dialogue. Government had been all
along, through press conferences and Parliament sessions, stating that the
environment was not conducive for the national dialogue. It was cited that
the acts of violence were hindering the convening of the dialogue. “You
have rightly and correctly observed that the environment on the ground does
seem to suggest some calmness,” said Nxumalo. He stated that government
remained committed to the national dialogue, a dialogue that would not have an
opportunity to put other people’s lives at risk and in
predicaments. Nxumalo said the nation for now was focused on the national
general elections, which were already underway. “Having said this, government
notes with great pleasure the obvious peace and tranquillity that prevails in
the country,” said the government spokesperson.
He further mentioned that no
decision had been taken by government as to when the national dialogue would
take place. When asked about the calls from some members of the public,
that there should be the dialogue first then elections, he said to stipulate
would be counterproductive and misleading. He said elections, meanwhile,
had been officially announced, hence his assertion that the nation was
preoccupied with this particular national exercise for now. “If any
decision is taken to convene a national dialogue, a proper announcement and communication
will be made,” said Nxumalo.
Meanwhile, during a previous
article, Mhlangatane Member of Parliament (MP) Madala Mhlanga observed that
there was calm such that emaSwati were able to even sleep peacefully at
night. He further appreciated members of the Royal Eswatini Police Service
(REPS) for their tireless efforts in providing security to the nation, despite
the attacks against them. On the other hand, Nkilongo MP Timothy Myeni
asked Prime Minister Cleopas Sipho Dlamini what was stopping government from
convening the dialogue as it was able to commence the processes for the
national elections.
Meanwhile, Deputy Assistant
Secretary of the US Bureau of African Affairs, Robert Scott recently said, as
America, they were ready to support Eswatini in conducting the dialogue.
When addressing the media at a press briefing on March 7, Scott said elections
and dialogue did not replace each other. He said the upcoming elections
provided the opportunity for all emaSwati to engage directly in the country’s
governance, a process which they (US) supported. Scott also addressed the
media virtually last week Thursday, where he highlighted that judging from his
engagements with different stakeholders in the country, he noted that there was
a political will to have the dialogue; it was just a matter of setting up the
date.
.
MP elections: Sphofaneni revolutionary seat at stake -
Ngoma vs Lazwide
My Opinion, By Eugene Dube, Swati Newsweek, 27 March,
2023
MBABANE: Pro-democracy
disaster looms at Siphofaneni Constituency if Ngomyayona Gamedze and
Lomalungelo Simelane compete for the Siphofaneni MP position.
King Mswati’s toy elections
will take place this year while deep divisions and lack of strategy is evident
in the mass democratic movement.
I have seen articles where it
was revealed that Ngomyayona Gamedze wants to replace Lomalungelo Simelane as
Siphofaneni MP.
Previously Gamedze served the
tinkhundla system as a Senator and deputy Senate President for 15 solid years.
If my memory serves me well, I don't remember him speaking for the oppressed
people of Siphofaneni or calling for political reforms. Honestly speaking, I
don't think he is the right candidate to turn heat on King Mswati III in
Parliament.
Gamedze's 15 years tenure, not
once did he ever speak for the people of Sphofaneni who are grappling with
hunger, starvation, water crisis and man-made poverty.
I understand that he has now “repented”
and joined the democracy train. But can he be trusted to defend the
revolutionary seat at Siphofaneni? trust him?
I don’t think so. Both MP
LaZwide and Comrade Ngomyayona are part of the democracy movement. If Gamedze
has “khontaed” in another different Inkhundla /Constituency, it would be wise
to use that Constituency so that we increase the number of pro-democracy MPs in
Mswati’s Parliament. The same way Marwick did when he switched to Lobamba
lomdzala Constituency.
It is heartbreaking to note
that some of the comrades are plotting to remove La Zwide who is young and
vibrant in Parliament.
Let us give young people a
chance to determine their own affairs. Gamedze played his part. However we need
new people like LaZwide who understands our issues.
If you can analyse Sphofaneni
elections very well, MP LaZwide and her husband are backed by all groups
including the youth.
Marwick
reveals eSwatini’s Taiwan debt trap
By
Welcome Dlamini, Times of Eswatini Sunday print edition, 26 March 2023
MBABANE: It has always been
said that loans from Mainland China, as opposed to those from the Republic of
China Taiwan, are a debt trap. Taiwan has always used the notion to discourage
countries from switching alliances to Mainland China and this is one of the
reasons many ema6wati have always believed to be the main glue holding the two
countries’ diplomatic relations together.
However, new information
suggesting that the grants and loans that Taiwan has been extending to Eswatini
have stringent conditions attached to them has come to the fore.
One of these loans is for the
construction of the International Convention Centre and five star hotel, which
is Known as the ICC &FISH, that is projected to cost around E7 billion upon
completion.
During the sitting of the
House of Assembly portfolio committee on economic planning and development, it
emerged that there could be government properties which have been put up as
collateral should Eswatini fail to repay the loan to Taiwan.
