Swaziland Newsletter No. 858 – 3
January 2025
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.
Over 900 asylum
seekers registered at Malindza
By Nokuphila Haji, eSwatini Observer, 2 January
2025
A total of 911 asylum seekers
had been registered at the Malindza refugee camp as of January 1, 2025.
This was shared by Prime
Minister Russell Dlamini in a statement. Dlamini said the number of asylum
seekers remained relatively low and stable between November to December 14.
These were the times that the
riots started in Mozambique, which was slightly after the election results were
announced.
The prime minister said the
daily count of asylum seekers arriving in the country then were not exceeding
23 arrivals per day.
He said a significant increase
in arrivals had been observed from December 15, highlighting that the daily
counts were reaching 399 arrivals on December 29.
Dlamini said it was important
to note that the above figures only accounted for those who sought to be
registered and requested to be accommodated at the Malindza refugee Camp.
Following the unrest that erupted in recent months in the neighbouring Republic
of Mozambique, the Kingdom of Eswatini has experienced an influx of asylum
seekers entering the country from Mozambique.
These asylum seekers comprise
of all gender and demographic groups,” he said.
Dlamini also noted the surge
in the number of asylum seekers entering the country. He said following an
assessment of the situation conducted on December 27 by the different
stakeholders who were led by the ministry of home affairs, a high-level meeting
was convened at the Private and Cabinet offices to deliberate on the influx of
individuals seeking refuge within the country’s borders.
“The meeting considered the
situation updates provided by the different stakeholders, the camp assessment
report highlighting the needs for essential supplies, shelter conditions, water
supply and sanitation and hygiene facilities and a draft response plan,” he
said.
He said it was, therefore,
important for the country to re-emphasise government’s commitment to upholding
human dignity and international humanitarian principles. He said government was
ready to extend protection and support to those fleeing the disturbances.
To read more of
this report, click here
http://new.observer.org.sz/details.php?id=23307
See also
Eswatini warns as
Mozambique ongoing political unrest negatively impacts trade with neighboring
countries, fuel supply to be affected
https://swazilandnews.co.za/fundza.php?nguyiphi=8097
Post-Election
unrest in Mozambique sparks refugee crisis in Southern Africa
Deputy Prime
Minister Thulisile Dladla pledges to build more houses for the poor
By Bongiwe Dlamini, Swaziland News, 26
December, 2024
EKUKHANYENI: Thulisile
Dladla,the Deputy Prime Minister (DPM) has pledged to build more houses for the
poor.
Speaking at eKukhanyeni when
handing over a new house to two persons with disabilities Siyabonga Mtsetfwa
(22) from Enswaceni Community and Joy Dlamini (48) from Nkiliji Community, the
DPM said, a survey must be conducted to ascertain the number of emaSwati who
need new houses.
“We shouldn’t wait for the
houses to collapse over them but, we must build the houses where we see a
need,” said the Deputy Prime Minister.
On another note, Apollo
Maphalala, the Kukhanyeni Member of Parliament(MP) thanked the DPM for
assisting the disabled persons within his area, Maphalala doubles as the
Minister of Housing and Urban Development.
The Office of the DPM through
the National Disaster Management Agency(NDMA) has been building houses for the
poor in the various communities, the project “is supported by donors including
Serbia First Lady Tamara Vučić”.
Deputy Prime Minister Thulisile Dladla pledges to
build more houses for the poor, says a survey must be conducted to identify
emaSwati who needs houses
285 cases on
Anti-Corruption Commission’s hands
By Ntombi Mhlongo, eSwatini News, 28 December
2024
MBABANE: As per its mandate of
being an entity that receives and investigates complaints of alleged or
suspected corrupt practices, the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has closed
the year with about 285 cases on its hands.
