Swaziland Newsletter No. 949 – 23 October 2026
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.
Serious corruption at ICT – Bennett
By Ntombi Mhlongo, Times of eSwatini, 21
October 2026
LOBAMBA: Businessman and
former Senator Walter Bennett yesterday challenged senators to give him an
opportunity to present information relating to what he described as serious
corruption allegations at the Ministry of Information, Communications and Technology
(ICT).
This happened yesterday during
a session where stakeholders were given an opportunity to make their
submissions on the loan Bills that are currently being financed by government,
through the Ministry of Finance.
Bennett said he was prepared
to share information in his possession regarding the alleged corruption,
provided senators guaranteed that it would be protected and that appropriate
action would be taken.
He asked the Chairperson of
the Senate Portfolio Committee of the Ministry of Finance, Tony Sibandze, how
he should voluntarily share the information he had and who exactly he should
engage.
“I will do this if you make an
undertaking that this information will not be turned into something else. I can
avail myself and present in person, after which you can invite me and I can
present one or two documents,” he said.
In his characteristically
outspoken manner, the businessman said he was even willing to appear before
senators and volunteer the information in person but, insisted that he needed
assurances that the information would not be disregarded.
The former senator raised the
matter while making his submissions on the three proposed Finance Bills, one of
them being the one that is meant for the Eswatini Posts and Telecommunications
Corporation (EPTC).
The former senator first
warned that Parliament must stop approving public funding without first
ensuring that corruption and accountability concerns within the corporation had
been addressed.
Bennett said Parliament would
be passing loan Bills worth millions of Emalangeni involving the ministry, yet
questions remained unanswered about the circumstances under which a senior
officer was removed.
He said no explanation had
been given regarding the removal, adding that the issue could also be
discussed.
To read more of
this report, click here
https://times.co.sz/46774/news/serious-corruption-at-ict-bennett/
Police ordered to pay E380 000 for torture
By Sibusiso Tsabedze, eSwatini Observer, 16
October 2026
The High Court has ordered
government and the national commissioner of police to pay E380 000 in damages
to a man who was unlawfully arrested, assaulted and tortured by police officers
who allegedly used a plastic bag to suffocate him during interrogation.
In a judgment delivered on
Wednesday, Judge Sabelo Masuku awarded Sandile William Hlongwane E180 000 for
unlawful arrest and detention and E200 000 for pain and suffering arising from
the assault and torture he endured while in police custody.
The court also ordered the
defendants to pay interest at 9% per annum on the E380 000, calculated from the
date of judgment until final payment, together with legal costs for both the
liability and damages assessment proceedings. Judge Masuku strongly condemned
the torture method used by the investigating officers, describing it as
incompatible with a civilised justice system.
“The method restraining a
helpless, handcuffed suspect supine on a bench with hands cuffed beneath and
inducing slow asphyxiation by sealing his face with a plastic bag, offends
every tenet of a civilised system of justice,” the judge stated. He said the
method violated the absolute prohibition against torture and cruel, inhuman and
degrading treatment under Section 18(2) of the Constitution of Eswatini. “There
can be no justification, no circumstances and no duty that can excuse it. It is
abhorrent to the conscience of this court and to all right-thinking members of
society,” Justice Masuku said.
The judgment follows an
earlier ruling delivered on June 4 in which the court found the defendants
liable for Hlongwane’s unlawful arrest and detention on August 15, 2020 as well
as his assault and torture by Constable Detective Shiba and Constable Tsabedze.
To read more of
this report, click here
https://www.eswatiniobserver.com/police-ordered-to-pay-e380-000-for-torture/
Civil society welcomes sex offenders register move
By Bongiwe Dlamini, eSwatini Observer, 19
October 2026
SWAGAA
Director Nonhlanhla Dlamini and One Billion Rising Eswatini Coordinator Colani
Hlatjwako
Swatini Action Group Against
Abuse (SWAGAA) Director Nonhlanhla Dlamini said the development was long
overdue, considering that the Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence (SODV) Act
was enacted in 2018.
The reaction follows
government’s move towards operationalising the National Register for Sex
Offenders by advertising the post of Registrar of the National Register for Sex
Offenders. The post was advertised by the Civil Service Commission (CS). The
recruitment marks a step towards putting the register into operation, following
years in which provisions of the SODV Act had yet to be fully implemented.
The need for the register is
contained under Part IX, Sections 56 to 59 of the Sexual Offences and Domestic
Violence (SODV) Act, 2018.
The register is intended to
support the implementation of the law by providing a mechanism for recording
sex offenders in accordance with the applicable legal requirements,
strengthening efforts. She said the organisation was hopeful that the register
would achieve its intended purpose of protecting children, women and other
vulnerable groups from repeat offenders.
“We are happy that finally
government is working on operationalising the National Register for Sex
Offenders,” said Dlamini. She explained that, without an operational register,
convicted sex offenders have been able to secure employment in environments
where children were present, exposing minors to the risk of sexual abuse.
Dlamini said some offenders
deliberately sought employment in places that brought them into close contact
with children, making it necessary to have a system that would prevent repeat
offenders from accessing such opportunities.
