Swaziland Newsletter No. 842 – 30 August 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.
Army ready to
prevent unrest - minister
By Siboniso
Nkambule, Times of eSwatini, 27 August 2024
LOBAMBA: The Acting Minister of National Defence and
Security, Pholile Shakantu, has assured senators that the Umbutfo Eswatini
Defence Force (UEDF) remains vigilant to prevent a recurrence of the June 2021
unrest. While emphasising the military’s readiness, Shakantu highlighted
that the true priority lies in fostering peace among emaSwati. She also
stressed the importance of promoting peace across all sectors of the nation’s
structures, urging collective efforts to ensure stability. This was disclosed
yesterday, when the Ministry of National Defence and Security was presenting
its first quarter performance report for the year 2024/25 financial year before
its Senate portfolio committee.
The committee members had questioned the minister
about the army’s readiness to protect the country against foreign elements that
would want to disturb peace. Senator Fezeka Dlamini said there were elements
that infiltrated the country in 2021.Dlamini asked for the ministry’s
assurance, questioning what they were doing to ensure that what happened during
the June 2021 unrest was not repeated. She said emaSwati love peace and they
appreciate it in the country. Adding, Dlamini mentioned that they were
happy to see that the national airspace was safeguarded, both in peace and
wartime. She, however, raised concerns about the aircraft that need to undergo
major servicing, but due to a lack of budget, that mandate was not achieved.
To read more of this report, click here
http://www.times.co.sz/news/146800-army-ready-to-prevent-unrest-minister.html
See also
Foreign Affairs Minister Pholile Dlamini-Shakantu says
army ready to ‘shoot and kill’ those who might trigger another political
unrest.
https://swazilandnews.co.za/fundza.php?nguyiphi=7235
International team of
investigative journalists to take over human rights lawyer Thulani Maseko’s
assassination case as a ‘special project’
By Musa Mdluli, Swaziland
News, 28 August, 2024
MBABANE:
A team of highly skilled international investigative journalists is expected to
commence a high-level investigation into human rights lawyer Thulani Maseko’s
assassination.
This
was confirmed by Zweli Martin Dlamini, the editor of this Swaziland News
who urged the public to assist in ensuring the success of the investigation.
“I
was contacted two weeks ago by an international human rights organization and
formally informed that, the investigation by the international investigative
journalists will commence soon. We urge the public to assist the journalists
with any information, potential sources will be contacted anonymously and the
journalists are skilled in the gathering of information and protection of
sources”, said the editor.
Dlamini
said the assassination of the human rights lawyer, remains an unresolved case
of international interest, he urged more human rights organizations, including
those under the United Nations (UN), to consider commissioning more independent
investigations to investigate the death of the lawyer.
Maseko,
the Chairperson of the pro-democracy MultiStakeholder Forum (MSF) was
assassinated at the peak of the political unrest and, at the time, he was
preparing for a political dialogue as recommended by the Southern African
Development Community (SADC).
The late human rights lawyer Thulani Maseko
eSwatini to roll
out first women-controlled HIV prevention product
News Release, IPPF, 26 August 2024
IPPF’s [International Planned
Parenthood Federation] Member Association in Eswatini, the Family Life
Association of Eswatini (FLAS), is soon to roll out the first women-controlled
HIV prevention product, the dapivirine vaginal ring (DVR). FLAS will be among
the first organisations to offer the DVR outside implementation or pilot
studies anywhere in the world. Made of flexible silicone, the ring is inserted
into the vagina by a woman and slowly releases the antiretroviral drug
dapivirine in the vagina over a one-month period, helping to reduce a woman’s
risk of acquiring HIV.
In 2023, in sub-Saharan
Africa, women and girls accounted for 62% of all new HIV infections and every
week, 3100 adolescent girls and young women aged 15–24 years [LM5] became
infected with HIV. Therefore, there continues to be an urgent need for HIV prevention
methods that females can use to protect themselves.
The DVR is a product women can
control themselves and use without the knowledge or consent of their partners,
unlike condoms, which men often refuse to use. The DVR is inserted into the
vagina and left for a one-month period, where it can then be replaced each
month for continued protection. Unlike daily oral PrEP, the DVR does not rely
on remembering to take a pill each day and is also discreet as it stays inside
the vagina throughout the month.
