Swaziland Newsletter No. 889 – 8
August 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.
EU
report states political situation stable in eSwatini
By
Mfanukhona Nkambule, Times Sunday, 3 August 2025
MBABANE: The European Union (EU) has said
that the political and security situation in Eswatini remained stable in 2024.
This is despite the fact that the society
is still polarised as it is still recovering after the protests of 2021.
This is contained in the 2024 EU’s Annual
Report on Human Rights and Democracy.
According to the report, the 2023
assassination of prominent human rights lawyer Thulani Maseko remains a topical
issue.
In response to Maseko's murder, the
European Parliament (EP) adopted a resolution strongly condemning the killing.
The EP called for a prompt, independent, impartial, transparent and thorough
investigation to uncover those responsible.
The EU report reveals that, in early
December 2024, the Government of Eswatini replied to the European Parliament's
concerns.
In its letter, government accused
‘communist interests overseas’ of financing and directing the violent protests
that took place in 2021. However, the letter also defended Maseko, describing
him as a representative of constructive political forces within Eswatini.
Government urged the members of the
European Parliament and the EU as a whole to support initiatives aimed at
de-escalating conflict and strengthening democracy in the country.
Despite these calls and public pressure,
the EU report notes that, to date, the investigation into Maseko’s murder has
not produced concrete results.
The report also refers to incarcerated
former MPs Mduduzi Bacede Mabuza and Mthandeni Dube.
It is stated that they have been in prison
since July 2021, having had three bail applications rejected.
In July 2024, the High Court handed down
sentences of 25 years for Mabuza and 18 years for Dube.
The report notes that the EU expressed
concern over these sentences, appealing for a fair trial and transparent appeal
processes for both men.
According to the report, the EU has
maintained particular interest and presence in the case. It is mentioned in the
report that the union observers have been consistently present at the MPs’
court proceedings with the aim of upholding justice, the rule of law and due
process.
It is noted that, despite the outward
appearance of stability in 2024, Eswatini continues to experience significant
polarisation within its society. It is mentioned in the report that this
tension is a direct result of the aftermath of the 2021 pro-democracy protests,
which shook the country and led to increased scrutiny over government’s
handling of dissent and political opposition.
To read the original EU report, click
here
Lawyer
says he’s not been allowed to see five immigrants deported by the US to a
prison in eSwatini
By Nokukhanya
Musi, AP, 1 August 2025
MANZINI: Five immigrants deported
by the United States to Eswatini in
a secret deal last month had served their criminal sentences before they were
sent to be held in a prison in the African
country, a lawyer working on their cases
said Friday.
The Eswatini lawyer also said the men from
Cuba, Jamaica, Laos, Yemen and Vietnam sent to southern Africa under President
Donald Trump’s third-country deportation program have
been denied access to legal representation while being held in Eswatini’s main
maximum-security prison.
The lawyer, Sibusiso Nhlabatsi, said he
hasn’t been allowed to see the men and that he filed court papers Thursday
against the head of Eswatini’s correctional services department and the
country’s attorney general, demanding access to them.
He said he is representing them on behalf
of lawyers in the U.S. and was prevented from seeing them by Eswatini prison
officials on July 25. It’s unlawful for the men, who have been in Eswatini for
around two weeks, to be denied access to a lawyer, he added.
The Eswatini government has said the
men will
be held in solitary confinement until
they can be deported to their home countries, which could take up to a year.
“They have served their sentences,”
Nhlabatsi told The Associated Press. “If a person has committed a crime and
they have served a sentence, why are you then keeping them in a prison?”
Nhlabatsi said the men have not been able
to communicate with their families or receive visitors since arriving in
Eswatini, although prison officials said they were in the process of setting up
devices to allow them to speak with their families.
To read more of this report, click
here
https://apnews.com/article/us-trump-deported-immigrants-eswatini-90334f4c29151888a240fc63f560a3c4
South Africa confronts eSwatini over dangerous US
prisoners transfer
By Herman Moloi,
Sowetan Live (South Africa), 6
August 2025
The SA government has raised
alarm about the arrival of a group of dangerous criminals of various
nationalities who were deported from the US to Eswatini.
The department of
international relations & co-operation (Dirco) said on Tuesday it had
raised concerns with the Kingdom of Eswatini about the profile of the
individuals and the potential adverse impact on SA’s national security.
