Swaziland Newsletter No. 895 – 19
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.
By Bongiwe Dlamini, Swaziland News, 16
September, 2025
NOKWANE: Army Commander Moses
Mashikilisane Fakudze has stated categorically that, those seeking to
participate in the recently announced recruitment will be screened.
The Army Commander was
speaking during a press conference held at the Army Headquarters on Monday
afternoon.
It has been disclosed that,
the screening seeks to prevent political activists and others critical of the
Tinkhundla regime, from joining the Army.
The screening that includes
monitoring social media accounts, will be conducted by the Intelligence
Department, an investigation wing of the Umbutfo Eswatini Defense Force (UEDF).
See also
Stricter measures to ensure fair army
recruitment (Times of eSwatini)
SNAT questions eSwatini
readiness for education reforms
By Xolani Mngomezulu, Independent news,
eSwatini, 17 September 2025
MBABANE: The Swaziland
National Association of Teachers (SNAT) has issued a scathing statement,
expressing grave concerns over the government’s preparedness for school
re-opening and its handling of proposed education reforms. The statement,
released by secretary general Lot Vilakati on September 16, 2025, highlights
critical issues ranging from inadequate school inspections to the introduction
of a four-year syllabus and Competency-Based Education (CBE) curriculum in
secondary schools.
SNAT alleges that schools are
“NOT ready and prepared to receive learners and teachers for the 3rd Term.” The
association claims that, contrary to the government’s assurances, their own
inspections revealed a dire lack of readiness. The statement accuses the
government of being in a “deep slumber,” failing to learn from past mistakes.
This contradicts the normal expectation that schools should be ready for
reopening at least two weeks in advance.
The government, in response to
previous inspections by SNAT, had accused the association of being
antagonistic. However, SNAT maintains that their actions are driven by a
commitment to “true governance and service delivery.” The statement references
Amílcar Cabral’s words, “Tell No Lies and Claim No Easy Victories,” to
underscore their position.
On the statement Vilakati
further criticizes the Ministry of Education and Training for its handling of
the Free Primary Education (FPE) and Orphaned and Vulnerable Children (OVCs)
Grants. While acknowledging the recent remittance of some funds, SNAT expresses
apprehension about the “modus operandi” of the Ministry. The association argues
that for Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) No. 4 (quality education) to be
achieved by 2030, the government must prioritize funding for education. This
includes ensuring schools have sufficient resources for effective teaching and
learning, and that food is available for learners.
 |
Lot
Vilakati
To read more of
this report, click here
No OVC grants,
Zondle for some schools last term
By Bongiwe Dlamini, Sunday Observer
(eSwatini), 14 September 2025
While government has announced
that food deliveries for the new academic term, which starts tomorrow, will be
made to schools this week, there are schools where deliveries were not made
last term.
At least three schools
reported to have had challenges with food to feed learners last term, prompting
headteachers to turn to suppliers to buy food on credit.
Eswatini Principals
Association (EPA) Secretary General Mduduzi Masilela confirmed that some
headteachers had reported that they had not only received food last term, but
also the first instalment of the orphaned and vulnerable children (OVC) grant.
He said at the time he was
contacted, three schools; two high and one primary, reported to have not
received the food. Meanwhile, he said two schools did not receive the first OVC
tranche, which is usually payable in two instalments.
This is despite that the
Ministry of Education and Training, in its first quarter performance report,
said food distribution for primary and high schools was expected to end on July
2 after commencing on May 30, although schools had opened on May 5.
The Nutrition Unit, which is
responsible for nutrition and related activities under the ministry, reported
that at the time of compiling the report for the first quarter that ended on
June 31, 551 primary schools out of 597 had already received food, while 10 out
of 284 secondary and high schools were still to have their food delivered.
To read more of
this report, click here
https://eswatiniobserver.com/no-ovc-grants-zondle-for-some-schools-last-term/
See also
Teachers unhappy
over delayed school food delivery (Times of eSwatini)
eSwatini’s
nationwide MR Vaccination campaign reaches 87% coverage
World Health Organization, 18 September 2025
Eswatini’s nationwide Measles
Rubella (MR) vaccination campaign reached 87% coverage, marking a milestone in
the kingdom’s ongoing efforts to eliminate vaccine-preventable diseases and
strengthen child health. The two-week campaign, conducted in August 2025, was
rolled out across all four regions, extending from urban centers to peri-urban
neighborhoods and hard-to-reach rural areas. Children aged 9 months to 5 years
received the MR vaccine, while those aged 0 to 5 years were offered the Polio
vaccine. In addition, Vitamin A supplementation and Albendazole deworming were
provided, forming a comprehensive package designed to boost immunity and
improve overall child health.