This was revealed by the Prime
Minister, Russell Mmiso Dlamini when he delivered government’s end-of-year
progress report at Cabinet. The PM stated that corruption is one of the major
issues that were raised at Sibaya.He said the King further charged government
to bring to book all the corrupt, with particular emphasis on the ‘big fish’
(bobhabuli).
The PM said corruption makes
it difficult for the state to function. He said in response to the directive
from The Throne and Sibaya, government did many things to support the fight
against corruption, one of them being establishing the Anti-Corruption Task
Team, comprising the police, the ACC and the Directorate of Public
Prosecutions.
He shared that to further
support the team, 10 police officers will be earmarked for deployment to the
ACC to assist in the investigation and ultimate prosecution of the corrupt.
“Government has also requested for technical assistance from the international
community to strengthen investigation and prosecution capacity of the country’s
anti-corruption institutions. Government remains tenacious to eliminate this
scourge that is throttling the economy,” the PM said.
He highlighted that government
intensified the fight against corruption with 285 cases being investigated by
the ACC and several warrants of arrests issued and six arrests were made. About
37 of the corruption cases, the PM said, are being processed within the court
system.
To read more of
this report, click here
http://www.times.co.sz/news/148729-285-cases-on-acc%E2%80%99s-hands%2C-10-cops-to-be-added-pm.html
eSwatini secures
major AfDB loan for economic growth following credit rating upgrade
By
Zweli Martin Dlamini, Sunday Independent (South Africa), 29 December
2024
eSwatini Prime Minister
Russell Dlamini has announced that the African Development Bank (AfDB) has
approved a loan of approximately $140.6 million (about R2.4 billion) for
infrastructure development aimed at stimulating the country's economy.
This funding will specifically
focus on improving road infrastructure in the Lubombo and Shiselweni regions,
which are critical for enhancing connectivity and supporting socio-economic
development.
During a media briefing at the
cabinet offices in Mbabane, Dlamini delivered the Government’s One Year in
Office Performance Report. He stated: “The government charged the Ministry of
Finance to expedite a national borrowing plan to direct resources to optimal
investment. The AfDB’s approval of this loan is a significant step towards our
infrastructure goals.”
Dlamini highlighted that the
government had initiated a comprehensive review of its procurement system to
eliminate bottlenecks and ensure cost-effectiveness in service delivery.
He acknowledged that efficient
service delivery could not be achieved under the current limitations of the
Procurement Act of 2011.
Additionally, he reported that
the government had successfully reduced its debt to local companies from E2.8bn
to about E700m, indicating that 75% of pending arrears were cleared within the
year. This reduction is part of broader efforts to stabilise the economy.
A notable highlight from
Dlamini's address was eSwatini’s recent credit rating upgrade by Moody’s
Investors Service, which raised the country’s long-term local-currency and
foreign-currency issuer ratings from B3 to B2.
To read more of
this report, click here
Manzini Police
heavily assaults Lwandle residents including women for traveling at night
By Bongiwe Dlamini, Swaziland News, 24
December, 2024
LWANDLE: Manzini police
officers who were allegedly traveling with a Quantum heavily assaulted
residents of Lwandle on Sunday merely for, traveling at night.
Speaking to this Swaziland
News on Tuesday, one of the victims who were at the Manzini Police to
record a statement said, the Station Commander advised them to open a case
against the rouge police officers.
“Others were injured by razor
wires while running away from the police”, said one of the injured women.
But cops are not arrested for
killing or assaulting citizens in eSwatini, they were only held accountable by
the pro-democracy Swaziland International Solidarity Forces (SISF) and that was
when they stopped torturing civilians.
The police officers have since
resumed their alleged State sponsored operations to kill and assault innocent
civilians, the Lwandle residents were from an entertainment spot to enjoy
themselves this Festive Season when the law enforcers assaulted them.
Senior Superintendent Phindile
Vilakati declined to comment about the matter.
Dozens of innocent civilians
have been, over the years, killed in eSwatini by law enforcers and the
perpetrators include Game Rangers, police officers and soldiers.
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