Search This Blog

Friday, 30 May 2025

Swaziland Newsletter No. 879 – 30 May 2025

 

Swaziland Newsletter No. 879 – 30 May 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. The newsletter and past editions are also available online on the Swazi Media Commentary blogsite.

 

New HIV infections looming as eSwatini faces shortage of ARVs amid worsening health crisis

By Zweli Martin Dlamini, Swaziland News, 26 May, 2025

SOURCE 

MBABANE: Dr Clara Nyapokoto, the National HIV/AIDS Program Officer in the Ministry of Health has written to various health institutions, informing about the shortage of Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) drugs also known as Antiretroviral (ARVs).

This is contained in a leaked email where the Program Officer was communicating about the status of drugs supply, the stocktaking report was communicated to Dr Clara on Friday last week.

ART refers to the treatment for HIV using a combination of antiretroviral drugs and these drugs, also called antiretrovirals or ARVs, are taken daily or according to a schedule to keep the virus at a very low level in the body, allowing the immune system to repair itself and preventing further damage.

But Dr Clara Nyapokoto received the update report at the time when “the Government is misleading the public about the seriousness of the health crisis”, claiming drugs were being delivered.

“Thank you for the stock status report sent so far. CMS promised to deliver to the 2 regions that have not yet received stock-Hhohho and Manzini. I think from our calculations, all clients should receive a one-month supply of TLE or TLD until we receive stock. We will be sending out a Memo next week guiding on how patients on TLE should be managed becuse the current stock expires end of July 2025 and the other order is still pending”, reads the email in part.

Efforts to reach Khanya Mabuza,the Principal Secretary (PS) in the Ministry of Health proved unsuccessful at the time of compiling this report.

Reached for comments by this Swaziland News on Monday morning, Mayibongwe Masagwane, the Secretary General of the Swaziland Democratic Nurses Union(SWADNU) confirmed the shortage of drugs in public hospitals.

“The situation is really deteriorating, there are no drugs in public hospitals but on the ARVs part, patients used to receive drugs to be used for at least three (3) months. But now, they are receiving drugs for only one (1) month as the situation worsens,” said the Nurses Union Secretary General.

 

The Kingdom of eSwatini consults national stakeholders on implementation of the women, peace and security agenda

SADC, 26 May 2025

SOURCE 

The Secretariat of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) in collaboration with the Office of the Deputy Prime Ministers of the Kingdom of Eswatini, hosted a four-day capacity-building workshop for national stakeholders on the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) Agenda, from 13 to 16 May 2025, at the Mountain View Hotel in Mbabane

The primary objective of the workshop was to strengthen knowledge and understanding of the Women, Peace, and Security Agenda among stakeholders in the Kingdom of Eswatini and to build capacity towards the development of a National Action Plan on implementation of this Agenda. The workshop provided national stakeholders with practical steps and guidance on the processes of developing, implementing, and monitoring a National Action Plan on WPS. 

The WPS Agenda is intended to promote implementation of the United Nations Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1325 on Women, Peace and Security and other supporting resolutions adopted by the UN Security Council since October 2000. This Agenda recognises the importance of women’s contribution and leadership in conflict resolution, peace-making, peacekeeping, and peacebuilding, and therefore calls for their meaningful participation at all levels of peace and security processes. The UNSCR 1325 clearly acknowledges that war is gendered, and that conflict and post-conflict situations render women and girls more susceptible to sexual exploitation, displacement, kidnapping, trafficking and to heightened poverty. 

To read more of this report, click here

https://www.sadc.int/latest-news/kingdom-eswatini-consults-national-stakeholders-implementation-women-peace-and-security

 

Africa Day marchers call for democracy in Swaziland

By Kimberly Mutandiro, GroundUp (South Africa), 26 May 2025

SOURCE 

More than one hundred people gathered at Fitzgerald Square in Newtown, Johannesburg, to participate in a solidarity walk for Africa Day. Activists, civil society organisations, trade unions, and immigration organisations joined the march.

Africa Day marks the day the Organisation of African Unity, the precursor to the African Union, was formed.

The event kicked off with song, dance, and speeches at Mary Fitzgerald Square. Led by drummers, they then marched through the streets of Johannesburg, bringing traffic to a halt. Along Queen Elizabeth Bridge, more speeches were made before marchers proceeded to Constitution Hill in Braamfontein.

Marchers carried colourful banners showing their support for different struggles, from calling for democracy in Swaziland and peace in Palestine, to the end of coal use in South Africa. The marchers also opposed tyranny in other African countries and celebrated victories of the past, from the fall of colonialism to the defeat of apartheid.

“We are calling for the end to absolute monarchy in Swaziland and an end to dictatorial leaders in Congo, Southern Cameroon, Zimbabwe, and South Sudan. We are rising on this walk to build unity and to share our unique stories as Africans,” said General Moyo, one of the march conveners from the organisation Keep Left.

