Swaziland Newsletter No. 894 – 12
September 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.
MPs call for urgent action on escalating youth
unemployment
By Nokuphila Haji, eSwatini Observer, 11
September 2025
Members of Parliament (MPs)
have urged government to take decisive measures to address escalating
youth unemployment, following the overwhelming turnout at Palazzo
Ezulwini’s recruitment drive on Saturday.
Tinkhundla Administration and
Development Portfolio Committee Chairperson Sicelo Dlamini said the
turnout reflected the severity of joblessness in Eswatini. He
suggested that creating space for young jobseekers could start with mandatory
retirement at age 60.
“We have also called on the
Ministry of Sports, Culture and Youth Affairs to work with the Ministry of
Agriculture to provide young people with capital for farming. This would allow
them to create businesses and export produce, which could help address youth
unemployment,” Dlamini said.
He stressed
that depending on government as the main employer was unsustainable,
adding that the sight of thousands queuing in the rain for temporary,
low-paying jobs “does not paint a good picture” for the country.
Labour and Social Security
Portfolio Committee Chairperson Sifiso Magagula added
that graduate unemployment was also a growing crisis.
He explained that while
government continues to court investors, many companies are no longer
hiring Emaswati on a permanent basis.
The MPs jointly emphasised the
need for youth-focused policies, farming initiatives, and private
sector-driven opportunities to reduce the rising unemployment levels.
‘Unemployment
a catastrophe’
By Sabelo Majola, Times of eSwatini (Press Reader edition), 11 September 2025
MBABANE: Chairperson of the Swaziland
Unemployed People’s Movement (SUPMO), Lucky Dlamini, says unemployment in the
country is a catastrophe that needs urgent action.
Dlamini was reacting to the article
published by Times SUNDAY that over 1 000 people competed for just 50
jobs at the International Convention Centre (ICC) and Five-Star Hotel (FISH)
this past Saturday.
Dlamini said there is a strong need for a
decisive plan to deal with the issue of unemployment in the country. He said
the turning out of over 1 000 people for just 50 jobs paints a gloomy picture
about the issue of unemployment. He said people are in a dire situation as far
as unemployment is concerned and government has the obligation to create jobs.
He revealed that most of the people who
turned out on Saturday had skills mismatch, which was contributing massively to
the unemployment rate in the country.
A skills mismatch is a discrepancy between
the skills possessed by individuals and the skills demanded by employers in the
labour market, leading to unemployment, reduced productivity and
dissatisfaction for both workers and employers.
The 2023 Labour Force Survey conducted
using international statistical standards - namely the 19th and 20th
International Conference of Labour Statisticians (ICLS) Resolutions - provides
in-depth insights into employment, unemployment, underemployment and labour
underutilisation in the country. Findings show that unemployment remains a key
challenge, rising slightly from 33 per cent in 2021 to 35.4 per cent in 2023.
Alarmingly, 52.5 per cent of the unemployed have been without work for a year
or more, with youth disproportionately affected. The data also highlights that
11 per cent of the employed are underemployed, working less than 35 hours a
week, but willing and available to work more. The survey offers new insights
into self-employment and work relationships, identifying high-risk groups such
as those operating unincorporated enterprises. It also reveals low levels of
worker organisation affiliation, with 66 per cent of employees not affiliated
with any workers’ organisation.
The youth report provides a focused
analysis of the challenges facing young people, especially those outside the
labour force. It urges policymakers to review regional employment strategies
and address barriers preventing youth from entering the labour market. Dlamini
said in fighting unemployment, government needs to industrialise the economy
through the industrialisation policy, accompanied by heavy investment into it.
Industrialisation is the economic
transformation from an agrarian (agricultural) economy to one based on
manufacturing and mass production.
This process involves shifting from
hand-made goods to mechanised, large-scale production, which historically led
to economic growth, increased productivity and rising living standards through
urbanisation and a growing industrial workforce.
He said the country can’t rely on direct
foreign investment because investors could be reluctant to invest in a country
where the unemployment is high as there will be no buying power. Dlamini also
said many policies should be transformed to allow the economy to thrive and
promote creation of jobs.
He made an example that the youth did not
have access to land yet some have the ambition of exploring the agriculture
sector.
“Some emaSwati have the capacity to open
community TV and radio stations, but government is not keen on granting
licences for that, hence the need for policy transformation,” he said.
Pregnant women grounded in eSwatini as Government
closes biggest Mbabane Hospital amid health crisis
By Musa Mdluli, Swaziland News, 9 September,
2025
MBABANE: Nsindiso Tsabedze,
the Spokesperson of the Ministry of Health has announced the temporal closure
of the Mbabane Government Hospital as the health crisis worsens or intensifies
in this tiny Kingdom of eSwatini.
