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.
New
regulations to crack whip on online media
By
Ntombi Mhlongo, Times of eSwatini, 4 August 2026
MBABANE: For some time, government has
struggled with creating a fair, ethical and accountable digital media
environment while addressing growing concerns over unregulated online
publishing platforms.
With each passing year, there are concerns
in the media industry that the absence of a registration and licensing
framework for online media platforms has created an uneven playing field.
The argument is that digital publishers
are able to compete for audiences and advertising without incurring the
statutory permit and licensing costs borne by mainstream media.
The argument is that mainstream media is
required to obtain statutory permits and licences, pay the associated fees and
comply with regulatory obligations.
These requirements increase their
operating costs and subject them to formal oversight.
Many online media platforms, if they are
not currently subject to the same licensing and registration requirements,
avoid those costs while competing for the same audience, advertising revenue
and influence.
As a result, there is now a feeling that
traditional media organisations are competing on unequal terms because they
bear regulatory and financial obligations that some online publishers do
not. In particular, the argument is that there is a creation of an uneven
regulatory landscape within Eswatini’s media industry.
The Ministry of Information, Communication
and Technology (ICT), was recently called to provide answers in Parliament on
what is being done to regulate the mushrooming online news platforms.
The minister was particularly asked to
state the legal frameworks that are in place to regulate such platforms.
….
The ministry revealed that it has
completed the development of the Online Media Publishing Guidelines 2026, which
introduce a registration requirement for online publishers and require them to
adhere to established journalistic and ethical standards.
According to the ministry, the Guidelines
form part of broader efforts to strengthen accountability within the online
media sector while ensuring that digital publishers are subject to professional
standards similar to those expected of traditional media organisations.
The ministry stated that the guidelines
provide for several important requirements intended to improve the quality and
integrity of online publishing.
These include provisions dealing with the
verification and accuracy of news content, procedures for corrections and
retractions where inaccurate information has been published, the protection of
personal privacy, safeguards for children and other vulnerable persons,
prohibited conduct and the responsible use of artificial intelligence (AI) in
publishing.
It explained that the overall objective of
the Guidelines is to foster greater accountability and professionalism within
the online media sector while creating a more balanced regulatory environment
for all publishers.
The ministry indicated that the framework
is intended to respond directly to concerns that the current regulatory
landscape has become skewed as digital platforms continue to grow in number and
influence.
To read more of this report, click
here
https://times.co.sz/40740/news/new-regulations-to-crack-whip-on-online-media/
See also
High licence fee kills local tv
dreams (Times of eSwatini)
https://times.co.sz/40566/news/high-licence-fee-kills-local-tv-dreams/
Agriculture
must create jobs wealth for youth – Minister Tshawuka
By
Sifiso Nhlabatsi, eSwatini Positive News, 5 August 2026
EZULWINI: Agriculture must create
jobs and wealth for young people.
This was the central message from Minister
of Agriculture Mandla Tshawuka during the official launch of the Agriculture
Sector Review (ASR) and the Agricultural Solutions Marketplace held as part of
the National Strategic Dialogue on Transforming Agriculture and Agribusiness in
Eswatini at Happy Valley Hotel yesterday.
The minister said government was
determined to transform the country’s agricultural sector into one that is
commercially competitive, climate-resilient, innovative and driven by
technology. He said agriculture should no longer be viewed merely as a means of
subsistence but as a modern business capable of creating employment, improving
household incomes and making a greater contribution to national economic
growth.
“We want agriculture to create decent jobs
for our youth, generate wealth for farmers, improve household incomes and
contribute significantly to national economic growth,” Tshawuka said.
To read more of this report, click
here
https://eswatinipositivenews.online/agriculture-must-create-jobs-wealth-for-youth-minister-tshawuka/
Persons
with disabilities highlight barriers faced while shopping
By Phiwase
Phungwayo, eSwatini Observer, 4 August 2026
Persons with disabilities have called for
greater accessibility and improved customer service in retail stores,
highlighting the daily challenges they face when shopping.
The concerns were raised during the DPM
Trolley Dash Drive at Pick n Pay Mashayitafula yesterday, where beneficiaries
shared their experiences of navigating retail spaces.
Victor Mpila, who represented people with
hearing impairments, said communication remained a major challenge, as shop
assistants often assumed that customers with hearing impairments could hear
normally.
He said the situation becomes even more
difficult when assistants are unable to communicate using sign language,
leaving people with hearing impairments struggling to access assistance while
shopping.
Wheelchair users also raised concerns
about inaccessible store layouts, particularly shelves positioned beyond their
reach.
One beneficiary said wheelchair users were
often overtaken by other shoppers, while products placed on high shelves were
difficult or impossible for them to access independently.
Nelisiwe Shiba, who has albinism, said
people often assumed that because persons with albinism appeared able-bodied,
they had no visual difficulties.
She said the small size of numbers and
words on price tags made it difficult for people with albinism to see prices,
potentially affecting their ability to compare products and make informed
purchasing decisions.
Sibusiso Maziya, who has a visual
impairment, said shopping could be particularly challenging because assistants
sometimes simply point customers towards products without explaining what was
available.
He said this means that shoppers with
visual impairments could miss out on cheaper alternatives and ultimately spend
more money than they could afford.
The beneficiaries called for retailers to
improve accessibility, train staff on disability inclusion and ensure that all
customers can shop with dignity and independence.
Meanwhile, DPM Thulisile Dladla yesterday
launched the country’s first-ever trolley dash competition specifically
targeting unemployed people with disabilities, in a move aimed at promoting
inclusion and challenging businesses to make their services more accessible.
