Swaziland Newsletter No. 803 – 17
November 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.
147 murders in 11 months
By Thokozani Mazibuko, eSwatini
News, 11 November 2023
MANZINI: “These cases illuminate that GBV is an issue of critical
national concern.”
These were the exact words of Acting National Commissioner (NATCOM) of
Police Sula Dlamini during the launch of the national campaign against
gender-based violence (GBV) held in Manzini yesterday. His Majesty’s
Correctional Services (HMCS), Eswatini National Fire Rescue and Emergency
Services (ENFRES), security guards and the members of the Royal Eswatini Police
(REPS), yesterday came together and marched through the city of Manzini from
Boxer Supermarket to the Manzini Bus Rank.
Despite the fact that the band from the Correctional Services was
playing entertaining music and leading the pack throughout the city, one could
see that members of the public were touched with the messages, which were on
the placards.
As a result, most of them were seen joining the walk, apparently taking
part in the campaign against GBV.
It should be noted that 35 per cent of women worldwide have experienced
either physical and/or sexual intimate partner violence or non-partner sexual
violence. Globally, seven per cent of women have been sexually assaulted by
someone other than a partner.
It is said that 38 per cent of murders of women are committed by an
intimate partner. “I welcome all stakeholders to the event prompted by
spiralling cases of GBV. While cases of GBV have always been occurring at
a concerning rate, where women are killed and maimed in the most gruesome of
manners (stabbings/hackings/setting on fire), of late, the rate seems to have
taken an unprecedented turn for the worse,” the acting NATCOM said.
Dlamini said police were left shell-shocked by the murder of four
(4) women in Ezulwini, some of them were related. He said another hair-raising
issue was the murder and suicide involving intimate partners at Ngwane Park.
In making reference to the recent cases, the NATCOM expressed their pain
as a police service about these incidents and at the same time condemned such
gross acts of violence which he said, should never be countenanced in the
society.
“We extend our condolences to the families of the deceased, and pray
that God will continue to comfort them as they deal with their loss, including
closing the social gap created by the tragedies,” Dlamini stated. It is
worth mentioning that there were stakeholders such as the non-governmental
organisations. NGOs included SWAGAA (Swatini Group Against Abuse, Kwakha
Indvodza and others.Fellow government functionaries, churches, schools, public
transport sector and numerous others were also present.
Moreover, Dlamini pointed out that fighting the scourge could be reliant
on policing interventions alone, especially as most incidents unfolded in
private spaces, out of the reach of the police, hence he called for the
multi-stakeholder approach from each and every partner to make interventions
that would coalesce to an effective response.
“Today here in Manzini, we are launching and kick-starting a national
campaign that will cover all regions under the theme ‘Speak out now, stop the
silence,” he said. He mentioned that through this campaign, the nation should
join hands towards ending GBV as it hinges on every member of
society. “Let us not ignore abuse and violence when we see it occurring,
but let us intervene, through reporting to the police or the other agencies
involved in the fight against the scourge,” Dlamini said.
To read more of this report, click here
http://www.times.co.sz/news/142584-147-murders-in-11-months.html
Study
reveals young people say wife-beating excusable
By
Phephile Motau, eSwatini Observer, 14 November 2023
A study suggests that 47.5 per cent of
adolescents in eSwatini (15-19 years) and 37.5 per cent of young adults (20-24)
believe that it is justifiable for a husband to beat his wife under certain
circumstances.
This is according to a report titled
‘Situation Analysis of SRH Including HIV and GBV Services for Adolescents and
the Youth in Eswatini’ by the Ministry of Health.
The report states the young people believe
that wife beating is justifiable if the wife goes out without telling husband,
if she neglects the children, if she argues with husband, if she refuses sex
with husband, if she burns the food, if she refuses to accept step children, if
she sleeps with another man, if she initiates sex and if she refuses to give
food.