In a statement released on
Tuesday, Taabedze cited lack of electricity supply as the reason behind the
decision to shut down the biggest health facility in the Kingdom.
“This is due to lack of
electricity access, and this blackout is being implemented to allow our Biomed
Department to sort out an emergency relating to unavailability of electricity
at the Maternity Unit”, said the Spokesperson.
Eswatini has been facing a
health crisis for some time now amid shortage of drugs in public hospitals,
dozens have died since crisis erupted.
But it has been confirmed
that, pregnant women were affected by the lack of electricity supply within the
Maternity Unit.
The health crisis in eSwatini
was allegedly triggered by rampant corruption in the public administration, the
country is ruled by King Mswati as an absolute Monarch.
As a result, those suspected
to have contributed to the collapse of the country’s health system were not
arrested after Chief Justice Bheki Maphalala who was appointed by King Mswati
refused to sign warrants of arrest.
SwaziPharm Director Kareem
Ashraff of Indonesian origin and an alleged friend to Mswati, is allegedly
among those who looted public funds resulting in the collapse of the country’s
health system.
History made as Imbali with disabilities embraced at
Reed Dance 2025
By Sebentile Shongwe and Phumlile Msibi, Times of
eSwatini, 9 September 2025
LOBAMBA: In a historic turn of
events, this year’s Reed Dance Ceremony embraced maidens with disabilities,
marking a new chapter of inclusivity.
The presence of these young
women, who danced before Their Majesties and thousands of onlookers, was a
powerful and emotional sight for many. This initiative was championed by the
Deputy Prime Minister’s Office, which provided support to ensure their participation.
Twenty-eight special maidens,
some dancing and others on wheelchairs, exuded joy and pride as they made their
way across the arena. The maidens performed to the song ‘Siva kubhodla,
kunembube kuneNgwenyama, kuyababa kuyahawuzela,’ which they had
rehearsed with Princess Sakhizwe’s regiment. The Deputy Prime Minister,
Thulisile Dladla, was instrumental in this momentous occasion.
She accompanied the maidens to
cut the reed at Bhamusakhe and visited their camp at Lobamba to ensure they
were well situated. The maidens arrived at the ceremony in new
government-provided vehicles.
The public response on social
media was overwhelmingly positive. Many praised the event as beautiful,
heart-warming and a move towards greater unity. One commenter wrote that this
was a beautiful initiative and that they were happy to see this happening.
Another commenter described it as ‘more than beautiful’, while another said it
was amazing to see the girls ‘give it their all’. Several people thanked
government for the efforts and some expressed hope for this kind of inclusivity
to be extended to schools and workplaces. One commenter stated: “Nothing for us
without us, thanks for bringing up disability to be ability.”
To read more of
this report, click here
US tells Kilmar Ábrego García he faces deportation to eSwatini
Danai Nesta Kupemba, BBC News, 6 September 2025
The Trump administration has
told Kilmar Ábrego García, a Salvadoran man at the centre of a long-running
immigration row, he could be deported to the southern African kingdom of
Eswatini.
In an email to his lawyers
seen by the BBC's US partner CBS, an immigration officer said they were
changing last month's decision to send him to Uganda, after Mr Ábrego García raised fears of persecution
there.
The officer said the claims
were "hard to take seriously" but the US would
"nonetheless" agree not to send him there.
It is at least the fourth
country floated as a potential destination for the 30-year-old. He was
mistakenly deported to El Salvador in March, and then returned to face criminal
charges.
US officials acknowledged at
the time that he was removed in error.
In June he was brought back to
the US, where he was detained and charged with human smuggling. He pleaded not
guilty.
Trump officials claim that he
is a member of the MS-13 gang, an accusation he also denies.
His deportation case has
become a focal point in the administration's crackdown on immigration.
Mr Ábrego García has no
connection to Eswatini.
Previously known as Swaziland,
Eswatini is surrounded by South Africa and Mozambique. It is one of the last
remaining absolute monarchies in the world, and has been led by King Mswati III
since 1986.
The US has already deported
five people to Eswatini, describing them as "criminal illegal aliens"
to the country.
The move sparked concern in
the small nation that it was becoming a dumping ground for criminals.
Eswatini has not confirmed
whether it receives payments for the deportation deal struck with the Trump
administration.
The US is the fourth-largest
market for the country's biggest export, sugar. Analysts suggest that Eswatini
may be trying to safeguard this trade and avoid tariffs.
Mr Ábrego García entered the
US illegally as a teenager from El Salvador. In 2019, he was arrested with
three other men in Maryland and detained by federal immigration authorities.
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