Swaziland Newsletter No. 778 – 26 May
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.
Army shows readiness to fight terrorists
Africa Press, 20 May 2023
This year’s Army Day was like no other.
This year, the army showed the public how
to ‘smoke out’ terrorists from their hideouts. A scenario of soldiers advancing
towards a terrorist hideout was displayed, almost like a movie scene. It
started with the soldiers dropping off a helicopter using a rope. As they
dropped quickly, they then advance towards structures where the terrorists
appeared to be hiding in the enactment. A shooting ensued and despite exchange
of gunfire, the soldiers advanced quickly, until eventually they defeated the
terrorists, much to the applause of the members of the public, who had gathered
to watch the spectacular display by the military personnel.
Yesterday was the first Army Day
commemoration in which there was a passout of recruits since the COVID-19
pandemic. The latest commemoration included a display of military artillery and
air demonstrations like never seen before. His Majesty the King and the
Indlovukazi graced the event and the special guest was former Botswana Head of
State Ian Khama. This year’s commemoration gave the nation a glimpse of what
the Umbutfo Eswatini Defence Force (UEDF) is all about.
It was also a show of anti-terrorism
drills that included a display by bomb disposal squad, an air show that
included helicopters and an aeroplane. Anti-terrorism drills are aimed at
counteracting the activities of terrorists. As part of their display, soldiers
also demonstrated skills in full combat in which they enacted a shootout in
progress. They gave members of the public a preview of what happens during a
war scenario. This was displayed by the light infantry section and it was
referred to as a section attack. In other countries around the world, there is
usually a show of firepower whenever there is an anticipation of an onslaught,
almost as if to warn a would-be enemy of the danger that lay ahead if they ever
thought of attacking.
Fire power display has been seen in
countries such as the People’s Republic of China, the Republic of China, Russia
and Ukraine.
Since June 29, 2021, Eswatini has
experienced terrorist activities, according to the government. The activities
left many of the country’s structures burnt. Several structures including
schools and other government buildings were burnt in what some of the
government officials referred to as terrorist activities. This escalated to
deadly violence that targeted members of the security forces, which resulted in
the death of police, Correctional Services and army personnel.
The killings were claimed by two
underground groups; the Swaziland International Solidarity Forces and the
Sikhali Senkhululeko YemaSwati.
The activities of these two groups lead to
many emaSwati living in fear of being killed or having their homes burnt.
During the unrest, members of the security forces, especially police officers
had to exercise extreme caution when attending to scenes of crimes,
particularly at night. Meanwhile, the army went on parade its own anti-riot
squad, almost similar to the Royal Eswatini Police Service’s (REPS) Operations
Support Services Unit (OSSU) that is usually used to disperse crowds during
riots.
In what was viewed as the first ever seen
in public by the UEDF, a display by the military personnel of a riot unit was
witnessed. The unit was dressed in full army gear, carrying batons, fibre glass
shields and also helmets. The unit is able to disperse a violent crowd within
minutes according to some of the military personnel. The army’s riot unit also
displayed its skills as they chanted while walking near Their Majesties. Riot
units usually operate to control civilians. Though usually, it is the police
that handles civilians, recently due to unrest, soldiers were also roped in to
assist the police as crowds became violent. The change in this year’s activity
was evident in the manner in which even the Army Commander General Moses
Mashikilisana Fakudze introduced the day.
When introducing the newly-trained
soldiers to His Majesty the King, Fakudze said ‘they are ready’. He said during
the training, they were instilled with loyalty, discipline, self-less service
and courage. “Baphekiwe Silo Sikhulu,” said Fakudze, meaning they were ready
for service. Also, this year, there were more recruits who passed out in
comparison to previous years. This year, over 800 are said to have passed out
while previously, the number was lower than this.
See also
Russian President Vladimir Putin’s
senior soldiers grace Eswatini Army’s 50th Anniversary.
http://swazilandnews.co.za/fundza.php?nguyiphi=4345
E-visa
scandal: over 100 immigration officials transferred
By Thokozani Mazibuko, eSwatini News, 20 May 2023
MBABANE: Internal
investigations over corruption in the issuance of over 2 000 e-visas to foreign
nationals have resulted in the removal of over 100 immigration officers at the
Ministry of Home Affairs, Eswatini News has learnt.
Impeccable sources
revealed to this publication that these removals, through re-deployment, were
instituted during the ongoing internal investigation over the illegal issuance
of over 2 000 e-Visas to 2 000 foreign nationals by the ministry. Further,
the sources revealed that the ministry, a few months into the internal
investigation, then issued transfers to the over 100 immigration
officials. The sources further said some of the immigration officials were
transferred to other ministries while others were re-deployed internally, but in
positions far away from the processing of e-visas. “We have new faces
everywhere but the ministry has said it does not mean that the re-deployed
personnel are all implicated in the e-visa scandal,” said a top official within
the ministry, who, however, preferred to remain anonymous.
