Swaziland Newsletter No. 819 – 22
March 2024
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.
Cops
stop beginning of year service for 40 churches
By
Sithembile Hlatshwayo, Times of eSwatini, 18 March 2024
MOTSHANE: Christians from close to 40
churches around Nduma Royal Kraal were prevented from attending a church
service to mark the beginning of the year.
This follows information gathered by the
police that there was a move by members of political formations to hijack the
gathering. Information gathered from reliable sources was that there was
allegedly no court order to stop the prayer service. At around 9am, two
police officers manned the junction towards the royal kraal, where they stopped
all vehicles and questioned those on board about where they were
headed. This reporter was also stopped and a press card was demanded
before being released to proceed to the royal kraal. Upon arrival at the royal
kraal, there were two police vans and bantfwabenkhosi bakaShongwe and
organisers of the church service, who gathered outside the royal kraal.
Princess Salaphi was seated on the stoep
of one of the rondavels in the royal kraal, following what was happening. At
around 10am, more Christians had parked their cars next to the road after being
stopped by the police. They gathered in groups pondering on their next
move. Among those who were stopped from proceeding to the royal kraal were
those who were carrying equipment such as a tent and musical
instruments. Mbabane Police Station Commander Sabelo Dlamini and Hhohho
Regional Commissioner Simangele Motsa, in the company of over 20 police
officers, were also present. Some police officers stood at the entrance of
the royal kraal next to the main road, stopping the Christians from entering.
Other police officers parked outside the royal kraal where they were observing
the situation.
The turn of events came after a
postponement of the same service last week as an announcement for the Buganu
Ceremony had been made and the events could not coincide. Speaking on behalf of
bantfwabenkhosi baseNduma, Mike Shongwe said they were shocked by the turn of
events. Shongwe said the police had told them that they had received
information to the effect that a PUDEMO rally would be held, hence they were
present to ensure that it did not go ahead. Despite having explained that
it was not a rally, but a church service to mark the beginning of the year, the
police heard none of it. He said the necessary steps were taken to hold
the service, including reporting to ndabazabantu (King’s liaison officer) as is
the case where there is no chief. “Ndabazabantu made the announcement
which has been running for almost a week,” Shongwe said.
To read more of this report, click
here
http://www.times.co.sz/news/144389-cops-stop-beginning-of-year-service-for-40-churches.html
See also
PUDEMO condemns Mswati’s regime for
stopping Motjane prayer amid suspicion members of the political organization
attended
https://swazilandnews.co.za/fundza.php?nguyiphi=6228
Man breaks into Lozitha Palace through the
window to steal and eat Mswati’s food, King’s Spokesperson Percy Simelane says
matter handled by the police
By Zweli Martin Dlamini, Swaziland
News, 17 March, 2024
MBABANE:
A battalion of soldiers and the police were deployed at Lozitha Palace last
week after a man intruded the Royal Residence to steal and eat King Mswati’s
food.
Eswatini,
a tiny Kingdom situated in Southern Africa, has about 70% of the population
living below the poverty line, the country is also facing a high unemployment
rate.
A
questionnaire was sent to Senior Superintendent Phindile Vilakati, the Police
Spokesperson, however, she had not responded at the time of compiling this
report.
Reached
for comments, Percy Simelane, the King’s Spokesperson said, he had no official
record of the incident but confirmed that, there was a talk within the royal
circles suggesting that the incident happened.
“Officially,
we have no record of the incident. All we have is unconfirmed vine talk, which
was doing circles a few days ago. It appears to be a police case which,
logically, we may not interrogate and discuss in public at the moment because
it borders on security”, said the King’s Spokesperson when responding to this
Swaziland News on Sunday afternoon.
But
a royal guard who works closely with the King told this publication on Saturday
that, they started to suspect there was an intruder within the Palace after
noticing that, food previously left “yesterday” was missing.
“We
discovered that the young man was staying within the Palace for almost two (2)
weeks without being noticed. There are vacate houses inside the Palace with a
TV, beautiful beds and furniture and because the Palace is too big, the man
managed to break a widow to stay inside one of the houses. We discovered that,
at night he would go to the kitchen to take food and eat inside the room.”
To
read more of this report, click here
https://swazilandnews.co.za/fundza.php?nguyiphi=6214
eSwatini
moves to revise century-old colonial law to legalize medical cannabis
Voice of America, 19
March 2024, 19 March 2024
FILE - Industrial cannabis crop grown in a field
in Malawi, April 8, 2022.
MANZINI: Eswatini is joining many of its
African neighbors in legalizing cannabis for medical purposes, revising a
colonial drug law dating back a century.