Member of Parliament MP
Marwick Khumalo, an experienced legislator, who is serving an unprecedented
fifth consecutive term as a legislator, raised the issue of the stringent loan
conditions that could see the country losing the ICC &FISH to Taiwan.
“How true is it that the
government signed an agreement with the Taiwanese Government to the effect that
should the government fail to service the loan, the government will cede the
ICC &FISH building to Taiwan” Khumalo asked the Minister of Economic
Planning and Development, Dr Tambo Gina.
The minister did not deny the
allegation instead, he said there were properties that the country stood to
lose if it failed to honour the loans.
“The allegations are true that
government signed a loan agreement with EXIM Bank of Taiwan that has a clause
that stipulates that government will forfeit properties but not specifically
the ICC &FISH in the event it defaults on repayment,” Gina said.
MP Khumalo followed up by asking
the minister as to why government was accepting Taiwanese grants and loans that
come with stringent conditions.
“... why does it seem like e
we are forced to take these loans and we are exploited?” Khumalo wondered.
He made an example that the
Taiwanese Government now wanted Eswatini to enter into an agreement regarding
the strategic oil reserve project, yet the Kingdom was capable of funding this
infrastructure development through the 35 cents per litre of fuel levy that is
paid by motorists. Though Khumalo never mentioned it, Taiwan also financed the
country’s construction of the King Mswati III International Airport.
Gina, in response, said all
loans taken by government went through an approval process of checks and
balances by the Ministry of Finance and relevant entities.
“If the loans conditions are
not favourable, then government does not commit to such,” he said.
Indeed
it’s now safe, you even requested a night visit from your girlfriend Mr
Government Spokesperson.
Opinion by Zweli Martin Dlamini, Swaziland
News, 28 March, 2023
On Monday the 13th March
2023 at around 9pm, Government Spokesperson Alpheous Nxumalo who stays in a
Government house at Coates Valley called his girlfriend and requested an urgent
night visit.
So when he told the Times
that the environment is now peaceful, he was not lying, he is currently
enjoying peace but we don’t know how long it will last if the political crisis
and or the issues surrounding the political unrest remain unresolved.
Personally, I can imagine
the freedom Nxumalo is enjoying but he must understand that incarcerated
Members of Parliament (MPs)Mduduzi Mabuza and Mthandeni Dube miss their wives
and girlfriends, if they have some.
It is therefore unfortunate
if Nxumalo would conclude that the environment is conducive while others are
incarcerated, they don’t have the liberty to call their partners if they feel
like having sex like he did on that night.
Nxumalo once asked how I got
to know things before they happened, the answer is simple, I work with information
every day and 24-hours a day.
I won’t expose the innocent
woman who was cheating her partner with Nxumalo, the context of this article is
not about consenting adults who agreed to visit each other and their bedroom
issues.
But my main interest is Alpheous
Nxumalo who enjoys freedom and then conclude that everything is fine, what
about those who are oppressed politically, socially and economically?
The reason I am sharing this
is to make him understand that he is enjoying the freedom just because others
within the pro-democracy movement decided to give dialogue a chance.
It is therefore important
for the regime to use this opportunity to the best interest of the country by
releasing the incarcerated MPs and start the dialogue process, otherwise, chaos
might erupt again if the issues that resulted to the political unrest remain
unresolved.
United Eswatini Diaspora (UED) Convener IB Dlamini
officially meets the International Criminal Court (ICC) officials n The Hague
for crimes against humanity by King Mswati III
By Noncedo Dube, Breaking News 82 Eswatini, 30 March
2023
Netherlands: It’s official,
the international criminal court has received formal complaints regarding
crimes against humanity committed by King Mswati III. The United Eswatini
Diaspora (UED) headed by I B Dlamini has taken king Mswati’s crimes against
humanity issue to greater heights. The organisation made an appointment with
the International Criminal Court (ICC) at the Hague in the Netherlands today
regarding the case of King Mswati's crimes against humanity.
The UED assigned its convener
I B Dlamini personally go to the Netherlands to represent emaSwati at the
Hague. The main purpose of going to The Hague was to plead with the ICC to
speedily investigate King Mswati III for crimes against humanity. This comes as
a result of the cold-blooded massacre of more than 100 unarmed Swazis who were
massacred since June and July 2021 to date.
Dlamini took an 11-hour flight
to the Netherlands to meet the ICC committee and present the grievances of the
Swazi people.
UED convener I B Dlamini has
released a video taken at the Hague to indicate that that the meeting was
successfully held today at 11:00am.
Dlamini revealed that they are
now praying on God to take over the matter as the ICC will be making a decision
on the Swazi matter soon. He further mentioned that if the ICC is able to hand
out a warrant of arrest on top leaders of the world then it should not be an
issue to hand out a warrant of arrest against King Mswati who is nothing in the
world politics.
“This was a follow up to the
previous correspondence wherein we sent electronic evidence. Today, we sent
hard copies and other supporting documents or evidence we could not send
electronically,” said IB Dlamini in a recorded video while he was at the Hague.
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