Speakers demanded an end to the “plundering of Africa’s minerals”. They condemned xenophobia and called for the eradication of colonial borders in Africa.

“Our kids are stateless because of borders, and our people are being harassed because of borders. We should fight against brutal colonial borders to create one Africa,” said Rose Roshoa from the Free Basotho Movement.

Roshao said people from Lesotho who work in South Africa as domestic workers and on farms were facing arrests due to struggles with documentation.

Mametlwe Sebei, GIWUSA president, called for unity among African workers in South Africa. He accused the “ruling elites” in the country of inciting xenophobia against African migrants while touting “platitudes about African unity”.

 

Marchers called for democracy in Swaziland. Photos: Kimberly Mutandiro


eSwatini makes strides in human development – UNDP

eSwatini Observer (Press Reader edition), 23 May 2025

SOURCE 

Eswatini has made remarkable progress in human development over the past three decades, with its Human Development Index (HDI) rising by 8.8 per cent between 1990 and 2023.

The country’s HDI now stands at 0.695, placing it within the Medium Human Development category and ranking it 126th out of 193 countries and territories.

This significant achievement was highlighted by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Resident Representative Henrik Franklin during the national launch of the Human Development Report held at the University of Eswatini’s Kwaluseni Campus.

Franklin reflected on the country’s development journey, noting that the latest figures marked an important milestone.

He explained that improvements across all HDI components, life expectancy, education outcomes and income per capita had contributed to this upward trajectory.

In particular, he pointed out that life expectancy at birth had increased by nearly 10 years since 2007, crediting this progress to the resilience and advancement of Eswatini’s health system.

“These are milestones to celebrate, but also a call to build on the momentum, especially as the world faces widening inequalities and a slowdown in development progress,” he said.

The global Human Development Report, themed ‘A Matter of Choice: People and Possibilities in the Age of AI’, was launched on May 6 in Brussels.

Franklin remarked that the report arrived at a pivotal moment in the global development journey.

“This year’s report underscores the idea that the essence of development lies in the freedom to make meaningful choices , to live a healthy life, to access quality education, to participate in society and to pursue dignified opportunities,” he said.

To read more of this report, click here

https://www.pressreader.com/eswatini/eswatini-observer-9ZB3/20250523/282256671411559

 

eSwatini eyes A.I. for growth

United Nations Development Programme, 22 May 2025

SOURCE 

Two weeks after the global release of the 2025 Human Development Report (HDR), local stakeholders gathered at the University of Eswatini (UNESWA), Kwaluseni Campus, to engage in a national dialogue on the country’s human development trajectory and the transformative impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI) on society. The HDR is a UNDP publication that focuses on measuring and understanding human development in countries worldwide. 

Convened under the leadership of the Ministry of Economic Planning and Development, the event brought together representatives from government, academia, the private sector, and youth. Themed ”A Matter of Choice: People and Possibilities in the Age of AI,” the 2025 HDR emphasises that true development lies in expanding the freedom to choose – to live healthy lives, to be educated, to participate meaningfully in society, and to pursue opportunities that bring dignity and purpose.

The programme featured presentations and a panel discussion that explored the intersection of human development and AI. Participants reflected on how AI is reshaping education, healthcare, employment, and governance.

Speaking at the event, UNDP Resident Representative Mr. Henrik Franklin noted, “AI is transforming every aspect of our societies – how we learn, work, govern, and interact. But, as UNDP Administrator Achim Steiner rightly said, ‘It is people, not machines, who determine which technologies thrive, how they are used, and whom they serve.’ The question before us is not simply what AI can do, but what choices we make to ensure it serves human development, as we balance artificial intelligence with emotional intelligence in our decision-making.”

The 2025 HDR outlines three key priorities for leveraging AI to advance human development:

Building economies where humans and AI collaborate, rather than compete.

Designing innovation with intent – ensuring that opportunity and inclusion are embedded in AI systems.

Investing in capabilities that count, particularly in education and healthcare, to ensure everyone can thrive in a digital future.

To read more of this report, click here

https://www.undp.org/eswatini/news/eswatini-eyes-ai-growth

 

WHO Supports Bushfire live dialogues at UNESWA, focusing on mental health challenges

World Health Organization, 22 May 2025

SOURCE 

In the vibrant heart of the University of Eswatini, Kwaluseni campus, a lively community hall bustled with energy, ready for the MTN Bushfire Live Dialogues. This platform brought together a diverse mix of experts in HIV, GBV, and mental health, alongside young leaders, and community members, all eager to shape conversations pivotal for their future.

Focusing on the health thematic area, mental health, which profoundly affects youth, this session aimed to shed light on the complex realities young Swazis face. The World Health Organization (WHO), in collaboration with other UN agencies in Eswatini, has partnered with Bushfire to leverage their extensive youth following, aiming to reach a broader demographic. This strategic alliance has enabled WHO to get better insights into the country’s mental health situation, which has seen a concerning rise in suicide cases both at the university and national levels. In collaboration with the Ministry of Health and UNESWA, WHO will organize a National mental health indaba later in the year to better understand the challenges the youth and the wider population face regarding mental well-being and come up with possible multisector solutions.

