Swaziland
Newsletter No. 773 – 21 April 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.
Three ministers accused of campaigning with rice from Taiwan
By Phiwase Phungwayo, Times of eSwatini, 17 April 2023
MANZINI: Three
ministers are accused of campaigning for the oncoming elections using rice
donated by the Embassy of the Republic of China (Taiwan).
The three are
Minister of Labour and Social Security Phila Buthelezi, Minister of Tinkhundla
Administration and Development David ‘Cruiser’ Ngcamphalala and Minister of
Sports, Culture and Youth Affairs Harris ‘Madze’ Bulunga. They have been
accused of taking advantage of the Taiwan Embassy by allegedly using donated
rice to campaign for the upcoming elections. This was an allegation submitted
by some Manzini South constituents during the civic and voter education
exercise hosted by the Elections and Boundaries Commission (EBC). It took place
at the Manzini Nazarene High School Hall yesterday. Some of the constituents
were of the view that certain ministers were taking advantage of their term in
office now to engage in campaigning exercises with food parcels (rice) donated
by the Taiwan Embassy. They asked the EBC to do something about this, as they
felt it was offside.
Sibusiso
Dlamini first highlighted that he was aware that campaigning was only permitted
in the secondary elections. He questioned how a candidate could be voted for
without properly introducing himself; his educational background, as well as
economic policies in the primary elections. He queried how they were supposed
to nominate people they did not know. “Another thing, the EBC declared
that campaigning is not allowed at this stage but we see the Taiwan Embassy is
going up and down with some ministers such as Madze, ‘Cruiser’ and Phila
Buthelezi, distributing rice parcels to constituents, much against your
directivce,” Dlamini alleged.
The
constituent further supposed that the EBC was quiet amid the ‘campaigns’ by the
said ministers. On another note, he enquired how the EBC ensured fair voting in
prison. The constituent alluded to that there were no people (bogalajane), who
were present in Correctional facilities to ensure that voting was done fairly
without officers influencing inmates to vote for a particular person.
Another constituent purported that the ministers were campaigning because they
were all along not distributing the parcels but were seemingly doing so in the
past two months. He alleged that they were using their power in office to push
their campaigns because no one could call them to order. He was supported
by another member, who supposed that the ministers were using the remaining
time they had to solicit votes from constituency members.
When drawn for
comment, Minister Ngcamphalala disputed the allegations, stating that such did
not hold water. Ngcamphalala said the embassy did not only single out ministers
but was giving out donations to everyone. The minister articulated that as far
as he was concerned, people who were in office were not campaigning but only
serving their mandate. “We are not campaigning but doing our job. A person
in office is not campaigning but it is the one who is not in office, as he or
she is still aspiring to be elected, (who can be said to be campaigning).
Otherwise we are only doing our job,” Ngcamphalala reiterated. Meanwhile,
Minister Buthelezi wondered if Taiwan only offered donations to ministers. He
chose not to comment on the allegations. “I cannot be part of politics
without direction. I wouldn’t want to entertain any rubbish, let alone involve
an independent country in cheap politics, I don’t think it would be fair. So I
don’t have anything to say in this,” Buthelezi said. Minister Harries
‘Madze’ Bulunga said for the record, the rice donation had always been there
for the past five years to every MP who requested such from the embassy.
“They have
always assisted us with other items such as walking sticks for the elderly and
wheelchairs. There is no harm in asking for such and distributing to the needy
of my constituency. The last donation to Mbabane East Inkhundla was on November
3, 2022 and it’s not for campaigning because I gave it to bucopho and indvuna
to distribute in the four imiphakatsi,” he said. In response, EBC Education
Facilitator Vusumuzi Mdluli said they were not certain that the ministers were
campaigning. He said as long as they did not declare by word of mouth,
requesting for people’s votes, then they could not be deemed as campaigning.
Organisation of Africa Trade Union
Unity speaks on
workers’ rights violations by eSwatini kingdom
The Star (Kenya), 16 April 2023
The
Organisation of Africa Trade Union Unity (OATUU) has come out to condemn the
continued violation of workers' rights by the Kingdom of Eswatini.
