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Friday, 26 July 2024

Swaziland Newsletter No. 837 – 26 July 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.

 

Alarming rates of teen pregnancy, HIV

By Nonduduzo Kunene, Times of eSwatini (print edition), 23 July 2024 

LOBAMBA: Lack of proper parenting and poverty have been cited among enablers of the alarming rate of teenage pregnancy and high HIV rate among the youth.

Also counted among these are harsh economic conditions, power dynamics, fear of disclosure and uncoordinated intervention.

This is contained in a report that was tabled by the Deputy Prime Minister (DPM), Thulisile Dladla, in Senate. The deputy premier tabled the report in response to a motion that was moved by Senator Lorraine Nxumalo in May, where she moved that the DPM’s Office, as the ministry responsible for social welfare, in collaboration with other ministries, must investigate why teenage pregnancies and HIV infections persist, despite the introduced interventions.

The ministries that the DPM’s Office will work with are those of Health, Education and Training, Home Affairs and that of Sports, Culture and Youth Affairs. The government ministries were given 21 days to report to Senate, following the adoption of the motion. The motion came after it was reported, by this publication, that over 1 109 teenagers fell pregnant in a space of three months.

The report tabled by the DPM noted that approximately 70 per cent of the total population of Eswatini comprised of the youth. It says 58.9 per cent of the population lives in poverty and more than 20 per cent of them live in extreme poverty, which increases vulnerability to negative shocks. The report states that there is a lack of proper parenting and a weakening of the institution of the family, coupled with a lack of parental care and supervision, which is a major contributor to the increase in teenage pregnancy and HIV rates among the youth.

New family structures including single-parent families, blended (step) families and child-headed families also contribute to the increased rates. The report highlights that the absence of male role models in single-parent families has negative impacts on the development of a boy child. In the modern family setting, parents have to balance work and family time. It says the absence of proper parenting affects children’s emotional and psychological development.

It also mentions poverty and harsh economic conditions as contributors to social ills. “Poverty also provides fertile ground for social ills to be perpetuated. The lack of access to education and employment opportunities largely contributes to income inequalities and widening gap between the rich and the poor.”

It is also stated that the need to survive leads to unmet social and physiological needs that force low-income earners to engage in certain activities that may be detrimental to their health and well-being, which then undermines their quality of life. Additionally, the report highlights that poverty is not only an individual, but a broader social problem, not only confronting teenagers, but the youth and adults as well.

“Extreme deprivation may lead to crime, illegal activities such as prostitution, drug abuse resulting in teenage pregnancies, sexually transmitted diseases and high rates of HIV infections,” states the report.


Global Fund approves R768million grant to support eSwatini fight HIV/AIDS and other diseases, Prime Minister applauds consistent support

By Musa Mdluli, Swaziland News, 25 July, 2024

SOURCE 

EZULWINI: The Global Fund has approved a grant amounting to R768million support eSwatini fight HIV/AIDS and other diseases, the grant will support the country until the year 2026.

Speaking at the Royal Villas-Ezulwini on Thursday during Eswatini Country Coordinating Mechanism, Prime Minister Russell Mmiso Dlamini applauded the Global Fund for the continued support.

“For the year 2023-2026, the Global Fund has approved a grant of about E768 million to continue the fight against HIV. His Majesty’s Government is grateful for this commitment to continue the fight. Through the Eswatini CCM, grants from the Global Fund for HIV, TB, and malaria have made a significant impact. To date, the Global Fund has committed about E6.4 billion and disbursed about E6.2 billion.

This support is received by the Kingdom of Eswatini through Eswatini CCM and implemented through NERCHA and CANGO as CCM Principal Recipients. The Global Fund partnership aligns with our national vision, which presents a unique opportunity to change the trajectory of HIV,TB, and malaria in our country,” said the Prime Minister as quoted by Government online platforms.

 

Education International launches petition in support of Swaziland National Association of Teachers

Adult Education International, 19 July 2024

SOURCE 

Education International (EI) launched a petition on the trade union platform LabourStart in support of the the Swaziland National Association of Teachers (SNAT), its affiliate in the country. EI called on the Eswatini Teaching Service Commission (TSC) to recognize the SNAT as a partner in social dialogue, reinstate SNAT President Mbongwa Dlamini to his teaching duties, and pay his salary arrears as ordered by the court.

