Swaziland Newsletter No. 783 – 30
June 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.
Still No Justice for 2021 Violence
Human Rights Watch, 26 June 2023
Eswatini authorities
have failed to ensure accountability for the crackdown on pro-democracy
protesters by security forces that began two years ago, Human Rights Watch said
today. The crackdown led to the deaths of at least 46 people, as well as other serious human rights abuses.
Since pro-democracy
demonstrations began in May 2021, the government of Eswatini has intensified
its clampdown on dissenting views by arresting government critics on bogus
charges, interfering with peaceful assembly, and resisting calls for democratic
reforms. It has failed to conduct a transparent, independent, and impartial
investigation into the killings and other human rights violations resulting
from the security forces’ excessive use of force. Despite repeated calls by
Eswatini’s international
partners and other
actors for rights reforms, the government has made no progress to address the country’s deteriorating human rights record.
“The protests that began two
years ago have been seen as the beginning of a tipping point in Eswatini’s
governance, human rights and democratic crisis,” said Nomathamsanqa
Masiko-Mpaka, South Africa researcher at Human Rights Watch. “The
government needs to realize that the movement for human rights and justice is
not going to go away and that it needs to end its repression.”
The government should release
critics detained solely for their expression and peaceful assembly, lift the
trumped-up charges against them, and conduct independent and impartial
investigations into the attacks against pro-democracy activists, Human Rights
Watch said.
On May 17, 2021, students and
teachers began protesting the alleged killing by the police of Thabani Nkomonye, a law
student at the University of Eswatini. The protests escalated on June 20, when
about 500 young people took to the streets in Manzini to demand
democratic reforms. In response, the authorities banned all
protests and deployed security forces, who shot at protesters indiscriminately
with live ammunition.
In July 2021, the
authorities arrested two members of parliament, Mduduzi Bacede Mabuza
and Mthandeni Dube on spurious charges of terrorism for allegedly supporting
pro-democracy protests and calling for democratic reforms. The government also
charged them with two murders.
While in detention, the
parliament members have been beaten and denied access to lawyers and medical
care, Amnesty International reported. Their trial concluded on January 31, 2023, and on
June 1, they were found guilty of all charges against them, including murder
and terrorism. Mabuza and Dube, who pleaded not guilty to all counts, face up
to 20 years in prison. A sentencing date is yet to be announced.
The murder judgment relates to the death of two men, Siphosethu
Mntshali and Thando Shongwe who were hit by a car on June 29, 2021, at one of a
number of roadblocks around the country where residents were stopping vehicles
and demanding money. However, the parliament members were not there or at any
of the roadblocks, their attorney said.
The charges were apparently
brought because the parliament members supported the June 2021 protests. The
conviction was largely based on the concept of dolus
eventualis (foreseeability), a judgment that many have questioned as
not accurately applying the law. “The judgment is a deliberate failure on her
part [Judge Mumcy Dlamini] to understand the concept of murder dolus
eventualis,” an Eswatini human rights lawyer said.
On October 20, 2021, police
fired live ammunition and teargas into a bus full of people traveling to
Mbabane to protest Mabuza and Dube’s incarceration. On January 31, 2022, media
reported that security officials beat and kicked a university student, Colani
Maseko, as they arrested him while he participated in protests at the
University of Eswatini’s
Kwaluseni campus, sparking a
new wave of protests.
The Eswatini government has
failed to ensure a meaningful investigation of the security forces use of
excessive force during the protests and the crackdown on democracy activists,
or of the killing of a prominent human rights lawyer and pro-democracy
activist, Thulani Maseko by unidentified men on January 21, 2023, despite
repeated calls by Eswatini’s regional and international
partners. Political
dissent and civic and labor activists are subject to harsh punishment under the Terrorism Act of 2008 and the Sedition
and Subversive Activities Act of 1938.
On September 29, Eswatini will
hold general elections as part of the country’s Tinkundhla constituency system, under which political parties are banned from
participating and nearly all individual candidates are loyal to the king and have his support. King Mswati
III exercises absolute authority over all branches of national government and
controls local governance structures through his influence over traditional
leaders.