Through its
President, Francis Atwoli, the union has termed the acts by the regime to
harass and intimidate unionists as barbaric and of criminal nature.
"When we
are demanding our rights. We are not thieves, we are not terrorists...We were
elected to do our work," Atwoli retorted.
The COTU-K
secretary general made the remarks during the OATUU 50th anniversary in Ghana.
It was themed
“Fidelity, Unite and Action for A Decent Life for African Worker.”
According to
the official, Africa has made great strides in terms of democracy and any move
to reverse the gains through such flagrant acts ought to be strongly rejected.
Some other
officials, he said, have been arrested for leading demonstrations.
"Africa
has come from far, if we have any region or country that still victimises,
harasses or intimidates workers, it must be condemned," he stated.
The banning of
public gatherings and the killing of more than 80 protesters in the last year
by security, he noted, is "not what should happen in this era".
He regretted
the recent issuance of a "warrant of arrest" to the secretary general
of a Union.
This is after
a directive where the official asked its members to boycott work last December
in demand for wages and improvement of work conditions.
The monarch of
Eswatini, King Mswati III, continues to 'crush' anyone protesting the
deteriorating human rights situation in the country.
There are
several laws in place which severely restrict freedom of expression and
association, including the Sedition and Subversive Activities Act of 1938,
which continues to be invoked, the Public Order Act of 1963, and the
Suppression of Terrorism Act, of 2008.
In addition,
the State of Emergency, which was declared in 1973 remains in effect and
suspends constitutional freedoms.
In 2014, the
Government tabled legislation to dissolve all workers’ and employers’
federations in Swaziland, including the Trade Union Congress of Swaziland.
In 2019, the
Swaziland National Association of Teachers (SNAT) president was fired from his
teaching position for attending a union meeting.
SNAT is a
member of the organisation of Education International.
In October
2021, teachers and public sector workers were attacked while they were
delivering a petition to the Municipal Council of the capital city, appealing
for decent working conditions, a salary review, and basic trade union rights.
Security has
been accused of being behind the brutal murder of Thulani Maseko, a human and
trade union rights lawyer.
It has also
been cited for the forced exile of Sticks Nkambule and Mbongwa Dlamini, both
leading representatives of trade unions in Eswatini.
PUDEMO
senior members run to petition Mswati’s Finance Minister Neal Rijikernberg
linked to a plot to assassinate President Mlungisi Makhanya
By
Zweli Martin Dlamini, Swaziland News, 18 April, 2023
MBABANE: Finance Minister
Neal Rijikernberg who allegedly hired mercenaries on behalf of Mswati has been,
once again, linked to another assassination plot following the death of human
rights lawyer Thulani Maseko, this time the target is the President of the
People’s United Democratic Movement (PUDEMO) Mlungisi Makhanya.
As a result, senior members
of the political organization petitioned the Minister on Tuesday, notifying him
that he will be held personally accountable for all the violations of human
rights in the Kingdom of eSwatini.
Even though the issue of the
assassination was not specifically included in the petition, the action comes
after weeks of an intensive investigation following the leak of electronic
evidence where one Brian Nyembe was speaking to alleged South African killers
(Tinkabi) hired to assassinate the PUDEMO President.
Nyembe, an employee of
Pigg’s Peak plantation was arrested a few weeks ago for allegedly housing
members of the pro-democracy Swaziland International Solidarity Forces (SISF)
and subsequently released allegedly, with conditions that he will assist the
State in assassinating Makhanya.
A questionnaire was sent to
Superintendent Phindile Vilakati, the police Spokesperson, however, she had not
responded at the time of compiling this report.
It has been disclosed that
after being released from jail, Brain Nyembe was given twenty thousand Rands
(R20,000.00) by State agents linked to the Finance Minister, and he sent the
money to his son Mbongseni Nyembe who was a member of the Swaziland
International Solidarity Forces.
It has been uncovered that
Mbongseni and one ‘Putin’ Vilakati (both being members of the Solidarity
Forces) fled after the killing of Mlandvo Khumalo by Mswati’s soldiers and the
subsequent arrest of other members of the Underground Forces.
