Swaziland Newsletter No. 881 – 13
June 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
Urgent statement to the Swazi
government on the abduction and killing of children
Lioness
Sibande, Secretary General, SPLM, Swati Newsweek 10 June 2025
The Swaziland Peoples Liberation Movement
urgently calls on the Tinkhundla Government to take immediate action against
the rising syndicate responsible for the abduction and brutal murder of
innocent children. The lives of Swazi children are at stake, and we demand
swift and decisive measures to put an end to this atrocity.
We calling for two immediate actions of,
the closure of schools until adequate security measures are in place.
Deployment of soldiers and police
nationwide to prioritize the safety of children.
We call on parents to keep their children
at home until the government takes this crisis seriously and demonstrates a
genuine commitment to protecting the future of our nation.
A message to the Prime Minister of
Tinkhundla Government is, how many more lives must be lost before decisive
action is taken? Your silence and inaction are unacceptable. We know that your
children are educated in neighbouring countries, protected by state security.
But what about the vulnerable children of Swaziland?
We call on the Swaziland National
Association of Teachers SNAT, to urge educators to stand with parents in
safeguarding our children’s lives. Schools must be closed until the Ministry of
Education implements security measures, enforces strict protection protocols,
and ensures that all students follow a synchronized timetable to prevent
isolation and vulnerability. Extra classes that expose children to risk must be
halted immediately.
The Ministry of Education Has Failed Us,
it has turned a blind eye to this crisis, abandoning its responsibility to
protect the nation's children. This negligence must end now.
A Call to Action for All Swazis:
We must unite as a nation to protect our
children. We urge communities to form citizen-led patrols and safety forums,
taking turns to watch over neighbourhoods and ensure children are safe. History
will judge us if we allow complacency to prevail.
No Minister, Government Official, Police
Officer, or Chief will stand up for your child, you must rise and be the change
you seek. Let us not be the generation that ignored the cries of the innocent.
See also
Government raises alarm over child
kidnappings
https://independentnews.co.sz/15572/news/government-raises-alarm-over-child-kidnappings/
China grants zero-tariff
access to 53 African nations, eSwatini excluded
By
William Narh, Citi Newsroom, 12 June 2025
China has
announced a new zero-tariff policy for exports from 53 African countries with
which it maintains diplomatic relations, further deepening its economic
foothold across the continent.
The initiative excludes Eswatini—the only
African nation that recognises Taiwan—underscoring Beijing’s firm adherence to
its One China policy.
The announcement followed high-level talks
in Changsha, Hunan Province, between Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and
African officials, and was formalised in a joint communiqué.
The tariff exemption is part of China’s
broader push to position itself as Africa’s principal trade and investment
partner amid escalating global trade tensions.
The joint statement criticised rising
protectionist measures in global trade, particularly those recently imposed by
U.S. President Donald Trump, and called for a return to dialogue and
multilateralism in resolving disputes.
Read more
By
Musa Mdluli, Swaziland News, 6 June, 2025
MBABANE: Phila Buthelezi, the Minister of
Labour and Social Security has praised trade unions and other stakeholders
after the successful removal of eSwatini in the list of countries violating
human rights.
In a statement released on Friday, the
Labour Minister attributed this success to the existence of improved social
dialogue and tripartism in the country.
“The Ministry congratulates all our social
partners for believing in the strength of engagements at a national level and
avoiding hanging the dirty linen of the country in the international
community,” said the Minister through the statement.
The International Labour Organization(ILO)
has removed eSwatini from the list of countries violating human rights, to be
discussed by the Committee on the Application of Standards (CAS) during the
113th Session of the International Labour Conference (ILC) in Geneva
More than entertainment: bringing
fire to the SDGs through dialogue, art and action
United
Nations eSwatini, 9 June 2025
For the 18th year, the vibrant MTN Bushfire Festival lit up the scenic Malkerns Valley of the Kingdom of Eswatini on the last weekend of May 2025. And, for the third consecutive year, the United Nations in Eswatini partnered with the festival’s “Bring Your Fire Zone” to harness the transformative power of music, dialogue, and arts to spread urgency about achieving the SDGs. From university auditoriums across the Kingdom ahead of the festival to the rolling green fields of the festival grounds, this partnership has sparked meaningful and passionate conversations on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the country’s aspirations especially those of its youthful population. This year, the dialogue spotlighted Food Systems, Climate and Pollution, Health & Gender Equality, HIV, and the Sustainability of Arts and Culture Festivals for their intrinsic value and contribution to the creative economy.
Widely recognized as one of Africa’s
premier music and arts festivals, the three-day MTN Bushfire draws an estimated
20,000 attendees each day from 60 countries on average, offering a dynamic mix
of music, art, and cultural exchange. The festival has earned international
acclaim - CNN named it one of the “7 African music festivals you really have to
see,” while the BBC hailed it as a “Top African Festival.”
Thus, for UN Eswatini, the festival is
more than just entertainment. It is serious business and an invaluable
platform. For a start, the festival is the most important event in Eswatini’s
creative economy, contributing approximately USD$3.7 million to the national
economy and creating between 900 and 1,200 jobs over the three days. For
Eswatini’s relatively small economy, that’s a big deal. It is also celebrated
for its strong commitment to social responsibility including promoting the
circular and green economy. A portion of every ticket sold supports local
initiatives, such as Young Heroes and Gone Rural boMake, which provide
assistance to orphans and rural communities throughout Eswatini.
Under the rallying call, Bring
Your Fire, the UN-MTN Bushfire partnership has evolved into a powerful
platform for youth engagement - one where creativity fuels action, dialogue
drives ideas, and young voices help shape a more inclusive and sustainable
future.
This year, eight UN agencies - UNHCR,
UNESCO, IOM, UNFPA, WHO, WFP, UNAIDS, and FAO - have joined forces with the
Bushfire team to co-create moments that inform, inspire, and engage.
To read more of this report, click
here
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