Political parties have
been banned in the country since 1973, but banning political parties does not meet international
standards for the conduct of democratic elections. It violates the fundamental
right to freedom of association and to participate freely in the government of
one’s country, either directly or through freely chosen representatives, as
protected by the International
Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the African Charter on
Human and Peoples’ Rights.
To read more of
this report, click here
https://www.hrw.org/news/2023/06/26/eswatini-still-no-justice-2021-violence
African
Commission on Human Rights warns Mswati on ongoing extrajudicial killings,
calls for constructive engagements to address eSwatini political crisis
By
Zweli Martin Dlamini, Swaziland News, 28 June, 2023
MBABANE: The African Commission on Human
and People’s Rights (ACHPR) has adopted Resolution 554, on the current
political climate in the Kingdom of eSwatini calling for, among others, the
ongoing extrajudicial killings by King Mswati’s security forces and/or
mercenaries.
The African Commission Resolution adopted
last month, further urges the Government of eSwatini to respect human rights
and work towards pursuing avenues for civil discourse and constructive
engagement, inclusive of all stakeholders.
“Urges the Government of the Kingdom of
Eswatini to pursue avenues for civil discourse and constructive engagement,
inclusive of all stakeholders, in order to create an enabling political climate
for dialogue towards addressing the civil and political unrest in the
country.Calls on the Government of the Kingdom of Eswatini to refrain from any
form of victimization, harassment, intimidation and targeting of human rights
defenders, political parties, protesters, pro-democracy leaders and campaigners
through the arbitrary use of the police and security forces,” reads the
resolution in part.
Reached for comments, King’s Spokesperson
Percy Simelane said he was not aware of any Government position regarding the resolution,
he referred comments to the Prime Minister’s office.
“I am not aware of any Government position
on the resolution at the moment. Kindly take it up with the Prime Minister's
Office,” said the King’s Spokesperson.
Government Spokesperson Alpheous Nxumalo
had not responded at the time of compiling this report.
The resolution by the African Commission
comes amid looming targeted sanctions by the United States (US), more
international bodies are condemning and taking a strong position regarding the
ongoing violation of human rights in eSwatini.
Housing Ministry pleads for mercy on elections
By Sabelo Majola, Times of eSwatini, 27 June 2023
MBABANE: ‘‘We have become a laughing stock, but it’s not entirely our
fault.’’
Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Prince Simelane, has pleaded
for mercy from the nation with regard to the challenges that the ministry
encountered during the Local Government Elections. Following reports that
some of the polling stations were marred with drama as they ran out of ballot
papers, the minister admitted that they indeed encountered the
challenges. Our sister publication, Times SUNDAY, reported that
voters in some polling stations such as Fonteyn Social Care and Msunduza
Community Hall had to wait for at least five hours due to delayed delivery of
ballot papers.
It was reported that while others endured the situation, some voters
ended up not exercising their right to vote because they decided to
leave. Prince Simelane said the ministry was aware of the difficulties in
some of the polling stations and he pleaded with the nation, particularly
residents of the areas affected, to forgive them. The minister was
addressing the media during a press conference that was held at the ministry’s
conference room yesterday. He shared that as much as they had become a
laughing stock for failure to execute the elections smoothly, it was not
entirely their fault as they procured the ballot papers on time, only to be
told by the supplier that they were not readily available. “We had
prepared everything on time and the update we got from the supplier was that
the ballot papers would be available by 3pm on Friday. However, when we made a
follow-up, we were requested to wait again until at least 9pm that evening but
the wait lasted the whole night,” he shared.
The minister emphasised that they had done all that they had to do in
preparation for the elections, but unfortunately it was not enough to ensure a
smooth elections exercise.
The minister further mentioned that the results that were announced by the
ministry after the voting exercise were a true reflection. He shared that so
far, there were no complaints from the people who contested the elections, but
the ministry was not popping the champagne yet as people may come to register
their dissatisfaction. “Activities like elections are prone to complaints
from the people who contested, but so far, we have not received any complaint.
However, it is not to say we do not anticipate receiving them as there might be
those that complain of foul play,” he said. It is on record that some
candidates who did not make it have been making a hue and cry about what they
termed ‘unfair’ elections.