Mbongseni fled to KwaZulu
Natal (KZN),while ‘Putin’ was hiding in Mpumalanga province in the Republic of
South Africa.
An independent investigation
conducted by this Swaziland News further uncovered that soon thereafter, Senior
Superintendent Clement Sihlongonyane secretly released Brian Nyembe from jail
and convinced him to continue being a member of the Underground Forces while
monitoring Makhanya with an intention to assassinate him.
It is alleged that the top
cop further informed the two ‘on-the-run’ members of the Solidarity Forces that
they won’t be arrested if they agreed to participate in the killing of
Makhanya.
According to intelligence
information in our possession, the assassination of Makhanya by members of the
Underground Forces would then be used to justify and spread State propaganda
information suggesting that even Thulani Maseko was killed by Solidarity Forces
as per a narrative pushed by the eSwatini government.
But one of the alleged
killers (Inkabi) based in KwaZulu Natal (KZN), decided to leak the electronic
conversation to this investigative journalist, saying the ‘project’ was not
implementable because the target was a high profile person fighting for the
rights of the people in Kingdom of eSwatini.
Reached for comments, Brian
Nyembe denied that he was involved in the plot to assassinate Makhanya but
confirmed that a few weeks ago, his son who was a member of the Solidarity
Forces was in KwaZulu Natal.
“It's true that I was
arrested and later released by the police. But my release was not on the
condition that I facilitate the assassination of Mlungisi Makhanya. The police
discovered that I did nothing except to provide accommodation to the Solidarity
Forces when they conducted their operations,” he said.
When asked about his son
Mbongeni Nyembe who went to KwaZulu Natal to engage killers (Tinkabi) and hand
over the R20,000.00 that was referred to as ‘airtime’ money, Brian Nyembe
confirmed that his son was in KZN.
“I can confirm that my son
Mbongseni is in KZN, but these days I am struggling to get hold of him,” he
said.
Worth-nothing, Brian Nyembe who
was released by the police sent an audio message to the alleged killers
(Tinkabi), other State agents facilitating the assassination and asked them to
try and locate Mbongseni as the money was with him.
In the audio and/or
electronic evidence, Brian Nyembe clarified that the ‘project’ was not in any
way funded by King Mswati’ but by a businessman, Nyembe had earlier denied any
involvement or links with a businessman over the assassination plot.
But a separate investigation
by this Swaziland News later confirmed that the businessman was allegedly Neal
Rijikernberg, who had previously assisted King Mswati, an absolute Monarch,with
the hiring of mercenaries.
Brian Nyembe allegedly sent
the audio after the State agents and or killers (Tinkabi) questioned him about
payments as Mbongseni was not available.
To read more of this
report, click here
http://swazilandnews.co.za/fundza.php?nguyiphi=4171
Why are the PPA leaders snoring
when the king’s forces attack our people
Opinion by Eugene Dube, Swati
Newsweek 16 April, 2023
MBABANE: The information I
have obtained from the Political Parties Assembly (PPA) insiders is that there
is no current chairperson of the PPA.
Mswati is now burning our
freedom fighters. His police officers have burnt Wonder Gama in the streets of
Swaziland. The PPA is silent. Why do we have such an organisation which is not
speaking out against injustice?
Such an organisation is
supposed to be helping in leading the struggle for multiparty democracy in
Swaziland. However no leader is willing to take over as chairperson of the PPA.
I remember how the Political
Parties Assembly was formed in Manzini at SNAT centre in 2019.
I had exposed the ridiculous
purchase of several Royce Rolls cars on the Swaziland News. I was the first
journalist who managed to get a comment from the then King’s Office Chief
Executive Officer, Mgwagwa Gamedze. He confirmed that the king bought a fleet
of toy cars.
That story changed the
country’s political environment. Local political parties in Eswatini realized
that Mswati and his family were determined in looting our resources hence they
came together and formed the Political Parties Assembly now known as the PPA.