Eswatini’s government, led by King Mswati
III, has introduced legislation that would legalize cannabis, joining other
African nations that now encourage the development for medical purposes.
Government spokesperson Alpheous Nxumalo
believes that legalizing cannabis will help limit the black market, increase
tax revenue and empower Eswatini farmers.
“The legislation will also provide
measures to guard against increasing the black market. This has robbed
government taxes, Eswatini, an opportunity to grow their economy and robbed
even the farmers themselves who have been trying to make a living using this
cannabis. We look forward to the unbanning of the cannabis plant as an
opportunity to develop the country, our economy and to empower Eswatini
themselves.”
U.S.-based company Profile Solutions is
the only authorized cannabis grower in the small Southern African country.
Eswatini is working toward changing
provisions of a 1922 statute enacted by the British, who ruled the nation
formerly known as Swaziland from 1903 until 1968.
Dr. Thys Louren is an occupational medical
practitioner from South Africa who works for Occupational Health Eswatini. He
argues that legalizing cannabis could have major benefits for health care,
society and the economy, His position aligns with the Eswatini government’s on
the issue.
“I stand here urging for the
transformative change of Eswatini’s health care landscape toward a healthier
and more sustainable Eswatini. It is not just a medical decision but a holistic
solution for our patients, community and economy.”
E. Nathi Dlamini from Business Eswatini
sees medical cannabis as an avenue Eswatini can use to capitalize on the global
cannabis market to create jobs and spur economic growth — encouraged by the
government’s support for the industry.
“Many countries are well ahead in this
regard in terms of developing industries to support investment, create jobs
which by the way, we desperately need. As Business Eswatini, we are very
thankful that from the highest authority of the land now, we are beginning to
be one-minded on this.”
The cannabis trade has given many people
in a small economy with few job opportunities a substantial income for decades,
and a few local merchants are not fearful that this could be undermined by the
new bill.
Cannabis merchant Maqhawe Tsabedze says he
has earned a living from the illegal trade for the last 20 years to put his
children through school.
“The decriminalization of cannabis will
help a lot and will perhaps stop police from raiding and confiscating our
products, which we make a living from selling. Rain or sunshine, we make sure
we put bread on the table so that our children do not go to bed on empty
stomachs. Since there are no jobs, we make a living from selling cannabis on
the streets.”
The bill needs to win three-fourths
approval in the House of Assembly and Senate to become law.
SWALIMO Urges CAF to investigate
Ingwenyama Cup Sponsorship
The
Swati Newsweek 21 March, 2024
The Swaziland Liberation Movement
(SWALIMO) has raised concerns over the alleged misallocation of funds by the
Sincephetelo Motor Vehicle Fund (SMVAF), urging the Confederation of African
Football (CAF) to investigate the matter. In a letter dated March 21st,
addressed to CAF and obtained by our publication, SWALIMO accuses SMVAF of
diverting funds earmarked for compensating victims of road accidents to sponsor
the Ingwenyama Cup, a tournament encompassing both soccer and traditional
sporting activities.
SWALIMO’s Secretary General, Paul Ramza
Matimela, highlighted that since SMVAF began supporting the Ingwenyama Cup,
disbursements for accident victims have become sporadic, prompting outcry among
those affected. The movement contends that this diversion of funds contradicts
SMVAF’s primary mandate and represents a neglect of its responsibility to aid
accident victims.
Furthermore, SWALIMO alleges widespread
grievances regarding SMVAF's failure to adequately compensate road accident
victims while simultaneously fulfilling sponsorship commitments to the
Ingwenyama Cup. In light of these accusations, SWALIMO implores CAF to conduct
a thorough investigation and consider repercussions for the participation of
Ingwenyama Cup Champions in African games.
By
Zweli Martin Dlamini, Swaziland News, 15 March, 2024
MBABANE: Eswatini might soon face an
escalation of unplanned pregnancy, new infections of sexually transmitted
diseases (STDs) and an increase of vulnerable children as rampant and/or
uncontrollable corruption and looting of public funds within the Ministry of
Health has resulted to Government struggling to provide free condoms and
affordable contraceptives.
Contraceptives are used to prevent
pregnancy and this include a device or medication.
Eswatini, a tiny Kingdom situated in
Southern Africa is facing a health crisis and/or shortage of drugs triggered by
rampant corruption within the Ministry of Health and the entire public
administration.
A report compiled by Funduzi Forensic
Services uncovered how over R1billion meant to purchase drugs was allegedly
looted by SwaziPharm Director Kareem Ashraff and other suppliers.
The country has about 70% of the
population living below the poverty line and this means, a majority of the
population cannot afford to buy condoms for protective sex.
To read more of this report, click
here
https://swazilandnews.co.za/fundza.php?nguyiphi=6202
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