Apart from claiming that certain individuals who were supposed to vote
for them failed to do so on the day, due to shortages of ballot papers, they
also complained about alleged corrupt elements. These include some candidates
transporting voters to the polling station. Prince Simelane forwarded the
ministry’s gratitude to all stakeholders who participated in the elections,
especially the officers tasked with the administration of the whole exercise
for their dedication. The minister also announced that the interim council
that was appointed into office would continue to be there as the new elected
councillors were still going to be orientated before they commenced their
duties.
Unemployment a ticking time bomb - SUPMO
By Nkosingiphile Myeni, eSwatini Observer,
25 June 2023
The frustrations of
unemployment are seemingly pushing desperate graduates to look for jobs
overseas.
However, government has warned
that job seekers must first confirm if the overseas jobs are coordinated under
the government.
With the World Bank estimating
the unemployment rate at 24.4 per cent in 2022, the desperate graduates like
Thembinkosi Thwala (33) of Nsangwini and Simolesihle Mamba (26) purport taking
their degrees out of the country.
Thwala graduated with a degree
in agriculture engineering from Luyengo campus, University of Eswatini (UNESWA)
in 2018.
According to Thwala, he has
been unemployed for about four years now.
The closest to getting a job was when he was hired by a construction company
that was looking for casuals and it lasted for about three months last year.
Other than that, the job market
has been silent, he said, appealing to employers to end his frustration.
“I send applications almost
weekly but there is no ‘we regret.’ The only time I had been in a job interview
was when I was doing my internship for my programme,” he said.
On the other hand, Mamba who
also graduated from the same tertiary institution in 2019 with a degree in
Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering said sending applications was a tedious
job.
Mamba said he was already
enrolled for an online teaching course that looks for teachers in Taiwan.
While he is still familiarising
himself with the recruitment process, he said it involves him taking a
week-long teaching course on the internet.
This, he said would place him
at an advantage because his name would be recommended to job-seeking schools in
Taiwan.
Both Mamba and Thwala do not
believe that they may not be getting called to job interviews because they were
overqualified.
In 2014, Thwala scooped the
first prize in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) essay writing
competition against others from schools within the 16-membered blog.
Without a job, some germs of the country feel there are no rewards for hoping
to get a job and in the process reminisce on the risks associated with human
trafficking against a much sounding warning.
Chairperson of the Swaziland
Unemployed People’s Movement, Lucky Dlamini, said unemployed graduates had
little options as unemployment was catastrophic.
“The issue of the unemployed
graduates is a national crisis that needs to be at the top of the government
agenda, if we are to stimulate economic growth and change this unemployment
catastrophe,” Dlamini said.
He also said challenges with
government creating jobs include relevant training and quality education.
Further he said there were
glaringly missing programmes for the unemployed youth to empower them to create
jobs for themselves, than to be scouting for jobs.
Dlamini was also of the view
that mentorship and internships were necessary in job experiences.
To read more
of this report, click here
http://new.observer.org.sz/details.php?id=20634
Health crisis: bring own bandages to govt hospital
By Mmeli Mkwanazi, Times
of eSwatini, 23 June 2023
MBABANE: If injured and in need of medical attention, you will have to
bring your own gauze bandage.
This is the current practise at the Mbabane Government Hospital, given
the shortage of medical drugs and other supplies, most recently gauze bandages.
These are the most common type of bandages used by health institutions, which
is a woven strip of material with a telfa absorbent.
This type of bandage has reportedly been out of stock for some weeks now
at the Mbabane Government Hospital. Injured and sickly members of the public
seeking medical attention that requires the use of bandages at this hospital
are reportedly not getting help as they need to purchase these from private
pharmacies.
Sihlelelwe Mnisi, a snake-bite victim, who was accompanied by her older
sister Temalangeni Dlamini, was turned back at the Mbabane Government Hospital
after travelling from Siteki. “We were so devastated when told to return next
Thursday. We cannot even afford to buy the gauze bandages, as we assumed the
hospital would provide as per the norm. Where will we get the E300 from?” she
rhetorically asked.
