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Friday, 24 May 2024

Swaziland Newsletter No. 828 – 24 May 2024

 

 

Swaziland Newsletter No. 828 – 24 May 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.

eSwatini allegedly assisting Russia to register ships amid US sanctions, tankers now bear Swazi flag

By Bongiwe Dlamini, Swaziland News, 21 May, 2024

SOURCE 

MBABANE: News24, a South African online publication reported on Monday that, dozens of Russian tankers remain stuck doing nothing months after being sanctioned by the Treasury Department, a signal of the US’s scope to disrupt Moscow’s petroleum supply chain if it chooses to.

The report further suggests that, since October, forty (40) ships involved in Russia’s oil trade have been added to the Treasury’s list of designated entities, mostly for breaching a price cap that’s meant to restrict the Kremlin’s access to petrodollars.

But amid the US sanctions, the landlocked tiny Kingdom of eSwatini is now registering ships with an alleged intention to assist Russia and other sanctioned countries.

“The data show five of the Hennesea tankers are also operating with new identities, all of them now sailing under the flag of Eswatini. The tiny land-locked country in southern Africa, formerly known as Swaziland, is among the latest to offer ship registry services.This comes after the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) issued a warning in April regarding flags it identified as fraudulent. It raised specific concerns over flags purportedly administered on behalf of Guyana and Eswatini respectively,” News24 reported.

See also

No Russian vessels with eSwatini flag - govt

http://www.times.co.sz/news/145213-no-russian-vessels-with-eswatini-flag-govt.html

 

No political will to deal with evictions

By Son of the Soil, Times of eSwatini, 20 May 2024

SOURCE 

The Kingdom of Eswatini faces escalating international scrutiny due to recurring incidents of forced evictions, predominantly executed by governmental entities, private enterprises and occasionally, municipal authorities. These evictions are frequently accompanied by the demolition of residential properties in a manner that seemingly contravenes both the national Constitution and various international human rights agreements to which Eswatini is a signatory.

The United Nations Committee on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights categorises forced eviction as the non-voluntary displacement of individuals, families, or communities from their homes or lands, devoid of legal protections or recourse. Fundamental to this discussion is the universal human right to property ownership, either individually or collectively, as safeguarded by Section 19 of our Constitution, which explicitly outlaws compulsory property deprivation under arbitrary conditions. The core of this provision underscores the necessity of protecting human proprietary rights.

In disputes concerning land or property ownership, a primary consideration is the determination of the rightful title holder, which could range from traditional chiefs overseeing Eswatini Nation Land, private landowners, or municipal authorities backed by statutory provisions. Such considerations become particularly complex when residential developments emerge on contested lands. The challenge arises when an entity asserting land ownership overlooks the rights of current occupants, who are often economically disadvantaged citizens lacking secure tenure, placing them in a profoundly vulnerable position.

It is essential to recognise that both local and international human rights frameworks staunchly oppose prioritising the rights of those with superior claims over ordinary citizens’ rights. Our Constitution explicitly details conditions under which property deprivation is permissible, such as through lawful procedures that ensure prompt, fair and adequate compensation; guarantee access to justice; and are sanctioned by a court order. Regrettably, numerous instances of forced eviction in Eswatini have transpired without adhering to these fundamental standards, violating constitutional safeguards on property rights.

To read more of this report, click here

http://www.times.co.sz/thinking-aloud/145162-no-political-will-to-deal-with-evictions.html

See also

Human rights violations intensify in eSwatini

https://swazilandnews.co.za/fundza.php?nguyiphi=6561 

Human rights violations intensify in eSwatini: Sigangeni resident Joseph Dlamini evicted by Indvuna Phazamisa Mhlanga


Over 700 vacancies crippling agriculture - PS

By Nonduduzo Kunene, eSwatini News, 17 May 2024

SOURCE 

LOBAMBA: The Ministry of Agriculture has over 700 vacant posts that have crippled service delivery, among other challenges.

The figures were disclosed by the Principal Secretary, Sydney Simelane. He said the hiring freeze had crippled their service delivery, because retired and deceased officers had not been replaced since 2018, when the circular was introduced.  “We are a big ministry and we need officers. Currently, we have more than 700 vacancies, which have affected our service delivery,” he said.

The PS made this presentation when he was leading the Ministry of Agriculture before the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) yesterday. The deputy chairperson of the PAC Manzi Zwane, who is also the Chairman of the House of Assembly Public Service Portfolio Committee, said he was worried about the number of vacancies in the ministry.

He asked the PS if he submitted the vacancies to the Ministry of Public Service, which is responsible for hiring civil servants. “We have heard that the hiring freeze was lifted and controlling officers can fill vacant posts,” he said.
The human resources officer, in response, told the MPs that despite the Ministry of Public Service issuing a circular that stated that the hiring freeze had been lifted, the situation on the ground had not changed.

The officers highlighted that before the circular, officers had to ask for a waiver from Cabinet. It was stated that the difference was that the waiver had to be requested at the public service Ministry and posts would be issued based on the available budget. The officers said even before this circular, posts were issued based on the available budget.
The controlling officer also told the PAC that for this financial year, he had asked for 60 posts for extension officers, but he was granted only four.