Those who were present at SNAT
centre in November 2019 came together and formed PPA. If my memory serves me
well. The main goal of the PPA was to unite political parties and push for full
democratisation programme of Swaziland. The late unionist and Swazi Democratic
Party (SWADEPA) Jan Sithole, became the first PPA chairperson.
Sithole looked more organised.
He was a good communicator and organizer. After his demise, the Political
Parties Assembly struggled to win the hearts of many Swazis. Thanks to online
journalists who had fiercely criticised the regime and opened the minds of many
Swazis suffering under the Dlamini dynasty in Swaziland.
The problem with PPA and MSF
is that there is a clique which campaigns for one political party. This is a
time of fighting the oppressor however some other party members share common
sentiments with the brutal monarch. This has killed the Swazi struggle.
Old political parties
discredit new, emerging activists. Their programmes are sabotaged for merely
not belonging to those parties who want to control the struggle in Swaziland,
regardless how effective the strategy might be.
Personally, I am victim. Many
a times, I have been attacked by the so called "comrades." I become
out of favour because I refused to join their political organisation.
As journalist I fully
understand my duties and responsibilities. It is a great honour for me to serve
my Swazi Nation and the people of Africa at a time of political crisis.
It is my prayer that this
political activists will wake up one day and smell the coffee and sabotaging
fellow comrades who are not in its kraal. We need unity as Swazis and wadge
this revolution.
There is one golden rule for
soldiers. "You don't kill another soldier,"
We need leadership from the
PPA leaders. This organisation should have character. It must be able to
influence our current generation.
My Opinion is that victims of
the struggle like Wonder Gama, the Swaziland Liberation Movement Deputy
chairman burnt with petrol by the police and SWAVISA members including Madzabudzabu
Kunene should be given more platforms in big media organisations like Aljazera
TV, CNN, BBC, to tell the Swaziland Liberation story.
Political victims of the Swazi
struggle must be given a chance to tell our story to the international
community to fight the regime.
Personally, I only need
victory for my nation against this evil regime. Our ideas and strategies seek
to free our suffering people, it would be unfortunate if some activists are
hell bent in promoting themselves as individuals instead of prioritising the
noble course of democracy and freedom.
Aluta Continua!!!
eSwatini to roll out vaccine to fight cervical cancer
By
Siboniso Nkambule, eSwatini Observer, 20
April 2023
THE ministry of health has introduced the
Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) vaccine.
The vaccine is known to reduce HPV infections and ultimately reduce the number
of cervical cancer cases and other HPV-related cancers.
The vaccine will be rolled out to girls
aged nine to 14 through a catch-up campaign starting on June 1.
The 10-day campaign will target over 70
000 girls and will be conducted in schools and communities.
This was revealed by National Cancer
Control Unit Programme Manager Xolisile Dlamini during a media briefing on the
status of HPV in the country held at Hilton Garden Inn on Tuesday. Dlamini said
in recent years, the ministry had observed a high number of cervical cancer
cases and Eswatini was one of those leading in cervical cancer.
She said research had shown that most of
the cervical cancer cases were a result of HPV infection. According to Dlamini,
in 2021 alone, 317 women in the country were diagnosed with cervical cancer,
unfortunately, over 80 per cent of them live with HIV, whilst 32 per cent of
those had died from the disease.
She stated that this often happened
because the cancer had become too advanced, and had spread to the entire body,
making the chances of survival after treatment very low.
“From these statistics we can deduce that women present their condition very
late, and thus minimizing chances to prevent and reduce the HPV infection.
Therefore, early diagnosis is key to win
this war. HPV infections are often asymptomatic, and they can resolve
spontaneously, however, persistent infection with high-risk HPV types such as
types 16 and 18 can lead to cancer. She said the HPV vaccine had been
introduced in many countries around the world, including South Africa,
Botswana, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
Dlamini said its introduction was part of
a larger goal to eliminate cervical cancer.
Dlamini highlighted that the country had adopted the WHO global strategy to
achieve three targets, 90 per cent of girls fully vaccinated with HPV vaccine
by age 15, 70 per cent of women screened twice in their lifetime (at ages 35
and 45) with a high-performance test and 90 per cent of women with cervical
disease receive treatment.
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