For too many years, the Swaziland National Association of Teachers (SNAT), its President Mbongwa Dlamini, and General Secretary Lot Mduduzi Vilakati have been targeted by the authorities of Eswatini. In June 2024, the International Labour Conference expressed “deep concern over the deteriorating state of public order and its negative impact on trade union rights in Eswatini, along with a culture of impunity for crimes against trade unionists.” The ILO urged the Government to take effective, urgent, and time-bound measures to 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, and to conduct independent investigations into the persecution of Mr. Mbongwa Dlamini. Furthermore, it called for ensuring that workers’ organisations, including the Trade Union Congress of Swaziland (TUCOSWA) and SNAT, have the autonomy and independence needed to fulfill their mandate and represent their members.

Since the ILO recommendations, the Principal Secretary of the Ministry of Education and his senior management have met weekly with SNAT representatives. However, the TSC continues to refuse to release the SNAT President's teacher wage despite two industrial court orders. The TSC also refuses to meet with teacher union representatives to address key policies and practices affecting the profession.

In March 2023, an EI High-Level Mission visited Eswatini to reiterate on-site the support of the global education union community to colleagues in the country. The EI delegation, composed of EI General Secretary David Edwards, EI Vice-President Mugwena Maluleke, and the Director of the EI Africa Regional Office Dennis Sinyolo, urged the national governmental authorities to put an immediate halt to the persecution of SNAT leaders.

EI will continue to advocate for the respect basic human and trade union rights of SNAT leaders and members and for the introduction of democratic governance in Eswatini.

 

eSwatini’s pro-democracy movement undeterred as MPs sentenced to prison

By Nokukhanya Musi, Voice of America, 18 July 2024

SOURCE 

MBABANE: The sentencing Tuesday [16 July 2024] in Eswatini of two former members of parliament to lengthy prison terms on charges of terrorism marks a significant escalation in the tensions between the monarchy and those advocating for democratic reform in the southern African nation. Human rights groups condemned the convictions, saying the court decision raises questions about human rights and political repression. Pro-democracy activists say they are undeterred.

The convictions of Mduduzi Bacede Mabuza and Mthandeni Dube, who were sentenced to prison terms of 25 and 18 years respectively, sent shock waves throughout Eswatini and the international community.

The two men were arrested in July 2021 during pro-democracy protests that were violently put down by security forces, leaving dozens of people dead. Demonstrators were pressing for reforms to a complex system of non-party elections that ensured Eswatini’s ruler, King Mswati the third, faced no meaningful dissent.

Rights group Amnesty International urged Eswatini authorities to immediately quash what it called “the unjust and baseless convictions and sentences of the former members of parliament.”

Alpheous Nxumalo, a spokesperson for the Eswatini government, told VOA’s English to Africa Service the convictions were “discharged through the provisions of the law, which guarantees the rights of each and everyone who has been sentenced to appeal to a higher court.” He added that Eswatini’s international partners and friends should respect the country’s sovereignty and rule of law.

Thantaza Silolo, a spokesperson for the Swaziland Liberation Movement (SWALIMO), told VOA that despite the harsh sentences handed down by the Eswatini High Court, the country’s pro-democracy movement remains resolute in its pursuit of democratic reform.

"These MPs were strong inside the chambers of parliament and outside in calling to say we need a prime minister that is elected by the people, not a prime minister that is being appointed by the King and for that reason, they were sentenced, they were arrested and charged with heinous offenses as if they were criminals, they were murderers and terrorists," Silolo said. "Yet, these are just advocates for change. These are just people who have been calling for freedom and we maintain as a movement that … we will continue to push for their release.”

Political analyst Sibusiso Nhlabatsi sees the sentences as a major setback for democracy and human rights in Eswatini. She said the sentences are a classic example of "guilty until proven innocent," with mere allegations being enough to secure a conviction.

“You can see that the intention was to induce fear and I think most of Emaswati will now live in that shadow of fear — we don’t want to do what these people did and even members of parliament will say we don’t want to do what the other members of parliament did because we might follow suit,” Nhlabatsi said. “I think through this judgment the state has successfully entrenched itself. It has successfully been able to threaten anyone who may want to raise a voice against the establishment.”