The campaign’s success was
driven largely by robust community mobilization that began two weeks ahead of
activities. Health workers, with support from the World Health Organization
(WHO), launched a media sensitization campaign to equip the media with accurate
information and to foster strong partnerships for disseminating messages across
various platforms. Collaborations with Rural Health Motivators (RHMs) and local
leaders were crucial in ensuring widespread awareness throughout all Chiefdoms,
facilitating trust and participation at every level.
“We were informed by health
workers two weeks before the campaign and urged to inform parents,” said
Samukelisiwe Ndlangamandla, a Rural Health Motivator from Mabhensane in the
Lubombo region. “We used standing community meetings to spread the word. We always
take such initiatives seriously,” she added. The outreach resonated with
parents and caregivers, who turned out in large numbers to bring their children
to vaccination sites and to take advantage of the additional health services
offered.
At the official campaign
launch, WHO Representative Dr. Susan Tembo underscored the importance of
immunization in safeguarding children’s futures. “Measles is one of the most
contagious diseases known to humanity. Yet, it is entirely preventable through safe
and effective vaccination,” she stated. “This campaign reflects our collective
commitment to protecting every child in cities, rural communities, and
hard-to-reach populations.”
To read more of
this report, click here
See also
WHO sounds the
alarm on the rising number of suicides in Eswatini (WHO)
https://www.afro.who.int/countries/eswatini/news/who-sounds-alarm-rising-number-suicides-eswatini
Lies, false
promises and half cooked solutions remain the blind spot Your Majesty
Opinion by Wandile Dludlu, Swaziland News, 13
September, 2025
EmaSwati are four (4) years
from arguable the biggest and most treacherous political unrest we've witnessed
since the 1996 SFTU led whirlwind, 1977 students and teacher protest actions as
well as the 1964 (Mpondo ngelilanga) Prince Dumisa led Independence demands and
better working conditions mass uprising.
But the culmination of
variables as causal factors for the COVID-19 exacerbated negative
socio-economic pressure points was probably as a result of neglect of youthful
majority, unemployment, poverty and total alienated
unresponsive government of the day, laced with arrogance corrupt elite as
led by Themba Masuku then Acting Prime Minister of that time.
Post unrest, we’ve seen
dramatic if not unprecedented changes from the King and his Government as well
as so called diplomatic community and development partners.
The knee jerk reactions
followed by half-baked solutions is yet another missed opportunity policy
changes particularly around opening up the economy for the majority,
comprehensive rural development and confronting unemployment as the single
hotbed for the next big if not final battle for the oppressed against the
oppressor, rich against poor privileged against underprivileged however you
elect to characterize our political plight as a nation.
It's common knowledge that the
jaundiced diagnosis by many pro status so called thinkers and their propagaters
in the media, education and religious space has been that the cause of
2021 June massacre and what followed thereafter, was unemployment
particularly of the youth, something that progressives are accused then of
having exploited for their agenda of democracy, good governance and people’s
economy driven developmental path.
According to many, that’s not
what Swazis want nor need, this is how, in the main Tinkhundla apologists and
friends have elected to define the reasons behind the unrest and thus how
moving forward the country ought to focus on.
Infrastructure projects, mega
media window dressing attempts and diplomatic aggressive drive to fool the
world into winning back some confidence and support.
The principal contradiction
remains your Majesty, “Governance” Tinkhundla to date remains void completely
on this core quality that under-pine any program worth its salt that any
Government serious about uplifting the majority out of poverty, underdeveloped
and ignorance.
To read more of
this commentary, click here
https://swazilandnews.co.za/fundza.php?nguyiphi=10024
SWAZI
MEDIA COMMENTARY
Find us:
Blog: https://swazimedia.blogspot.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/142383985790674
No comments:
Post a Comment