 

Public Accounts Committee wants forensic audit

By Phephile Motau, eSwatini Observer, 21 May 2024

SOURCE 

THE issue of unaccounted for COVID-19 response project funds continues to haunt the National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA) as members of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) have called for a forensic audit.

This was during the appearance of the deputy prime minister’s office yesterday, where it emerged that over E30 million funds were still not unaccounted for.

The auditor general found that there were unaccounted for funds amounting to E30 936 877.72 for the COVID-19 response project in the financial year ended March, 2021.

The AG said the audited financial statement (detailed statement of comprehensive income), reported a total expenditure amount of E349 955 313, whereas the records and management performance report submitted to his office represented an expenditure amount of E319 936 887.72 for the project.

This indicated unaccounted for expenditure designated for the COVID-19 Response Project.

However, the response by the DPM’s office yesterday showed that the issue had been resolved, yet the AG’s office said it remained unresolved.

To read more of this report, click here

http://new.observer.org.sz/details.php?id=22479

See also

AC demands E55 million breakdown from NDMA

http://new.observer.org.sz/details.php?id=22484

 

Congo failed coup - eSwatini political party blasts Mswati

Swati Newsweek, 22 May 2024.

SOURCE 

SWALIMO abhors dirty political meddling by the eSwatini royalty in foreign territories.

The Swaziland Liberation Movement (SWALIMO) is noting with serious concern the continued tendencies by Eswatini royalty of wanting to meddle in other countries state affairs unwarrantably.

We have for years been concerned about the continued Taiwan-Eswatini relations even when it became clear to all other countries of the world that Taiwan belongs to the Mainland China yet King Mswati has stubbornly associated with the province, while dragging the state along.

Recently the Botswana government complained of King Mswati’s hosting and dining the former President of Botswana Ian Khama who is a wanted fugitive in that country.

As of current we are getting reports of a barbaric coup attempt in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) by elements very attached to a senior Prince trained by the last breath of the Muammar Gaddafi regime who unfortunately is son to King Mswati 111.

These trends are disturbing to us all as a nation as they point towards a banana republic system that is presided mafia style and will eventually lead to political chaos when foreign nations decide to revenge Eswatini’s meddling in their territorial affairs. The coup attempt tells us that indeed Eswatini royalty is priding itself in the tensions between other nations of the world.

It is very unfortunate that Eswatini’s royalty is also the ruling oligarch which means the Eswatini state is now frowned upon by many countries of the world. We have always been calling for democracy in this country so that at the end royalty can be easily identified outside of the state because we have never seen a kingship that prides itself in causing havoc in other territories unnecessarily while employing tools of the state.

The Eswatini royalty needs to be governed and controlled soon, otherwise we will find ourselves losing the peace we have come to love as foreign elements decide to visit this country to seek political revenge as it has become apparent that this country is now a breathing ground for coup plotters who want to destabilize democracies and hand dictators to the people.

Issued by: Thantaza N Silolo

SWALIMO Spokesperson.

 

Govt totally bans all single-use plastic bags

By Siboniso Nkambule, Times of eSwatini, 23 May 2024

SOURCE

MBABANE: Government has effected a total ban on all single-use plastic carrier bags.

This measure is effectively from December 1, this year. The announcement was made by the Minister of Tourism and Environmental Affairs, Jane Simelane, during a press conference held at her offices yesterday. Simelane said, under the terms of the ban, all retailers, supermarkets, manufacturers and vendors would be prohibited from selling or providing for free single-use plastic shopping bags to customers. This encompasses bags made from traditional plastic materials, including polyethylene and polypropylene, regardless of thickness. She said this marked a significant step towards eliminating plastic pollution and safeguarding the planet for future generations, including positioning of the Kingdom of Eswatini as a tourism destination of choice in Southern Africa.

To read more of this report, click here

http://www.times.co.sz/news/145232-govt-totally-bans-all-single-use-plastic-bags.html

 

University of eSwatini closed amid struggle to pay water and electricity bills

By Bongiwe Dlamini, Swaziland News, 21 May, 2024

SOURCE 

MBABANE: Gabie Ndukuya, the President of the Swaziland National Union of Students (SNUS) has called upon all stakeholders to put pressure on Government as the University of Eswatini (UNESWA) closes amid shortage of water and electricity allegedly, due to unpaid bills.

Speaking to this Swaziland News on Tuesday morning shortly after Acting Registrar Richard Masuku released a memo, informing staff about a decision to temporarily close the University amid shortage of water and electricity, the Students President said, Government must be pressured to prioritize the institution of higher learning with funds and/or resources.

“The solution here is call upon all stakeholders to collectively put pressure on Government to fund the University, the crisis is escalating and affecting the students”, said the Students Union President.

Education Minister Owen Nxumalo had not responded at the time of compiling this report.

On another note, Richard Masuku, the UNESWA Acting Registrar confirmed through a memo directed to the staff that, the University was temporarily closing due to shortage of water and electricity.

“The decision was reached as a result of the disconnection of water supply by the service provider last week, and the imminent disconnection of electricity supply”, reads the memorandum in part.

The institution of higher learning Chancellor is King Mswati has been struggling without resources for some time now, as the Government prioritizes royal extravagance over the education system and other social programs.

 

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