Another patient, who preferred to remain anonymous, shared that she
injured and fractured her leg and when she sought medical assistance, she was
referred to pharmacies to purchase a bandage. “I had no choice but to borrow
money from my relatives since I’m unemployed just so my leg can heal. The
bandages I bought cost me E400, excluding the pills I also had to purchase. If
this wasn’t the case, the plaster cast would’ve been removed by now,” she said.
Nolwazi Simelane also alluded to this as she relayed her ordeal. “I have
had this plaster cast on me for the whole month now. I came all the way from
Hlatikhulu, which costs my parents E200 just to travel to Mbabane Government
Hospital, only to find that I also have to purchase my own gauze bandage; money
I do not even have. We came all the way to Mbabane with the hope that we would
be assisted but this is clearly a countrywide problem as clinics in my area
could not assist,” she said.
She further mentioned that the removal of the old bandages was overdue
and she could no longer bear another day but had no choice since she could not
remove them without purchasing new ones. This, she said, was according to what
the doctor advised. When Minister of Health Lizzie Nkosi appeared before
Parliament yesterday, she said the reason for the medical drugs shortage was
due to late procurement of medicines late last year. “It started in the third
quarter of the financial year. Delivery of medicines was hampered by the
closure of suppliers in South Africa between December and mid-January, with
most suppliers only having a month to deliver until mid-February, when
government procurement is stopped as the financial year begins to wind down,”
she said.
Nkosi mentioned that her ministry had started the process of
procurement, which includes the development of procurement plans and
submissions to the tender board. “We have successfully negotiated with the
tender board, who have granted a three-month extension of last financial year’s
contracts for medicines. The three-month extension given ends next week to
allow the ministry to pay, as well as procure much needed drugs,” she added.
To read more of this report, click here
http://www.times.co.sz/news/140695-health-crisis-bring-own-bandages-to-govt-hospital.html
See also
Patients are dying –
health workers
http://new.observer.org.sz/details.php?id=20655
eSwatini launched its first national Road Safety
Strategy and Center of Excellence on Road Safety
Press release, United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, 22 June 2023
MANZINI: To guide its national road safety agenda, the Kingdom of Eswatini
launched a road safety strategy for the period 2023-2030. Officials of the
Kingdom believe that all fatal and serious injuries on the road are preventable.
“The elimination of fatal and serious injuries on Eswatini’s roads by 2063” is
the vision.
In his keynote address, the
Prime Minister of Eswatini, Cleopas Sipho Dlamini emphasized the benefits of
the safe system approach to road safety contained in the strategy, noting that
"humans are prone to make errors in judgment and poor decisions and that
the approach incorporates this reality in the design and operation of the road
network”. He also acknowledged ECA's support for the process and urged the
Strategy's effective implementation.
Fortunate Shabalala, Chair of
the Road Safety Council of the Kingdom of Eswatini said that the bulk of
road accidents in the Kingdom resulted from human error. She stressed that road
accidents constitute an intolerable burden on communities as well as an
unacceptable price to pay for economic development.
Robert Lisinge, Officer in
Charge of the Private Sector Development and Finance Division, representing
ECA’s Acting Executive Secretary, Antonio Pedro, said ECA accompanied the
Kingdom of Eswatini in developing the Strategy. In implementing the Strategy,
he recommended that focus should be placed on “strengthening the Kingdom’s road
safety legislative framework, strengthening road safety funding arrangements, and
building capacity of road safety stakeholders.”
The launch is in accordance
with ECA’s mandate, which along with partners in the UN system is implementing
the call by the United Nations General Assembly to the World Health
Organization (WHO) and the UN regional commissions to support the
implementation of the UN Road safety Global action plan for the Decade
2021-2023, along with all other relevant parties.
Following the launch, the
University of Eswatini and the Ministry of Public Works and Transport signed a
Memorandum of Understanding on the implementation of the Center of Excellence
on Road Safety.
Other dignitaries present at
the launch were: UN Country Representative, George Wachira,
Vice Chancellor of the University of Eswatini, Justice M. Thwala; Minister
of Public Works and Transport, Thulani Mkhaliphi.
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