The E30 000 trolley dash drive saw nine
beneficiaries given the opportunity to shop for basic groceries worth up to E2
000 each at Pick n Pay Mashayitafula yesterday.
 |
Sibongile Khumalo smiles alongside Siphocosini MP Mduduzi Matsebula, who is also minister of health after doing her shopping during the first-ever Trolley Dash Competition for Persons with Disabilities
To read more of this report, click here
https://www.eswatiniobserver.com/persons-with-disabilities-highlight-barriers-faced-while-shopping/
U.S.,
eSwatini strengthen E4 billion health partnership for the future
By
Gcwalisile Mhlabane, eSwatini Positive News, 5 August 2026
MANZINI: The United States and the
Kingdom of Eswatini are deepening a multi-billion-emalangeni health partnership
that will strengthen the country’s healthcare system, protect communities from
future disease outbreaks and build a more resilient health sector for
generations to come.
The long-term collaboration was
highlighted during the 16th East, Central and Southern Africa Health Community
(ECSA-HC) Best Practices Forum held at The George Hotel in Manzini, where
health leaders from across the region gathered to share successful healthcare
solutions and strengthen regional cooperation.
Speaking during the forum, Kristine Clark,
Team Lead for the Office of Foreign Assistance at the U.S. Embassy in Eswatini,
said the partnership demonstrates the United States’ continued confidence in
Eswatini’s healthcare achievements and its commitment to supporting the
country’s next phase of health sector development.
Clark revealed that the two countries
signed a five-year bilateral health Memorandum of Understanding in December
2025 worth between E3.48 billion and E4 billion, including a US$205 million
contribution from the United States Government.
The agreement, which runs from 2026 to
2030, introduces a co-investment approach that promotes shared responsibility,
accountability and increased national ownership of healthcare programmes,
positioning Eswatini to sustain its health gains well into the future.
“The United States is proud to continue
deepening this partnership between our two governments,” Clark said.
The investment will support critical
health priorities, including expanding HIV prevention, treatment and care
services, strengthening tuberculosis control programmes, improving health
information systems, enhancing laboratory detection capacity and reinforcing
disease surveillance across the country.
To read more of this report, click
here
eSwatini
growth to slow after strong 2025 performance: IMF
By
Lesego Lebuso, Channel Africa, 5 August 2026
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) says
eSwatini’s economic growth is expected to moderate in 2026 despite strong
expansion last year, as fiscal and external risks remain elevated.
An IMF team led by Xiangming Li visited
Mbabane from July 23 to August 5 for discussions on the 2026 Article IV
Consultation with the Kingdom of eSwatini.
Li said real gross domestic product (GDP)
growth accelerated to 4.9% in 2025, supported by large public and private
investment projects. However, unemployment remains high at 33.5%.
Growth is expected to slow in 2026 because
of higher fuel costs, weaker global demand, tighter financing conditions,
weather-related disruptions and easing investment activity.
Inflation moderated in 2025 and continued
to decline in early 2026 before rising to 2.6% in June. The IMF expects higher
fuel prices to push up average inflation for the year. “The outlook is subject
to significant downside risks,” Li said.
Li said a prolonged conflict in the Middle
East could raise fuel and fertiliser prices, weaken external demand and
increase fiscal pressures. Climate shocks, particularly drought and erratic
rainfall, could also disrupt agriculture, increase food prices and worsen
poverty.
eSwatini’s external position improved
modestly in 2025, with the current account surplus widening from 2.1% of GDP in
2024 to 2.4%. However, gross international reserves remained low at 2.5 months
of imports at the end of 2025.
The IMF said the current account surplus
is expected to narrow because of higher fuel costs and strong
investment-related imports.
To read more of this report, click
here
Our
lives are in danger – Psychiatric orderlies
By
Bongiwe Dlamini, eSwatini Observer, 6 August 2026
Orderlies at the National Psychiatric
Referral Hospital in Manzini have accused the administration of placing their
lives at risk by refusing to implement a two-shift system.
They said the current three-shift
arrangement left them overworked, exposed to violent patients and without
adequate support.
The aggrieved workers yesterday picketed
outside the hospital before presenting a petition to the administrator,
detailing what they described as unsafe working conditions and a lack of
engagement by management.
They said the three-shift system left only
one orderly to care for more than 60 patients in each ward, increasing the risk
of assault while attending to violent psychiatric patients.
According to the workers, several
orderlies had sustained serious injuries over the years, with some losing
fingers, parts of their ears and suffering other physical assaults while on
duty.
They alleged that despite reporting these
incidents to management, the only assistance they received was pain medication
and verbal apologies.
The workers further claimed that although
government provides for overtime payments where applicable, the administrator
allegedly refuses to approve their overtime claims.
They also said they did not receive
hardship allowances despite the hazardous nature of their work.
The orderlies argued that physically
handling violent psychiatric patients was not part of their original job
description.
They said their core responsibilities were
cleaning hospital wards, floors, surfaces and ablution facilities,
requisitioning cleaning materials, and collecting and washing laundry.
However, they said their duties had
expanded significantly due to the nature of the patients at the hospital.
They said their current duties included
responsibilities that went far beyond housekeeping.
According to the workers, they were
required to receive and manage violent psychiatric patients upon admission,
provide security to patients around the clock, physically restrain aggressive
patients, separate patients involved in fights and ensure patients remained
safely confined within the facility.
To read more of this report, click
here
https://www.eswatiniobserver.com/our-lives-are-in-danger-psychiatric-orderlies/
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