The DVR does not prevent pregnancy
or other sexually transmitted infections (STIs), so women choosing to use the
ring may want to consider combining it with condoms and methods of
contraception.
The availability of the DVR is
an exciting step in supporting women’s autonomy and choice in HIV prevention.
This need for women-controlled HIV prevention products has long been advocated
for, with the African Women Prevention Community Accountability Board launching
the HIV Prevention Choice Manifesto in early 2023. The Choice Manifesto
prioritises the principle of choice to ensure that women and girls have the
right to choose which HIV prevention methods work for them. Currently the ring
is available at selected facilities through implementation studies across six
countries in East and Southern Africa; South Africa, Kenya, Zimbabwe, Lesotho,
Eswatini, and Uganda.
To read more on
this, click here
https://www.ippf.org/media-center/eswatini-roll-out-first-women-controlled-hiv-prevention-product
Arrests looming in
home affairs investigation
By Ntombi Mhlongo, Times Sunday, 25 August 2024
MBABANE: The net is closing in
on civil servants who are implicated in the fraudulent activities at the
Ministry of Home Affairs.
This is because the
Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), which has been conducting investigations, has
reportedly completed its work. This publication has gathered that the ACC
has completed its work and around 10 officers are set to face the music. Having
concluded the investigation, it was gathered that ACC officers were already
working on an application to obtain warrants of arrests for the implicated
individuals. Sources revealed that if all goes according to plan, the
arrests would be effected in the next coming days. Called for comment, ACC
Acting Commissioner Maphevu Mkhatjwa said while the commission has completed
its investigation, he could not say when the arrests would be
effected. Mkhatjwa argued that it was not wise to reveal anything, as such
would jeopardise whatever investigation they carried out. He then referred
this reporter to ACC Spokesperson Jabu Phakathi who, however, told this
reporter that she was not aware of any planned arrests.
Phakathi reminded this
reporter that the entity operates within the ambit of the law which prohibits
the disclosure of information or details of any person who is the subject of an
enquiry or investigation. The ACC has a three-pronged legal mandate of
prevention whereby it is supposed to examine practices and procedures and
advice on ways of preventing corruption.
It also has an education role
of empowering the public and private bodies and the general public on the forms
and dangers of corruption. Furthermore, the ACC has the function of
investigation which is to receive and investigate complaints of alleged or
suspected corrupt practices made against any person, and refer appropriate
cases to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).
To read more of
this report, click here
http://www.times.co.sz/news/146757-arrests-looming-in-home-affairs-investigation.html
Imbali warned
against same-sex relations
By Sibusiso Shange, Times of eSwatini, 28
August 2024
LUDZIDZINI: Imbali has been
warned against engaging in same sex relations during the course of the Reed
Dance. The annual Reed Dance, known as Umhlanga, is an annual event where
maidens from all four regions of the country assembly in one place, for the
fetching of reed from swamps, with instruction from His Majesty King Mswati
III. The reed is then used to cover enclosures (emaguma) in the country’s
royal residences and royal kraals.
During the event, which is
aimed at encouraging the girl child to preserve her purity, the young girls are
afforded the opportunity to showcase their chastity before Their Majesties and
the entire world. The event is not limited to emaSwati, but open to
other African tribes with the same belief. The maidens were yesterday
warned against engaging in the act, upon arrival to register for the event at
Ludzidzini Royal Residence. “You are warned against engaging in same sex
relationships during the course of the event. War unto those who will be found
to have engaged in same sex relations here,” said one of the tindvuna
repeatedly.
[…]
The young girls were also
warned against singing vulgar songs during the event. They were further
warned against artificial hair and urged to maintain natural hair.The indvuna
went on to warn the maidens against wearing leggings, sun shades and miniskirts,
as well as going to other events, such as the Trade Fair.
“You are strictly warned
against loitering. No one is expected to be found at the Gables without valid
reasons. You are also warned against littering,” warned the indvuna.
The young girls were also
warned against engaging in sexual relations during the course of the
event.
To read the full
report, click here
http://www.times.co.sz/news/146822-imbali-warned-against-same-sex-relations.html
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