As the panellists shared their insights and students posed powerful questions, the room became a space for deep reflection on gender inequity, HIV, gender-based violence, and mental health.

Moderator Ms. Mandisa Zwane from UNESCO set the tone with a compelling opening. “Our country stands at a critical crossroads,” she began. “High HIV infection rates among youth, alarming cases of gender-based violence, and rising mental health challenges threaten our future. These issues are interconnected as they feed into each other and demand urgent, holistic action.”

Ms. Nomzamo Dlamini from the Deputy Prime Minister’s Office, a passionate advocate for gender equality, nodded in agreement. “Despite our efforts,” she said, “inequality persists. It fuels GBV, discourages seeking healthcare, and keeps mental health issues shrouded in stigma and silence.”

When the discussion turned to HIV, the panel highlighted strategies for prevention and support. Dr. Bongani Masango from NERCHA emphasized, “Prevention starts with education, youth-friendly services, and accessible tools. But de-stigmatization is key, and if young people feel safe to seek help, progress becomes possible.” He also pointed out the challenge of intergenerational relationships, often leaving young people vulnerable, especially when older partners exploit their trust or influence in intimate matters.

The conversation then delved into GBV, a crisis plaguing many communities. Ms. Nosipho Storer underscored, “Addressing GBV requires education, strong legal responses, and community involvement. We must challenge harmful cultural norms and actively include men and boys in promoting respect.” She highlighted the importance of accessible services, i.e., shelters, legal aid, counselling, and the need for these to be well-known within communities. “Empowering communities starts with changing attitudes from the ground up.”

As discussions deepened, mental health emerged as a pressing concern. National focal point for mental health at the Ministry of Health, Ms. Sindiso Bhembe, called for systemic change: “Integrating mental health into primary healthcare, schools, and workplaces can help reduce stigma and promote early intervention. We must boost community awareness through campaigns and education.”

The interconnectedness of these issues was unmistakable. Ms. Zwane explained, “Experiencing GBV can lead to mental health issues and increase vulnerability to HIV as these problems reinforce each other, creating a cycle that’s hard to break.” She stressed that only a comprehensive, integrated approach, combining services, community outreach, and youth participation, can truly be effective.

The young audience was actively engaged, sharing their experiences and raising concerns. One young woman passionately asked, “Even with awareness of HIV prevention, peer pressure and poverty put us at risk. How do we fight that?” Dr. Bongani responded thoughtfully, “Empowering youth economically and socially is vital as it helps reduce these vulnerabilities.”

Another participant raised the challenge of community norms and a lack of safe reporting spaces for GBV, emphasizing how silence perpetuates the problem. Mental health also struck a chord, with a young man asking why suicide and depression rates are climbing among peers. Ms. Promise Dlamini from the Ministry of Health responded with compassion, “Creating safe spaces, listening to young people’s struggles, and making mental health services accessible can save lives.”

As the session drew to a close, the panelists called for unity. Ms. Zwane summarized, “We can’t afford to address these crises in isolation. Our strength lies in integrated strategies, working together as communities, governments, and individuals. Only then can we build a future where every young person can thrive free from violence, stigma, and despair.”

The room left inspired and reminded that tackling these deep-rooted issues demands collective effort, compassion, and unwavering resolve. Because the health and dignity of today’s youth shape the destiny of our nation.

 

SWAZI MEDIA COMMENTARY

Find us:

Blog: https://swazimedia.blogspot.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/142383985790674

X (formerly Twitter): https://twitter.com  @Swazimedia

 

Friday, 23 May 2025

Swaziland Newsletter No. 878 – 23 May 2025

 

Swaziland Newsletter No. 878 – 23 May 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. The newsletter and past editions are also available online on the Swazi Media Commentary blogsite.

 

Multi Stakeholder Forum (MSF) calls for urgent national political dialogue amid deepening health crisis in eSwatini

By Anele Dlamini, Swaziland Democratic News, 16 May 2025

SOURCE 

MBABANE: The Multi-Stakeholder Forum Swaziland (MSF) has issued a strong call for an urgent national political dialogue, warning that the escalating health crisis in the country is a stark reflection of systemic governance failures.

In a statement released, the MSF expressed “profound concern and alarm” over the deteriorating health system, describing it as a symptom of broader, deeply rooted problems — including political repression, economic mismanagement and a lack of accountability in public investment.

“This is not an isolated incident,” the Forum noted. “It is a tragic consequence of decades of marginalizing voices calling for democratic reform and inclusive governance.” Referencing the historical legacy of authoritarian rule dating back to the April 12, 1973 decree and the limitations imposed by the 2005 Constitution, the MSF emphasized that true representation and participatory governance remain elusive for ordinary Swazis.

