Swaziland Newsletter No. 902 – 7 November
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 frees
pro-democracy leader after four years
By Agence France
Presse (AFP), 4 November 2025
A
prominent former opposition Eswatini lawmaker was freed Tuesday after being
pardoned following more than four years in prison over 2021 pro-democracy
protests that rattled Africa's last absolute monarchy.
The
landlocked kingdom is ruled by King Mswati III, who has held the throne since
1986 and wields unchecked power, facing no meaningful challenge to his
authority.
Mthandeni Dube was released from the
high-security Matsapha Correctional Centre, 30 kilometres (20 miles) from the
capital, where 14 men deported from the United States as part of its crackdown
on immigrants were also being held.
Dube
was arrested in July 2021 alongside fellow MP Mduduzi Bacede Mabuza for
inciting unrest during protests calling for democratic reforms, which were
violently suppressed by security forces and left dozens dead.
“I
am happy that the King has released me,” Dube said at the low-key ceremony
where 11 other prisoners -- nine men and two women -- were also freed.
The
group, all dressed in orange prison uniforms, stood quietly as their release
was announced.
Officials
said the freed inmates would remain under the supervision of the correctional
services and would not be allowed to make public speeches or join protests.
“Only
today can they entertain the media, and from tomorrow, none of them is expected
to meet journalists,” said Commissioner General Lomakhosini Dlamini.
Mabuza,
who was sentenced to 25 years, did not apply for a pardon, correctional
services spokesman Baphelele Kunene told AFP.
Human
Rights Watch last week decried a lack of accountability for the killings during
the 2021 protest.
“The
security forces also shot indiscriminately at protesters and passers-by with
live ammunition, killing scores of protesters and injuring hundreds more,
including children,” it said in a 26-page report.
Yet,
“it is appalling that more than four years later, the victims and survivors are
living with the consequences of the brutality they suffered without any
remedies for their rights violations,” said HRW Africa researcher Nomathamsanqa
Masiko-Mpaka.
Eswatini,
formerly Swaziland, is the last absolute monarchy in Africa and political
parties are banned.
King
Mswati enjoys flaunting his wealth, yet he rules over one of the poorest
countries in the world, where more than half of its 1.2 million inhabitants
live in poverty.
The
57-year-old can veto any legislation, appoints the prime minister and cabinet,
and is constitutionally above the law.
Mthandeni Dube
See
also
Mthandeni
freed with 11 strict conditions (times of eSwatini)
In eSwatini, abusive
lawsuit demands a record $9.8m for defamation
Committee to Protect
Journalists, 4 November 4, 2025
LUSAKA:
The Swazi Bridge news site in Eswatini is facing a record-breaking claim for
170 million emalangeni (US$9.8 million) in damages and the threat of terrorism
investigations, as part of a growing global trend of using abusive lawsuits to
suppress public interest reporting.
The
Farmers Bank and its director John
Asfar alleged defamation
by the privately owned media outlet in March over its 2023 to 2025 reporting of
alleged irregularities in
the bank’s acquisition of its license to
operate in Eswatini, according to court documents, reviewed by CPJ.
“Farmers
Bank’s intimidatory conduct raises concern that this lawsuit is designed to
silence journalism that critically probes its operations and to instill fear
among others in the media,” said CPJ Africa Program Coordinator Muthoki Mumo. “Authorities
in Eswatini must ensure that the courts are not misused as tools to censor
public interest reporting.”
On
October 15, the bank and Asfar filed an application demanding that The Swazi
Bridge take down five stories and desist from publishing about them, according
to a court document, reviewed by CPJ. The outlet intends to oppose the
application, the publication’s lawyer, Sibusiso Nhlabatsi, told CPJ.
He
said the damages sought in the case were unprecedented in the southern African
nation, an absolute monarchy with a GDP
per capita of less than
$4,000.
Similar allegations about
the bank’s lengthy battle with the regulatory Central Bank to secure a license
were published in 2024 as part of the “Swazi
Secrets“ series of articles,
based on a leak from Eswatini’s anti-money laundering agency and coordinated by
the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists.
To
read more of this report, click here
https://cpj.org/2025/11/in-eswatini-abusive-lawsuit-demands-a-record-9-8-mln-for-defamation/
CANGO launches E600,000
drive to boost media freedom
By Sebenzile Bhembe,
Independent News, eSwatini, 4 November 2025
MBABANE:
The Coordinating Assembly of Non-Governmental Organisations (CANGO) has rolled
out a year-long initiative worth about E600,000 to advance freedom of
expression and ethical journalism in Eswatini.
The
project, titled ”Liberty, Ethics and Truth: Advancing Freedom of
Expression in Eswatini”, was unveiled during a two-day workshop held at the
Mbabane Club, hosted in partnership with the Media Consortium. Representatives
from various media houses including Independent News, Times of Eswatini,
Rubicon Media Group, and Inhlase Centre for Investigative Journalism joined
journalism students from Limkokwing University of Creative Technology to
discuss strategies for improving media practice and participation.