To red more of this report, click
here
http://new.observer.org.sz/details.php?id=21474
GBV
fight: survivors prefer to suffer in silence: DPP’s office
Timothy
Simelane, Times of eSwatini, 13 November 2023
MBABANE: The war against gender-based violence (GBV) is being
lost because of survivors who prefer to suffer in silence.
The Office of the Director of
Public Prosecutions (DPP) under the Domestic and Child Welfare Unit, says
ignorance of the law is to blame for the failure to do away with the GBV
scourge in society. They said survivors who preferred to maintain an abusive
relationship cited such issues as a change of heart by the perpetrator, the
imminent loss of maintenance should the perpetrator be arrested and cultural
norms. “But they are oblivious to the provisions of the Sexual Offences
and Domestic Violence (SODV) Act, 2018, which stipulates that once a case has
been reported, the discretion to prosecute now lies in the hands of the DPP,”
said the prosecutors.
To read more of this
report, click here
GBV petition delivery: rude welcome for MDM at DPM’s
office
By Sithembile Hlatshwayo, Times of eSwatini, 10 November 2023
MBABANE: Members of the Mass Democratic Movement (MDM) received a rude
welcome at the DPM’s Office, where they had gone to deliver a petition.
This follows the death of five people in just a space of one week, as a
result of gender-based violence (GBV). About two weeks ago, four women were
shot and killed, allegedly by a deputy sheriff, at Goje Township in Ezulwini.
The bodies of the four women were found piled up inside a pantry, where it was
suspected they were trying to hide from their assailant. In another incident,
Nosipho Dube was allegedly shot by her husband, who later turned the gun on
himself at Ngwane Park last week Friday. A 20-year-old woman is also lucky to
be alive after she was doused with petrol and set alight, allegedly by her
boyfriend.
The members of the MDM were locked outside the Deputy Prime Minister’s
(DPM) Office, where they expressed their concerns over the escalating
GBV-related deaths while standing outside the gate. This was during the
petition delivery against GBV in the country, where members of the MDM called
for it to be declared a national disaster.
The Office of the DPM demanded an instrument that allowed the MDM members
access into their premises, as they said they had not received any communiqué
related to the visit. Swaziland United Democratic Front (SUDF) Chairperson
Lucky Dlamini said the reception at the DPM’s Office was not humane and showed
lack of respect among those in leadership.
To read more of this report, click here
See also
King condemns gender-based
violence
http://new.observer.org.sz/details.php?id=21463
Deputy PM Thulisile’s
promise on GBV
http://new.observer.org.sz/details.php?id=21483
Swazis will pay Bantfwabenkhosi [Royal children] over
E400 million entertainment allowance
By Eugene Dube, Swati Newsweek, 15 November, 2023
MBABANE: While there is
massive hunger and drugs shortage in local hospitals, the late King Sobhuza
II's children will get over E200 000 each as entertainment allowance for 2024
financial year.
This information was sourced
from state records.
Eswatini Royal Government
spends E42m yearly on late King Sobhuza II’s children/grandchildren.
This amount is paid through
the King’s office and is released around April or early May every year.
For those who passed away,
their inheritance is shared among their children who are King Sobhuza’s
grandchildren.
Suprisingly, many of king
Sobhuza’s children continue to get fat cheques from the state while they get
their yearly royal financial gift.
In 2022 the Royals received
E200 000 each and were allocated E411 million budget. However, they are likely
to receive the same amount in the next year or get more money.
Another publication the Independent
News reported, “The King’s Office has allocated a whopping E411 million for
the financial year 2021/2022.”
According to the Government
Budget estimates for the years – April 1, 2021 – March 31, 2024, the King’s
Office will be entitled to the same amount as its budget.
Previously Eswatini News,
a sister newspaper to the Times of Eswatini revealed on Saturday April
10, 2021 that some of the late King’s grandchild were in loggerheads over the
E200 000 allowance that is released by the King’s office yearly for their late
father who was the Prince to the late King Sobhuza II.
According to the Swaziland
National Trust Commission, King Sobhuza II married 70 wives, who gave him 210
children between 1920 and 1970.