The Forum strongly criticized those who continue to endorse or legitimize a system they say is devoid of real democratic accountability. “This is not a time for divisive rhetoric or self-congratulatory pronouncements,” the statement declared. “It is a critical juncture demanding collective introspection and decisive action.”

The MSF linked the collapsing health system to a chain of related national crises, including soaring unemployment, a deteriorating education sector, widespread food insecurity and mounting public safety concerns, all symptoms of what it called a “state investment framework that lacks accountability and transparency.”

Calling for immediate and inclusive political dialogue, the Forum warned that continued complacency would only deepen the crisis and further erode the gains and hopes of past generations. “We must demand a platform where all voices are heard, where genuine solutions can be forged and where governance serves the interests of all emaSwati,” the MSF urged.

The statement concluded with a rallying call: “Indzaba yetfu sonkhe” — this is everyone’s issue. The MSF called on government, traditional leaders, civil society, business, labor and citizens alike to unite in forging a new national path grounded in justice, equity and transparency.

The health of the nation, they warned, depends not just on medicine or facilities, but on the political will to serve the people.

 

Trump’s budget cuts jeopardize eSwatini's healthcare and HIV treatment efforts

By Hyun Jung-min, Chosunbiz, 19 May 2025

SOURCE

Healthcare in Eswatini faces a critical crisis as reliance on U.S. funding wanes.

The health system of Eswatini, the last monarchy in southern Africa, is on the verge of collapse as the United States scales back more than 20 years of large-scale aid related to the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Local hospitals, which have been absolutely dependent on U.S. funding, are suspending major medical services and laying off large numbers of staff, leaving thousands of patients without appropriate treatment.

On the 17th (local time), The Washington Post (WP) focused on the situation at the Miracle Campus hospital near the capital of Eswatini, Mbabane, and reported on the local healthcare crisis. This hospital, operated by the Christian nonprofit organization Luke Commission, was once a key facility that treated about 25% of the nation's HIV patients.

According to WP, Eswatini is the only monarchy in Africa and one of the countries with the highest HIV prevalence rates in the world. It is estimated that about one-third of the total population of 1.2 million people is infected with HIV. Since 2003, the U.S. has played a key role in combating HIV in Eswatini through the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) by supporting antiviral medications, testing facilities, and medical personnel.

However, as recent PEPFAR funding has sharply diminished, the functions of Miracle Campus have effectively ground to a halt. Major departments, including obstetrics and gynecology, chronic disease management, and preventive care, have been closed, and nearly half of the 700 employees have been laid off.

This reduction in aid is a result of U.S. President Donald Trump's foreign aid cut policies. However, some point out that the Eswatini government has exacerbated the shock by failing to establish an independent healthcare system. They argue that due to excessive reliance on U.S. support, the country did not create the infrastructure needed for healthcare independence in a timely manner.

Structural problems within Eswatini also appear to have worsened the crisis. According to an internal report obtained by WP, local authorities purchased unnecessary or soon-to-expire medications at high prices, and some pharmaceutical companies provided luxury vehicles, travel expenses, and cash to officials to secure contracts.

To read more of this report, click here

https://biz.chosun.com/en/en-international/2025/05/19/DEYH55WAQRGBXG2RIP576X6VSA/

 

Three-month paperwork delays worsen drugs shortages

By Mfanukhona Nkambule, Times of eSwatini, 18 May 2025

SOURCE 

MBABANE: The pharmacy counters at public hospitals are sometimes empty or with a few medications.

As frustrations reach boiling point, doctors and nurses have resorted to a protest aimed at calling upon government to prioritise the health sector through provision of sufficient medicals required by patients.

They have embarked on protests at Mbabane Government Hospital, Mankayane Government Hospital and Nhlangano Health Centre.

It must be said that drugs shortages, long a periodic concern, have escalated in recent months to become a national emergency.

Occasionally, as criticism rains down upon the country’s pharmaceutical suppliers, which have been accused in some quarters of negligence or profiteering, two leading industry players have broken their silence, describing a procurement and importation system paralysed by bureaucracy and counterproductive regulatory double-handling.

Speaking under strict anonymity, the suppliers—herein referred to as supplier one and supplier two —provided detailed and, at times, damning testimony that pins the blame for medicine supply delays firmly on cumbersome governmental procedures.

What emerges is a story in which supplier culpability, often assumed, is undercut by what they describe as an ‘ordeal by paperwork’, stifling efficiency and sapping the goodwill of the very organisations relied upon to supply life-saving drugs.

Supplier one begins their account on receipt of an order for drugs from the Ministry of Health.

What might appear, to the outsider, a straightforward process of dispatching goods becomes a quagmire of regulatory hurdles even at the first hurdle.