The e-visas were issued to a multitude of foreign nationals from a number of countries, including Pakistan, Bangladesh, Ethiopia, Somalia, India, Nigeria, Egypt, Congo and Cameroon. These foreign nationals were all destined for Eswatini; in fact more of them are reportedly still making their way to the kingdom. It has been reliably gathered that the foreign nationals are still being turned back at the KMIII International Airport at Sikhuphe.
Communications Officer Mlandvo Dlamini, when engaged by this publication, was
quick to state that there was nothing sinister about the re-deployments and
transfers which affected solely the Immigration Department. “Yes, most of the
home affairs staff has been re-deployed into other posts and I must point it
out that staff rotation is part of the ministry’s housekeeping measures.
However, staff rotation has for a long time proved to be a deterrent to
corruption practices within the civil service,” clarified Dlamini.
The Ministry of Home
Affairs is yet to complete its internal investigations into the e-visa scandal
and heads are expected to roll. The communications officer revealed that
soon the ministry would compile a report on the findings of the internal
investigations and would be announced through the media in the coming
weeks. “The internal investigations are at the final stages, we will, in
due course divulge details,” Dlamini pointed out. The effected staff
rotations and re-deployments, according to well-placed sources, paved a way for
the internal investigation in the illegal issuance of over 2000 visas to
foreign nationals and Simelane said that no one had been charged yet.
UNESWA
Vice Chancellor Justice Tfwala bans protests, students’ meetings within the
University
By
Colani Khulekani Maseko, Swaziland News, 20 May 2023
MBABANE: Professor Justice Thwala, the
University of Eswatini (UNESWA) Vice Chancellor has written a memorandum
informing students about the suspension of student body meetings and protests
within the Luyengo, Mbabane and Kwaluseni campuses respectively.
“In the exercise of the power vested in
the Vice Chancellor of the University under Section 4(5) of the statuses of the
University of Eswatini, and having noted the disruption of classes and the
normal operations of the University as recently as today, 19 May 2023 at the
Mbabane Campus, meeting and toyi-toying are hereby prohibited with immediate
effect,” reads the memo in part.
The registrar of the higher learning
institution Dr. Selebona Simelane did not respond at the time of compiling this
report.
Reached for comment, Samnkelo Zestar
Ndzimandze the Campaign Officer of the Swaziland National Union of Students
(SNUS) said the Vice Chancellor decision to suspend student body meetings is an
insult to students which must attended with urgency.
“This is an insult to students. The Union
condemns such a communique from the Vice Chancellor, we have to treat this a
matter of urgency. Students are also stakeholders in that institution, it is
therefore their right to hold meetings and deliberate on issues affecting them,”
said the Students Union's Campaign Officer.
The decision to suspended student body
meetings at the higher learning institution, comes after students held a joint
meeting on Monday, and resolved not to return to class until their grievances
were resolved including the pending allowances issue among others.
Education is undervalued by
government in eSwatini
By Mfanasibili Sihlongonyane, Independent News, (eSwatini), 22
May 2023
The
Education in the Kingdom of Eswatini has been in shambles following the cycle
of protests from tertiary institutions of higher learning.
The
state of education has been in question in the country for quite some time
because of the education system that is presenting the narrative of uncertainty
due to the disruptions of education. Over the past weeks, the University of
Eswatini closed with immediate effect following the protest partaken by the
members of the Association of Lecturers, Academic and Administrative Personnel
(ALAAP) as well as the National Workers Union in Swaziland Higher Institutions
(NAWUSHI) due to award performance (notching). The strike was prompted by
lecturers who were and still demanding salary increment. The ongoing strike at
UNESWA has greatly affected education in the sense the campus announced the
closure of the school plainly saying that education is put on hold. It is
alleged that employees are adamant that the campus will remain closed until
their demands are taken into consideration.
During
an interview, the President of SNUS, Gabi Ndukuya says Education is undervalued
by the government of Eswatini. ‘’our education does not have that value in
terms of quality because the government is failing to maintain the institutions
themselves’’ she stated pressing on the issue that education should be one of
the pillars that should be valued and prioritized in any country including
Eswatini. According to Ndukuya she has just learnt that the education budget is
combined with all the funds that caters the institutions, workers and learners
and that is where the bigger problem starts.
The
President of the Ngwane National Liberation Congress, Sibongile Mazibuko
expressed her views about the current state of education in the country, she
stressed out that the Kingdom of Eswatini is not a poor country but except the
main thing affecting the education in the country is the lack of political will
by the present government. “The resolution to the matters of the country at
hand is to have a sit-down meeting and discuss strategies on how the country
can best be run” she said. The President of the NNLC further highlighted that a
government that is in competition for the attention of the citizens is more
likely to best deliver their services to the country and that has to be a
democratic government.