Apart from this, King Mswati
III and his mother had been allocated E431 million for their monthly salaries.
By Sibongile Sukati, eSwatini
Observer, 14 November 2023
Nine
new faces have been officially announced as Cabinet ministers for the 2023-2028
term.
This
was during a late press conference held at the Cabinet offices by the Prime
Minister, Russell Mmiso Dlamini at 10pm last night.
The new faces include Siphocosini MP
Mduduzi Matsebula who is the new Minister of Health, appointed Senator Savannah
Maziya (Minister of Information, Communication and Technology) Nkwene MP
Sikhumbuzo Dlamini (Tinkhundla Administration and Development) and Mbabane West
MP Jane Mkhonta-Simelane (Minister of Tourism and Environmental Affairs).
Others are Prince Lonkhokhela
(Minister of Natural Resources and Energy) Bongani Nzima (Minister of Sports,
Culture and Youth Affairs), Apollo Maphalala (Minister of Housing and Urban
Development), Mandla Chauke (Minister of Agriculture) and Owen Nxumalo who has
been appointed the minister of Education and Training.
Nxumalo served as the minister of public
service during the 10th Parliament.
When announcing the Cabinet the prime
minister said it had pleased His Majesty King Mswati III to appoint the
ministers for the 12th Parliament and mentioned that they were all expected to
be in Cabinet today at noon for the swearing-in ceremony.
Returnees to the 2023-2028 cabinet
include former minister of housing and urban development, Prince
Simelane, who is now the Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs.
Returning ministers who have been
reshuffled are the new Deputy Prime Minister, Thuli Dladla, who was the
minister of foreign affairs and international cooperation in the 11th
Parliament and Pholile Dlamini, who was the minister of justice and
constitutional affairs and has been appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs and
International Cooperation.
Pholile becomes the second female Minister
of Foreign Affairs after Dladla.
Pholile has been replaced by Prince
Simelane as the Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs. Ministers
who have retained their positions are Matsanjeni North MP Phila Buthelezi and
Maphalaleni MP Mabulala Maseko.
They are ministers of labour and
social security and minister of public service, respectively.
Minister of Finance Neal Rijkenberg also
retained his position in the same portfolio just like Minister of Economic
Planning and Development Dr Tambo Gina. Princess Lindiwe has also
retained her position as Minister of Home Affairs while Manqoba Nxumalo, who is
the Minister of Commerce Industry and Trade, also retained his position.
To read more of this report, click
here
http://new.observer.org.sz/details.php?id=21478
See also
King hailed for not appointing 10
elected senators
http://www.times.co.sz/news/142654-king-hailed-for-not-appointing-10-elected-senators.html
eSwatini
pro-democracy groups, civil society march to United States (US) Embassy to
deliver a petition, calling for an end to Israel-Palestine war
By
Colani Khulekani Maseko, Swaziland News, 15 November 2023
EZULWINI: Eswatini pro-democracy groups
and the civil society marched to the Embassy of the United States (US) at
Ezulwini on Wednesday, they are calling for an end to the ongoing
Israel-Palestine war.
The ongoing war has created and divided
the international community as other countries including the U.S. has declared
support for Israel while others support Palestine, both Israel and Palestine
claim historical legitimacy or ownership of the land.
Thamsanqa Hlatswako, the Convenor of the
“Stop Palestine-Israel war now Campaign Swaziland” delivered their petition to
the US Embassy officials.
“We are collectively calling for; an
immediate cease-fire and quick passage of humanitarian and health assistance
into the whole of Palestine, especially Gaza; Humanitarian truce, prosecution
of all those who have committed war crimes by the international court,
restoration of water, fuel, electricity and other basic services in Gaza,”
reads the petition in part delivered by the Convenor.
Reuters reported on Saturday that, the
death had topped eleven thousand (11 000) as fighting between Israel forces and
Hamas militants escalated near and around Gaza City’s besieged and overcrowded
hospitals, which Palestinian officials said were hit by explosives and gunfire.
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