Each product—be it a blister of antibiotics or a vial of insulin—must be listed on the Medicines Regulatory Unit (MRU) database.

This requirement extends to ensuring all registration documents for those products are up-to-date.

If even a single certificate has lapsed since the last procurement, the supplier must begin the process of collecting and resubmitting documentation from the original manufacturer.

“If everything is current, we proceed to request a Proforma Invoice (PFI) from our overseas manufacturer,” explains supplier one.

“We then submit this invoice to the MRU. Following that, the MRU must convene and issue an authorisation letter for import. Depending on when papers are received and how often the committee sits, this process can be a matter of days or stretch up to a week or more.”

This initial waiting game is compounded by the inflexibility of the scheduling.

To read more of this report, click here

http://www.times.co.sz/news/150237-3-month-paperwork-delays-worsen-drugs-shortages.html

 

PUDEMO mourns death of Sive Siyinqaba Chairperson ex-Senate Deputy President Ngomyayona Gamedze

By Bongiwe Dlamini, Swaziland News, 16 May 2025

SOURCE 

MBABANE: Penuel Malinga, the Secretary General of the People’s United Democratic Movement (PUDEMO) has released a statement on behalf of the political organization, mourning the death of former Senate Deputy President Ngomyayona Gamedze, the Chairperson of Sive Siyinqaba National Movement.

In a statement sent to this Swaziland News on Friday, the PUDEMO Secretary General noted that, Gamedze was also playing a significant role in promoting football in the country as a Mbabane Highlanders administrator.

“The People’s United Democratic Movement (PUDEMO) joins the people of Swaziland and the broader democratic movement in mourning the passing of Comrade Ngomuyayona Gamedze, Chairperson of the Sive Siyincaba National Movement. We extend our heartfelt condolences to his family, comrades, and the organisation he so faithfully served. We also extend our sympathy to the football fraternity, particularly Mbabane Highlanders Football Club where he once served as Club Chairman, the broader business community in which he was an active figure, and to his beloved community of Siphofaneni, which he called home. Comrade Gamedze was also a former National Team Manager, a former boxer, and a man whose impact was felt far beyond political spaces. Comrade Ngomuyayona Gamedze’s journey was one of profound transformation.

“He became a symbol of political awakening, redemption, and courage. Once a trusted servant of King Mswati’s regime, he served as Senate President within the Tinkhundla system. Over time, he came to recognise the truth about the monarchy’s misrule, its systematic repression, and the suffering it continues to impose on our people. Breaking away from the chains of royal patronage, Comrade Gamedze made a principled decision to abandon the regime. This decision came at great personal cost,” reads the statement in part.

 

Sive Siyinqaba Chairperson ex-Senate Deputy President Ngomyayona Gamedze

eSwatini wants its land from South Africa

By Staff reporter, Bulawayo24 News (South Africa)

SOURCE 

The King of Eswatini, Mswati III, has revived his kingdom's longstanding territorial claims against South Africa by appointing a new Border Restoration Committee (BRC), tasked with negotiating the return of land stolen during the colonial era.

The newly announced 15-member committee, which includes several royal family members and loyal monarchists, was unveiled on Monday. It will serve a five-year term and is the latest in a series of similar committees formed by the kingdom over the past decades. Despite repeated appointments, no progress has been made in reclaiming the disputed land.

Chief Mgebiseni Dlamini, a distant relative of King Mswati III, has been named chairperson of the committee. Speaking during the announcement, the King said the committee's mandate is to engage with South African authorities to push for the return of territories Eswatini claims were unjustly taken during the colonial period, particularly by Afrikaner farmers who initially leased the land before allegedly securing ownership through skewed arrangements.

The Eswatini monarchy maintains that vast areas of present-day South Africa, especially Mpumalanga province - formerly known as the Eastern Transvaal - were historically part of the Swazi kingdom. The current borders, they claim, were not only a product of colonial conquest but were also further distorted in the 1970s and 1980s by South African authorities using disease control, particularly foot and mouth outbreaks, as a pretext to redraw boundaries.

The kingdom is also asserting claims over portions of Gauteng province, including the town of Springs near Johannesburg, as well as several towns in KwaZulu-Natal. Eswatini argues that the Pongola River was historically the natural boundary between the Swazi and Zulu kingdoms, meaning towns such as Pongola, Ingwavuma, and Kosi Bay lie within Eswatini's rightful territory. The kingdom also emphasizes the spiritual significance of the Indian Ocean coast, where it traditionally collected sea water for sacred rituals like Incwala.

In 1982, the apartheid government of South Africa entered into an agreement with Eswatini to cede portions of Ingwavuma. However, the deal was blocked in court after legal action by the late Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi, then the leader of the KwaZulu homeland government. The agreement was nullified, and the land remained under South African jurisdiction. In a show of control over the area, the KwaZulu government later built the Machobeni Royal Palace and held Zulu cultural events on the contested land.

