Swaziland
Newsletter No. 832 – 21 June 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.
Call
for E1 500 grant for the unemployed
Phiwase
Phungwayo, Times of eSwatini, 19 June 2024
MANZINI: Amid
the outcry of unemployment in Eswatini, a plea for assistance has been raised
by unemployed citizens in Eswatini.
A basic income of E1 500, they argue, could ensure emaSwati
navigate the economic hardships. Through the Swaziland Unemployed People’s
Movement (SUPMO), the unemployed suggested that this amount would serve as a
life vest, amid the current economic situation caused by the high unemployment
rate.
The unemployment rate in Eswatini is currently 35.4 per cent.
During a press conference held at SUPMO premises, Lucky Dlamini, the
Chairperson of SUPMO, stated that with youth month as their compass, the
movement set out to highlight the realities of unemployment, particularly for
young emaSwati, as they journeyed towards a solution to the economic crisis
facing the kingdom.
Dlamini highlighted that as it were, the high unemployment rate in
the country resulted in an increased crime rate and prostitution, which was
seen especially among the youth, as well as drug abuse and suicides. “We call
upon government to introduce a basic income grant for the unemployed, the
elderly and people with disabilities. “It should be E1 500, because
the standard of living is too high. We are also calling for government to grant
emaSwati land grants, which would afford them title deeds to use the land as a
form of access to the economy, as a form of capital,” the chairperson said.He
further expressed their call for government to also have clear programmes for
decentralised skills, so that people could be well capacitated to use them.
Dlamini mentioned that the inflation rate was high, and it did not
leave the unemployed unaffected, as they too needed to buy bread, without
generating any income. The chairperson stated that the unemployed also got sick
and required to be hospitalised or receive medical attention. He stated
that there was a challenge of the unavailability of drugs in hospitals. The
chairperson was of the view that unemployed people’s needs were not catered
for. He expressed a wish for Eswatini to emulate South Africa, which catered
for the needs of South Africans. He stressed that as it were in the country,
the unemployment rate is high.
Meanwhile, Ntokozo Shongwe, the movement’s advocate, said it
disheartened them to see women being abused in the workplace, especially in the
textile industry. She said this was in the form of meagre salaries, yet women
were responsible for the welfare of their children and families. She also
said women in the textile industry were retrenched without being awarded their
lawful benefits. “We ask government to assist us in this regard, so that we can
be motivated. We need these jobs, because we earn a living through them,” she
said.
Transformative technology aims to improve healthcare access in
underserved communities
By
The Luke Commission (TLC), a nonprofit organization providing free healthcare in the Kingdom of Eswatini, has launched the nation’s first long-range medical drone network. This initiative, in collaboration with Australian-based drone company Swoop Aero and disaster response organization Red Lightning, marks a significant advancement in Eswatini’s healthcare delivery system.
… The drone program is staffed by
local pilots and ground crew, reflecting TLC’s commitment to local capacity
building. Five Emaswati have been trained as pilots, ensuring the program’s
sustainability and local ownership. TLC has also worked closely with the
Eswatini Civil Aviation Authority (ESWCAA) to ensure all regulatory
requirements are met.
Click here to read the full report
U.S. Embassy supports ‘No Means No’ GBV campaign
U.S. Embassy eSwatini statement,17 June 2024
The U.S. government, through The U.S. President's Emergency Plan
for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), in collaboration with the The Deputy Prime Minister's Office
Eswatini, is proud to support the introduction of the “No
Means No” campaign. This initiative, launched last Friday at Inyandza High
School under KaLamgabhi constituency, aims to empower both adolescent girls and
boys to confront and prevent gender-based violence.
Since 2015, the U.S. government has invested
approximately $10M USD (180M Emalangeni) in efforts to prevent and respond to
gender-based violence, recognizing it as a critical factor in the fight against
HIV.
Dr. Adler was energized to see the enthusiasm of the
first set of No Means No instructors. These newly-certified instructors are not
only trainers but ambassadors of gender norms change within our communities.
They will teach critical skills, facilitate meaningful discussions, and provide
referrals for additional services to 4000 male and female adolescents this
year.
By Bongiwe Dlamini, Swaziland
News,
14 June, 2024
MBABANE:
Senator Stuky Motsa,the Director of Stuky Foundation has applauded King Mswati
for ensuring that persons with albinism have a voice in Parliament.
Speaking
to this Swaziland News on Friday as part of the International Albinism
Awareness Day, the Senator said the King played a significant role in ensuring
that issues of persons with albinism are taken seriously and prioritized in the
country.
“We
are very grateful to the King for the appointment and his decision to
prioritize issues affecting persons with albinism. This resulted to the State
taking issues of persons with albinism seriously as we had high profile people
during the event”, said the Senator.
The
event that was held at the Millennium Park-Manzini on Thursday was attended by,
among others, Deputy Prime Minister Thulisile Dladla, Regional Administrator
Prince Gija and Memory Zulu, the Project Coordinator for the United Nations
Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization(UNESCO) Regional Office for
Southern Africa.