The statement came on the back
of President Donald Trump implementing punitive 30% tariffs on all SA exports
to US. The tariffs regime has sparked fears of job losses in the agricultural
sector, with government set to announce measures to support the affected SA
companies to look for alternative markets.
On Monday, the government
summoned Eswatini high commissioner to SA to express the country’s concern
about its accepting of hardened criminals from the US. The move was prompted by
reports that about 150 additional criminals were set to be sent to Eswatini by
the US.
To read more of
this report, click here
See also
King Mswati under pressure from SADC
countries including neighboring South Africa for allowing United States to dump
extremely dangerous criminals in eSwatini, regional security under threat
(Swaziland News)
https://swazilandnews.co.za/fundza.php?nguyiphi=9668
Measles Rubella campaign launched
By Brian
Mabuza. eSwatini Observer, 5 August 2025
The ministry of health has launched a
nationwide Measles and Rubella Vaccination Campaign aimed at protecting all
children between the ages of 9 to 59 months from vaccine-preventable diseases.
The official launch was held at Moti
Clinic under Kholwane Umphakatsi yesterday with support from the World Health
Organization (WHO), UNICEF Eswatini, and World Vision.
The campaign, which will run until 15
August, is set to reach children across all regions, including remote and hard
to reach areas.
Principal Secretary in the Ministry of
Health, Khanyakwezwe Mabuza, highlighted that the campaign is a critical step
in fighting the spread of measles and rubella in Eswatini. He said the country
has managed to maintain zero cases in recent years, and the campaign will help
sustain this success and further reduce the risk of future outbreaks.
“This is a strategy to reduce the risk of
deaths caused by measles and rubella. In 2011 alone, global cases were
estimated at 9.7-million, with over 150 000 deaths. We need to immunise our
population to prevent such devastation,” Mabuza said.
WHO Representative Dr Susan Tembo
emphasised the importance of the campaign, calling it a symbol of national
commitment and unity in protecting children’s health.
“Measles is one of the most contagious diseases and can cause lifelong
complications or even death if left untreated. Yet it is entirely preventable
through vaccination,” she stated.
She applauded the ministry for integrating
routine immunisation services into the campaign, including polio vaccines,
Vitamin A supplements, and deworming treatments.
The campaign aims to vaccinate all children from 9 to 59 months, regardless of
prior vaccination status. Health workers will also identify zero-dose and
partially vaccinated children to close immunity gaps.
According to WHO, two doses of the MR
vaccine are necessary to achieve adequate protection, as the first dose may not
generate full immunity in up to 15% of children.
To read more of this report, click
here
https://eswatiniobserver.com/measles-rubella-campaign-launched/
Mothers with their children for the first round of vaccination
See also
Clinic runs out of measles vaccine
(eSwatini Observer)
https://eswatiniobserver.com/clinic-runs-out-of-measles-vaccine/
By Musa Mdluli, Swaziland News, 7 August 2025
MBABANE: Prime Minister
Russell Mmiso Dlamini has threatened to arrest Mayiwane Member of Parliament
(MP) Sicelo ‘KhungaNkhosi’ Dlamini for questioning the absence of Cabinet
Ministers during the launch of his Grand Plan for Transformation at the Pigg’s Peak
Hotel this week.
This comes after a majority of
Cabinet Ministers boycotted the launch of the PM’s development plan after he
sidelined them when compiling it, the Prime Minister is currently leading a
divided Cabinet and might face a Parliament vote of no confidence.
Reached for comments by this
Swaziland News, the Mayiwane MP confirmed receiving a warning from the police
shortly after questioning the Prime Minister regarding the absence of the
Cabinet Ministers.
“I asked the PM to explain the
absence of other Cabinet Ministers, we can’t be launching a national
development plan without Cabinet Ministers. But a few hours later, I received a
call from the police warning me that the Prime Minister was not happy when I
questioned him”, said the Mayiwane MP.
Acting Government Spokesperson
Thabile Mdluli declined to comment about the matter.
But a majority of Cabinet
Ministers boycotted the Prime Minister’s Grand Plan for National
Transformation, the plan was compiled without the involvement of Cabinet.
The PM is alleged to have
ordered other media houses not to cover the event and as a result, Members of
Parliament (MPs) complained that they were not receiving coverage as the
Government Facebook page and other State controlled publications were reporting
the Prime Minister’s positive side of his Grand Plan presentation.
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