Despite the symbolism of the BRC's reformation, critics have expressed skepticism about its effectiveness. Similar committees have been established every five years with little tangible progress in resolving the land dispute. Nonetheless, the Eswatini monarchy remains committed to pursuing its claims and views the matter as part of a broader struggle to reverse colonial-era injustices.

There has been no official response from the South African government regarding the new BRC or Eswatini's latest push to revisit territorial boundaries. The situation adds to ongoing discussions in the region about colonial borders and the lingering legacy of imperial land arrangements in post-independence Africa.

 


SWAZI MEDIA COMMENTARY

Find us:

Blog: https://swazimedia.blogspot.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/142383985790674

X (formerly Twitter): https://twitter.com  @Swazimedia

 

Friday, 16 May 2025

Swaziland Newsletter No. 877 – 16 May 2025

 

Swaziland Newsletter No. 877 – 16 May 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. The newsletter and past editions are also available online on the Swazi Media Commentary blogsite.

 

eSwatini on edge over multiple health threats

By Nokukhanya Musi, Dev Net, 9 May 2025

SOURCE 

Simultaneous outbreaks of pink eye, hand, foot and mouth disease, and seasonal influenza, plus the risk of mpox, have raised alarm in Eswatini, as US funding cuts cast doubt over the country’s capacity to handle multiple disease threats.

Eswatini’s ministry of health says it is operating in “Alert Mode” to encourage vigilance and early intervention, but local organisations say government responses are inconsistent and there is limited support for vulnerable communities.

An outbreak of mpox in neighbouring South Africa in March raised fears that the disease could spread across the border, while cases of flu and pink eye, or conjunctivitis, have surged in Eswatini itself, according to health authorities.

“We have known of seasonal influenza and pink eye, but mpox is a new concern for us,” said Cedric Chirwa, president of the Eswatini Schools Committee and Parents Association (ESCAPA).

“We know little of it apart from what we hear from neighbouring countries.”

Chirwa, who has two school-aged children, said he had tried to implement preventative hygiene measures at home following public health announcements.

But he lamented: “Sanitisers aren’t cheap anymore like they used to be before COVID. The costs of this places much financial strain on rural families.”

Attempts by the health ministry to communicate public health messages to communities have fallen short, according to Chirwa.

“It’s business as usual here,” he added.

“People behave as if there is no outbreak.”

Thandiwe Dlamini, an elderly caregiver raising five orphaned grandchildren, highlights a shortage of medicines for those affected by the outbreaks.

“Winter is approaching and I am really worried for my grandchildren,” she said, adding: “There are no drugs when we really need them.”

Medical professionals have observed a sharp increase in seasonal illnesses and voiced concerns about misinformation and under-resourced clinics.

Mduduzi Mbuyisa, a medical doctor with The Luke Commission healthcare charity who works closely with rural communities on disease prevention and health education, told SciDev.Net: “The surge in illnesses has led to heightened anxiety within our communities, resulting in a strong demand for accurate information.

“While some community members actively seek out this information, others remain sceptical of the health messages being shared.”

He added: “One of our primary challenges is combating misinformation while ensuring that there are sufficient resources available for testing, vaccination, and treatment.”

Mbuyisa warns that public facilities may lack the means to respond effectively and says harmful beliefs are taking root.

“Public facilities may have inadequate resources and costs can be prohibitive for low-income communities,” he explained.

“Additionally, there are troubling myths circulating, such as the belief that these diseases are man-made to coerce people into vaccination, or that vaccines are somehow malevolent.”

To read more of this report, click here

https://www.scidev.net/sub-saharan-africa/news/eswatini-on-edge-over-multiple-health-threats/

 

Mncitsini sitting on an environmental health time bomb

By Vuyisile Hlatshwayo, Inhlase Centre for Investigative Journalism, 14 May 2025

SOURCE 

Mbabane is eSwatini’s capital, situated on the picturesque, steep, and rocky terrain of Mdzimba Mountain. In 1992, it was declared a city, an upgrade from a town council to a city council. However, this upgrade further accelerated urban migration for job seekers and urban dwellers who have built low-cost houses in informal settlements sprawling on the city’s outskirts. The Ministry of Housing and Urban Development (MHUD), through the Municipal Council of Mbabane (MCM), stipulates permissible housing structures in the informal settlements. 

Climate change-triggered landslides pose a great danger to dozens of Mncitsini residents owning low-cost homes scattered on the mountainside, Inhlase can reveal. As the reality of climate change is beginning to sink in, they live in perpetual fear of landslides caused by the heavy rainfalls and storms wreaking havoc countrywide. Yet, many have considered the symptomatic flash floods besetting the tenants of Mbabane Mall as too distant a problem attributed to its poorly planned location on the floodplain of the Mbabane River snaking through the city. 