According to human rights activist Lucky Dlamini, the harsh sentencing of the MPs signals a wider attack on democracy and human rights in Eswatini. He said the country is a dictatorship, with the monarchy using state security forces to suppress dissent and violate fundamental human rights.

“We remain under a cruel system of government which is an absolute monarchy where there’s immunity [for] the security forces against human rights activists and political activists and human right defenders, where they cannot be able to access justice in the courts, where they cannot be able to hold on to demonstration, where they cannot exercise freedom of the right to political participation, the right to freedom of expression, the right to freedom of access to the media, the right to freedom of assembly,” he said.

A lawyer for the two former MPs said they plan to appeal their sentences.

 

King Mswati to pay R2m and 100 cattle lobolo for Zuma’s daughter

By.Mzilikazi wa Afrika, Sunday World (South Africa), 21st July 2024

SOURCE 

Nomcebo Zuma, the sassy 21-year-old daughter of former president Jacob Zuma was this week unveiled as King Mswati III’s liphovela – an official girlfriend – and made her first public appearance in eSwatini along with one of the monarch’s 15 wives.

Three independent sources confirmed to Sunday World that King Mswati is expected to pay R2-million and 100 head of cattle aslobolo for Nomcebo, the daughter of Zuma and Nonkululeko Hloniphile Mhlongo, also known as MaMhlongo.

“MaMhlongo’s eyes are on the lobolo price, which is reportedly to be six figures and about 100 cattle,” said a member of the Zuma family, who asked not to be named as he isn’t allowed to speak to the media on family matters.

Nomcebo will now warm the 56-year-old king’s bed even after her father, Zuma, stormed out of the lobolo negotiations two weeks ago.

After Zuma walked out, MaMhlongo, who has two children with the former presi­dent, apparently told everyone that the negotiations would go on with or without him.

She and Zuma couldn’t be reached for comment.

Nomcebo, dressed in red Swati regalia, made her first public appearance accompanied by the king’s 15th wife, Siphelele Mashwama, during the opening of a R50-million chicken project in Malkerns, eSwatini, on Monday.

The king married Mashwa­ma in September 2017. In October 2022, she accompanied him to Zulu King MisuZulu kaZwelithini’s coronation.

Zuma abandoned lobolo negotiations when it turned out that the king, who had initially reportedly told him that he wanted his son, who is in his 30s, to marry the former president’s daughter, only to be told during the negotiations that the king wanted Nomcebo for himself.

To read more of this report, click here

https://sundayworld.co.za/news/king-mswati-pays-r2m-and-100-cattle-lobolo-for-zumas-daughter/


King Sobhuza II birthday celebration

By Mancoba Shabangu, Swati Newsweek, 22 July 2024

SOURCE 

Today, 22 July 2024, King Mswati’s government and Royal family is celebrating the Birth of the late king Sobhuza ll.

King Sobhuza formed Tibiyo Takangwane. When Swaziland (now Eswatini) was still colonised by British, the late king ordered our grandfathers to sold their cattle and give the money to him so that he buy back Swaziland from the Britains.

However, when our grandfathers have already given him the money (or cattle), the Britains decided to give emaSwati Swaziland back for free. Then Sobhuza said, ‘now that the Britains have given us our land back for free, the money (or cattle) that was meant to buy back the land, we will now use it to form Tibiyo Takangwane, it will helps emaSwati.’

But today those who benefits from Tibiyo Takangwane is only the Royal Family.

When the Britains decided to give emaSwati their land, they said, ‘We do not want to give the land to an individual because he will boost and oppress the others saying ‘this is my country.’ Therefore, go and form political parties and vote for them, we will give the winning party the key to rule the country.

King Sobhuza formed Imbokodvo Movement (now Tinkhundla System), there was also Ngwane National Congress among others. Votes were made, the Imbokodvo Movement won. Britains gave the Imbokodvo Movement (now Tinkhundla System) key to rule. Sobhuza was the ‘President’ of the Imbokodvo Movement.

While emaSwati were waiting for voting for their loved political parties in the next elections, King Sobhuza took advantage of being in power and in 1973 he said political parties devide us as a nation, so he banned political parties in participating in election. He said only Imbokodvo Movement will rule. But he said if one day emaSwati decide to unban, allow the political parties to participate in election, they will do so.

 

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