Others
include Tamari Silindza from the United Nations Fund for Population
Activities(UNFPA), Goodwill Dlamini,the Manzini Mayor, Bhekani Dlamini
representing CANGO Director Thembinkosi Dlamini, Dr Ngcebo Mbuli, the
Chairperson of the Disability Council and FODSWA President Bongani Makama.
Pimps
target needy UNESWA students
Mfanukhona Nkambule, eSwatini News, 15 June
2024
KWALUSENI: Due
to life pressures, pimps are now targeting the University of Eswatini (UNESWA)
students.
Motivated by the finder’s fees and also taking advantage of the
students’ desperation, the pimps are understood to be now taking some of them
to as far as Cape Town for the sex business.
They then return to the country with money for rent and food plus
expensive iPhones, also wearing finer clothes, thus causing their peers to be
envious of their happiness. Eswatini News can mention that the problem may
not be limited to some students of the University of Eswatini, but it is a
common thing in other tertiary institutions. However, this publication was
able to get confirmations from UNESWA’s Student Representative Council (SRC).
Bongumenzi Dlamini, the President of the SRC, said their research
unearthed shocking findings. He suspected that certain men have some
spirits, which were driving them to the university campuses to indulge in
sexual intercourse with young women. This, he also suspected, they did to
bolster their supernatural powers. Dlamini said some young women confided
in them about male sexual fantasies they observed during their dates. He
mentioned that some men performed such acts because of enchantment (betfwala).
He said they were made to understand that there were many of these enchanting
men preying on the UNESWA students. The SRC president said they were
surprised at seeing old men driving posh cars to the university’s campuses.
To read more of this report, click here
http://www.times.co.sz/news/145638-pimps-target-needy-uneswa-students.html
ILO’s six
recommendations to Kingdom of eSwatini
By Sibusiso
Zwane, Times of eSwatini, 14 June 2024
MANZINI: The International Labour Conference has made six
recommendations to Eswatini, which include an independent investigation into
the murder of Human Rights Lawyer Thulani Maseko.
The recommendations were made by the International Labour Conference
(ILC), which was hosted by the International Labour Organisation (ILO) in
Geneva, Switzerland after the Government of the Kingdom of Eswatini was
examined by the committee on the Application of Standards (CAS) on alleged
gross violation of Convention 87. This convention is mainly about freedom
of association and protection of the right to organise. The conference started
on June 3, 2024, and the recommendations were made yesterday, following the
appearance of Eswatini before the CAS on Monday afternoon.
When making the recommendations, the CAS said it took note of the oral
and written information that was provided by government and the discussion that
followed. It said it noted with deep concern the deteriorating state of public
order and its negative impact on trade union rights in the country, as well as
a culture of impunity for the perpetrators of crimes against trade unionists.
Taking into account the discussion, the committee urged government to
take effective, urgent and time-bound measures refrain from violent treatment,
intimidation or harassment, including judicial harassment, of leaders and
members of trade unions in the education sector conducting lawful trade union
activities, including the Swaziland National Association of Teachers (SNAT)
President, Mbongwa Dlamini, and Secretary General Lot Vilakati.
Again, the CAS recommended that government should release, quash
convictions and drop all charges brought against individuals for having
exercised lawful trade union activities and ensure the safe return home of all
trade unionists living in exile, including the General Secretary of the
Swaziland Transport, Communication and Allied Workers’ Union (SWATCAWU), Sticks
Nkambule.
To read more of this report, click here
http://www.times.co.sz/news/145624-ilo%E2%80%99s-6-recommendations-to-kingdom-of-eswatini.html
Thulani Maseko - honouring
a brave defender of human rights murdered in eSwatini
By Takudzwa
Pongweni, Daily Maverick (South Africa), 13 June 2024
“It is indeed an honour to
be here to participate in an event which is named after a person who United
Nations experts referred to as a pillar of human rights - for that, Thulani
Maseko truly was.”
These were the words of John
Jeffery, South Africa’s Deputy Minister of Justice and Constitutional
Development.
Jeffery was speaking at a
memorial lecture at the University of Pretoria's Centre for Human Rights in
honour of one of its alumni, leading Swazi human rights lawyer Thulani Maseko,
who was murdered in January 2023. The event was held in collaboration with the
Thulani Maseko Foundation and Corruption Watch on Wednesday, 12 June.
“Thulani Maseko worked
tirelessly for the protection of human rights, democracy and justice. We all
know him as a respected human rights lawyer, and an advocate for human rights,
democracy and constitutional reform.
“We think back with sorrow
and also with deep respect to his life, and his untimely death in January last
year. Thulani's death has resulted in renewed calls for accountability,
transparency and urgency to bring the perpetrators to justice,” said Jeffery.
To read more of
this report, click here
See also
We never ambushed, betrayed Govt at
ILO - TUCOSWA
http://www.times.co.sz/news/145668-we-never-ambushed-betrayed-govt-at-ilo-tucoswa.html
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