Supported
by the Commonwealth Foundation, the £30,000 (about E600,000) initiative seeks
to strengthen media freedom and civic engagement by building the capacity of
the media consortium, which consists of ten media and arts organisations. These
groups use community radio and creative arts as tools to foster public dialogue
and participation.
CANGO
Communications and Advocacy Officer Ndimphiwe Shabangu said the project will
promote ethical community reporting, amplify grassroots stories, and expand
opportunities for women, LGBTQI+ individuals, and persons with disabilities to
be active in media spaces. It will also include training on legislative
engagement, mentorship for media professionals, and operational support for at
least two community radio stations.
According
to Shabangu, the initiative began in September 2025 and comes at a time when
Eswatini is grappling with restricted civic space and outdated media laws.
Through this partnership, CANGO and its media collaborators aim to strengthen
ethics, inclusivity, and access to information as vital components of
democratic expression.
Emaswati
criticise govt’s performance on health – Survey
By
Bodwa Mbingo, eSwatini Observer, 2 November 2025
The Afrobarometer Round 10 survey findings
have revealed widespread frustration with the public healthcare sector with
most Emaswati criticising government on its poor performance in this sector.
The survey revealed that among citizens,
who had contact with a public clinic or hospital in the past year, almost nine
in 10 said they experienced a lack of medicines or medical supplies during
their visit, with eight in 10 reporting long waiting times, and six in 10
saying the cost of care or medicines was unaffordable.
It adds that overwhelming majorities of
respondents lack medical coverage and worry about obtaining or affording
necessary medical care while three-fourths reported going without medical care
at least once during the past year.
“More than seven in 10 Emaswati rate
government’s performance on providing basic health services poorly.
Two-thirds point to inadequate public
funding as the reason for the current shortages of drugs and medical supplies,
and half favour privatising the state-owned Central Medical Stores (CMS) to
ensure a reliable supply,” reads the findings in part.
It adds that Emaswati expressed strong
support for universal health coverage with two-thirds saying government should
ensure that all citizens have access to adequate health care, even if it meant
raising taxes.
The survey also states that government has
emphasised the importance of having a “healthy and productive population that
lives longer, fulfilling, and responsible lives”. It says through its National
Health Sector Strategic Plan 2024/2025-2027/2028, the ministry of health is
working to accelerate progress towards universal health coverage (UHC) by 2030,
with a focus on expanding service coverage and building an inclusive and
effective health-care system.
To read more of this report, click here
https://eswatiniobserver.com/emaswati-criticise-govts-performance-on-health-survey/
E3.5bn
co-operative sector eyes new bank
By
Nhlanganiso Mkhonta, Times of eSwatini, 6 November 2025
MBABANE: Eswatini’s Cooperative sector,
which now collectively manages assets valued at over E3.5 billion, is taking a
major step towards deepening financial inclusion.
The sector also seeks to strengthen
grassroots economic empowerment by pursuing the establishment of a sector-owned
co-operative bank.
This development was the focus of the
Roundtable on the Establishment of the Eswatini Co-operative Bank, held
yesterday at Mountain View Hotel, where co-operative movement leaders,
government stakeholders, regulators and international partners engaged on the
proposed banking model, governance framework and institutional structure.
Delivering remarks during the session,
Minister for Commerce, Industry and Trade Manqoba Khumalo said the proposed
bank was a natural progression of the co-operative movement’s long and
impactful history in the kingdom.
“Cooperators, our co-operative story began
on April 27, 1931, when the first society was registered,” he noted. “Since
then, co-operatives have been more than just a socio-economic model, they have
been a reflection of who we are – a people who believe in solidarity, self-help
and community progress.”
Khumalo emphasised that co-operatives have
long served communities that mainstream financial institutions could not reach,
especially rural and underserved areas, by mobilising small savings,
circulating credit and building trust within member communities.
“With growth comes new challenges
and new opportunities,” the minister stated, pointing to the sector’s E3.5
billion in assets.
“To continue thriving, we must strengthen
how we manage liquidity, build professional skills and embrace digital tools.
That is why the time is right to establish the Eswatini Co-operative Bank – one
that is owned and led by the sector itself.”
He clarified that the proposed
co-operative bank would not replace existing co-operative Financial
Institutions (CFIs), SACCOs or savings groups.
“Let me be clear: this bank is not here to
replace or compete with our co-operative Financial Institutions,” Khumalo said.
“It will act as a central hub, providing liquidity when needed, offering
wholesale banking services, modern digital systems and tailored training.”
This centralisation is expected to
strengthen financial resilience across the co-operative network, improve
governance capacity and allow co-operatives to participate in larger
development finance markets.
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