Scientists say one of the common causes of landslides is heavy rain. As it rains, according to them, water seeps into the ground, percolating into the layers below. There, it can reduce the suction and friction holding together grains of soil or rock, causing the ground to weaken and shift. In his CNN interview, Prof. Dave Petley, an earth expert in landslide management at the University of Hull, said: “Slopes are always trying to reach a stable angle, which depends on what kind of climate they are in. If the climate changes, and rainfall becomes heavier, the slope might now be too steep to be stable, so it will suffer a landslide or a series of landslides to find a new, stable angle.”

Mncitsini is part of the sprawling Msunduza Township, a few kilometres from the city centre. Climate change-induced landslides are troubling low-income residents whose homes are precariously perched on steep and rocky slopes. In an interview with Inhlase, Mbabane East Member of Parliament Welcome Dlamini mentions that during the heavy rainfall, a rock rolled down the mountain and struck a house in one of the homesteads overlooking Msunduza Playground. He is concerned that Msunduza residents may be sitting on an environmental health time bomb.   

To read more of this report, click here

https://inhlase.com/mncitsini-sitting-on-an-environmental-health-time-bomb/?fbclid=IwY2xjawKSa9xleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBicmlkETFRZzlIdWVsUENUaG9VZ2pDAR4-zR2oEwjUhtGc0IJFMHT16bJZYUSPWnKgjCwBAL3pMXaC7wUQBOtVC3yTJw_aem_We9AHmx_j85xv-hDnb9Z4g


PUDEMO applauds health workers for their dedication as part of International Nurses Day

By Musa Mdluli, Swaziland News, 12 May, 2025

SOURCE 

MBABANE: Penuel Malinga, the Secretary General of the People’s United Democratic Movement (PUDEMO) has, on behalf of the political organization, released a statement, congratulating health workers for their dedication as part of the International Nurses Day.

“The People’s United Democratic Movement (PUDEMO) joins the global community in commemorating International Nurses Day, and takes this moment to salute and extend heartfelt appreciation to all nurses in Swaziland and around the world for their unwavering dedication, compassion, and tireless service to humanity. Nurses are the backbone of our healthcare systems, serving with courage and resilience even under the most challenging conditions, often under-resourced, overworked, and underpaid. In Swaziland, they continue to uphold their calling within a collapsing health sector riddled with systemic failures, corruption, and a lack of political will,” reads the statement in part.

PUDEMO said, despite these hardships, health workers “remain committed to preserving life, promoting dignity” and, providing critical care to those in need.

“As a people’s movement, PUDEMO recognises the essential role nurses play not only in treating illness, but also in advocating for health equity, addressing social determinants of health, and caring for the whole person. Their work uplifts the most vulnerable members of society and inspires a shared vision of a healthier, more just, and equitable world. We stand in firm solidarity with nurses in their struggle for better working conditions, fair compensation, adequate staffing, and the respect they so rightfully deserve. Their calls for a sustainable and people-centered healthcare system must be heard and acted upon. PUDEMO therefore calls on the government and healthcare institutions to prioritize the needs of nurses and the patients they serve. We demand urgent investment in healthcare infrastructure, workforce development, training, and supportive policies that place people above politics,” he said.

PUDEMO applauds health workers for their dedication as part of International Nurses Day (pic: SWADNU)


See also

Eswatini health workers celebrating International Nurses Day, highlight challenges amid shortage of drugs in public hospitals

https://swazilandnews.co.za/fundza.php?nguyiphi=9037

 

eSwatini plans $275m wealth fund

By Bloomberg, 12 May 2025

SOURCE 

The southern African Kingdom of Eswatini plans to start a sovereign wealth fund of around 5-billion emalangeni ($275-million) this year to help channel money into areas including manufacturing and agriculture, its finance minister said.

Legislation for the fund, drawn up with the Commonwealth’s help, is in draft form and likely to be finalised in the next three months, Neal Rijkenberg said. “It is something that we are really focusing on and driving very hard to get. So we need it to be perfect,” he said in an interview.

The fund will likely pool together government assets — such as certain state-owned companies, land, shares in banks and insurance companies and stakes in mines, the minister said.

It will focus on building wealth for future generations and growing the economy, Rijkenberg said. “We are hoping the wealth fund can be quite strategic in trying to crowd in private-sector investments into manufacturing production, agroprocessing, agriculture, those kinds of industries.”

The landlocked nation bordering South Africa and Mozambique, and led by King Mswati III since 1986, is also working on budget support loans to help clear arrears of about 2-billion emalangeni and address its financing gap. It estimates a fiscal deficit of 3% of gross domestic product in the year through March.

It recently secured $100-million from the World Bank and is in talks with the African Development Bank for $45-million and the OPEC Fund for International Development for $50-million, Rijkenberg said.

Formerly known as Swaziland, the country may also issue another bond on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange next month for budget support. “It won’t be a massive amount, it won’t be in the billions, but it’ll be in the hundreds of millions,” the minister said.