“We are
concerned about the education that is negatively affected,” said Bheki Gama who
is the Principal Secretory of the Ministry of Education. A couple of weeks ago
the Limkokwing University of Creative Technology experienced a drastic strike
where lecturers of the institution were protesting following the suspension of
the lecturers who are said to have been unjustly punished. The strike that was
started by the lecturers inspired the students of the institution to follow
suit. The students had a list of demands they claimed the institution was overlooking.
The situation escalated to a level where scholars of the institution demanded a
resignation letter from the director of the school. This speaks volume that the
education in the country is a mockery itself. During an interview with one of
the students that was active in the strike, they were resolute to their
decision that there shall be no operations within the institution until they
are heard. This is the same line used by the employees at UNESWA, which is
quite alarming that education is being used as bait to get their demands
attended to.
Sakhile
Aw’viwa Nxumalo who is the president for the Swaziland Youth Congress (SWAYOCO)
expressed his concerns during a protest prompted by lecturers at University of
Eswatini that it is high time the university reopens since this strike is
costing the future of the learners. He said this in the view that education in
the country is not taken seriously because of how the current situation looks
like with classes on hold. Nxumalo was concerned about the education in the
country and the steps towards bettering the issue in question which is
presenting itself with so many uncertainties.
The
prioritization of the education system is gradually becoming a thing of the
past in the Kingdom of Eswatini because of the series of events that have been
happening in institutions of higher learning which has placed education in
question. As mentioned by the SNUS President, the government of Eswatini has
proven how much of a last priority education is . The duration of the strikes
in various universities have placed the interest of the management or rather
those in place for the resolution of the demands made on the microscope. The
education system in the Kingdom of Eswatini has been failed in so many
occasions and the current state is just evidence itself.
See also
Quality education remains a dream
http://www.times.co.sz/news/140301-quality-education-remains-a-dream.html
Frustrated PGCE students march to
cabinet
By
Andile Dlamini, eSwatini Observer, 24 May 2023
About 70 Post Graduate Certificate in
Education (PGCE) students who are in their final year at the University of
Eswatini yesterday marched to Cabinet where they made an impassionate plea for
scholarship.
On a breezy day, the students spent over
five hours camped outside the Cabinet offices, patiently waiting for the
Principal Secretary in the Prime Minister’s office, Bertram Stewart, to request
that their scholarship be reinstated. With the deadline for registration being
on Friday, the students boarded public transport to Mbabane before marching to
Cabinet offices, after noting that time was against them.
They revealed that from the group of 70,
only four had registered yet this was their final
year.
They arrived at the Cabinet offices as
early as 9am and said they were willing to stay until Friday if that is what it
called for.
To prove their point, the students came
prepared to spend the rest of the week camped at Cabinet as they carried
blankets, which they sat on after being denied entry into Cabinet and told that
the principal secretary was in a meeting.
The students said getting to Mbabane was a
struggle as they did not even have money to afford paying for the transport.
According to the students, the UNESWA
management told them that available vehicles had not been filled up and as
such, they could not be helped.
They acknowledged that when doing their
third year of the undergraduate programme in Humanities in 2021, they were
informed that government would no longer sponsor their programme as there was
an influx of teachers in the country.
However, they said they had tried to
engage all parties involved, including the ministry of labour and social
security to allow the scholarship to run until they completed their programme
to no avail.
One of the students, Hlompho Zwane, said
they were now under pressure because the registration deadline was on Friday
and they were stranded as they do not have the funding.
“All along we had followed due processes, by writing to the ministry. We do
acknowledge that coming here is not the proper procedure but we are desperate
and the issue is time sensitive,” Zwane said.
“The registration closes on Friday and if
by then we do not have a positive answer we will be forced to go home. At least
then we can go home with the satisfaction that we tried our best and failed,”
said the student.
He said in total there were 70 PGCE
students, who had been attending lectures but only four of those were
registered.
“Even those who are registered only
managed to pay 20 per cent of the registration fee. We have been attending
classes and not been able to access other learning materials as they are
uploaded onto the university’s learning system, Moodle.
You cannot access that platform if you have
not registered. So if we cannot register by Friday, we will be forced to pack
our bags and go back home,” the exasperated Zwane continued. He further raised
the issue of being informed of the decision to cut their scholarship while they
were in the middle of the programme.
“We were only informed of the decision
when we were in our third year of study. For our course of study, it helps to
do the certificate so that at least you can do teaching but without it you will
be forced to sit at home.”
He also explained that they opted for the
programme because their points allowed them to be admitted into it.
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