In 2024 it listed its first 400-million rand bond under a 4-billion-rand program on the bourse, with a coupon of 11.875%. The nation’s currency is pegged to South Africa’s rand.

Rijkenberg expects the terms of Eswatini’s next issuance to be more favourable as Moody’s Ratings upgraded the rating for its bond programme on the JSE to investment grade. “This should also reduce the cost of our bonds and broaden the market,” he said in his budget speech in February. 

 

World Bank backs job creation for eSwatini youth

Mirage News, 12 May 2025

SOURCE 

MBABANE: The World Bank Board of Executive Directors has approved the Eswatini Youth Employment Opportunities Project (EYEOP) aimed at increasing income earning opportunities for targeted youth in the Kingdom of Eswatini. EYEOP is the first project in Eswatini to be financed by the International Development Association (IDA) following the current country's transition to an IDA/IBRD blended status.

Young people in Eswatini make up 30% of the population, and nearly half the labor force. Yet, formal employment opportunities remain scarce, with only 1,000 new jobs created annually compared to 25,000 new entrants. Young women face even greater challenges, with an unemployment rate of 52.4% compared to 45% for men. Through skills training in high-growth sectors (such as agricultural value chains and related services), and the establishment of a dynamic and digital social registry, EYEOP aims to promote youth economic empowerment.

"The support from the World Bank is a catalyst for transformative change, particularly for our youth, unlocking opportunities in skills development, entrepreneurship, and employment. Through these initiatives, we are empowering the next generation of Emaswati to drive innovation, economic growth, and sustainable progress for years to come," said Honorable Dr. Thabo Gina, Minister of Economic Planning and Development of the Kingdom of Eswatini.

With nearly half of Eswatini's youth unemployed and over 53% not engaged in education, employment, or training (NEET), the project responds to an urgent need for youth to access productive employment and economic inclusion. The project will empower approximately 30,000 young people, with at least 50% female beneficiaries. It will also include young people with disabilities, and assist the government to empower young people with market-relevant skills, facilitate job placements, and provide entrepreneurial support by including building on existing programs and leveraging strategic partnerships. The project aligns with Eswatini's National Development Plan and the World Bank's Country Partnership Framework. Over five years, the project aims to increase incomes, improve access to employment, and enhance the government's ability to deliver targeted support to those most in need.

"This project represents an important step toward economic inclusion, as youth unemployment in Eswatini is at 49% and many young people are limited to informal and low-quality jobs. By investing in entrepreneurship, market-driven skills, and more effective social protection, the project will help reduce poverty and vulnerability, while advancing Eswatini's broader development goals. The World Bank is proud to stand with Eswatini's youth as they build a more secure and prosperous future," said Satu Kahkonen, World Bank Division Director for Eswatini.

Top of Form

Bottom of Form

 

Wildlife protection at the cost of human lives

By Nokukhanya Musi-Aimienoho, Earth Island Journal, 13 May 2025

SOURCE 

Critics say rangers in Eswatini are using a decades-old law to avoid accountability in the killings of dozens of suspected poachers.

Last spring, Thokozani Kunene, 25, was out walking with his father near a private game reserve near eastern Eswatini’s Big Bend, an area known for its lush forests teeming with wildlife. His father says they were taking an afternoon stroll to collect firewood when they were confronted by rangers patrolling the Mkhaya Game Reserve. Kunene was shot and killed. The rangers found a firearm in his possession after shooting him and allege that he was there poaching, though his family disputes their claims.

Eswatini, a small country, has seven national parks, reserves, and wildlife sanctuaries, as well as several private game parks. In all these places, it is illegal to hunt animals without a special license or permit, which many villagers can’t afford. Photo of Milwane Wildlife Sanctuary by Vaiz Ha.​

Kunene is one of many Emaswati who have been killed in recent years by park rangers. While exact numbers aren’t available, the Ministry of Tourism and Environmental Affairs estimates that several dozen suspected poachers are slain each year.

Behind each death lies a tragic truth: The people killed were never afforded the chance to defend themselves, never given the benefit of a fair trial. They were killed as suspected poachers, and the rangers who killed them were shielded by a decades’ old law: the 1991 Game Amendment Act.

Top of Form

Bottom of Form

“This is a devastating trend that has left families broken and communities living in fear,” says Chief Mvimbi Matse of Mambane in the Matsanjeni constituency, in the Lubombo region of Eswatini. Matse says that 17 people in his chiefdom were killed by rangers between October of 2023 and October of 2024. “We must find a way to ensure that conservation efforts do not come at the expense of human lives.””

To read more of this report, click here

https://www.earthisland.org/journal/index.php/articles/entry/eswatini-wildlife-protection-at-the-cost-of-human-lives

 

SWAZI MEDIA COMMENTARY

Find us:

Blog: https://swazimedia.blogspot.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/142383985790674

X (formerly Twitter): https://twitter.com  @Swazimedia