To read more of
this report, click here
https://www.eswatiniobserver.com/14946/
Campaigning for elections illegal for now – AG
By Ntombi Mhlongo, Times of eSwatini, 16
October 2026
SIBEBE – Hold your horses!
The campaign trail for the
2028 general elections has not yet officially opened, and anyone campaigning at
this stage could be committing an offence.
Attorney General (AG) Sifiso
Mashampu Khumalo has warned aspiring Members of Parliament (MPs) and those
hoping to be re-elected that campaigning before the legally permitted period is
against the law, cautioning that those who engage in the practice could face
legal consequences if sufficient evidence is produced.
Khumalo was speaking during
the final day of the retreat for MPs held at Sibebe Resort, where the legality
of activities by aspiring candidates ahead of the 2028 national elections was
questioned.
The issue was raised by Nkhaba
MP Hope Shiba, who expressed concern over what he described as widespread
campaigning across the country, coinciding with the Elections and Boundaries
Commission’s (EBC) voter education and registration activities.
Shiba told the retreat that
some individuals who are not sitting MPs were allegedly using community
projects and other initiatives to market themselves to voters ahead of the
elections.
He said some aspiring
candidates were reportedly securing projects through Microprojects, raising
questions about whether such activities amounted to campaigning before the
official campaign period.
The MP said he had approached
the EBC seeking clarity on the matter, but was reportedly informed that there
was nothing wrong with individuals marketing themselves ahead of the elections.
This, he said, left him
questioning the distinction between marketing oneself and actively campaigning
for political office, as well as whether such activities could undermine the
transparency of the electoral process.
Responding to the concerns,
Khumalo maintained that the campaign period had not yet opened and that
campaigning at this stage is unlawful.
“Campaigning now is against
the law. It is an offence, but an offence must be accompanied by evidence,” he
said.
The AG, however, explained
that distinguishing between ordinary community assistance and electioneering
could be challenging, as providing food parcels or other forms of assistance to
members of the public did not automatically amount to campaigning.
To read more of
this report, click here
https://times.co.sz/46449/news/campaigning-for-elections-illegal-for-now-ag/
See also
MPs fear losing in
2028 elections (Times of eSwatini)
https://times.co.sz/46518/news/mps-fear-losing-in-2028-elections/
Screen
parliamentary candidates for criminal records (eSwatini Positive News)
Army Commander Lieutenant General Moses Mashikilisane
Fakudze orders soldiers to collectively contribute R1million for his ‘goodbye’
party
By Zweli Martin Dlamini, Swaziland News, 17
October 2026
MBABANE: Army Commander
Lieutenant General Moses Mashikilisane Fakudze has ordered all soldiers in the
country to collectively contribute over R1million for his farewell party, he is
highly expected to leave Office on the 11th November 2026 should His Majesty
King Mswati decides not to renew his contract.
Colonel Delisa Tsabedze formed
a Whatsap Group titled “UEDF Comd’s Contributions” and then added other senior
Army officers and currently, the Group has over twenty (20) members and some
are leaving it in large numbers.
Eswatini has about six
thousand (6000) soldiers and the expected contributions amount to R1.2million
with each soldier expected to contribute two hundred Rands (R200.00).
Lieutenent General Collen
Lasco was added as a member of the Whatsap Group together with Major General
Thabo Luhlanga, Major General Magongo, Brigadier General Phahlane Dlamini,
Brigadier General Hoppy Vilakati, Brigadier General Nhlanhla Zwane, Colonel
Mduduzi Mntambo, Colonel Victor Manyatsi, Colonel Phindile Mmema, Brigadier
General Raymond Ndwandwe and Major General Moses Magongo.
But at the time of compiling
this report, some of the Generals were leaving the Whatsap Group in large
numbers after being added by Colonel Delisa Tsabedze and this journalist will
obtain further information from the Whatsap Group as the preparations for the
Army Commander’s farewell party continue this week.
Army Spokesperson Major
Sandile Gwebu declined to comment about the Whatsap Group seeking to harvest
money from the financially struggling soldiers for his farewell party.
But the Army Commander
addressed the Commanding Officers on Friday formally informing them about the
idea of organizing the “farewell party” for him, he then pleaded with them not
to leak the information to this journalist.
“Sengesaba nekukhuluma ngoba ngeke
kuphele ngisho ten (10) minutes utawubese sekabhalile Zwemart kutsi bengitsini
lana”, said the Army Commander.
6 012 girls receive HPV vaccine in 10 days
By Sifiso Nhlabatsi, eSwatini Positive News, 20
October 2026
MBABANE: A total of 6 012
schoolgirls have received Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine doses in Eswatini
in just 10 days, as the Ministry of Health intensifies efforts to protect
children against cervical cancer.
According to the ministry’s
latest update, the figures were recorded between October 7 and 16, 2026, under
the ongoing school-based HPV vaccination campaign targeting nine-year-old
girls.
Of the total number
vaccinated, 5 911 girls received their first dose, while 101 received their
second dose, reflecting the campaign’s efforts to reach eligible children at
different stages of vaccination.
The exercise involves health
practitioners visiting primary schools across the country to administer the
vaccine, while also reaching girls who missed their previous doses.
The campaign is aimed at
strengthening early protection against HPV, a virus responsible for almost all
cases of cervical cancer.
To read more of
this report, click here
https://eswatinipositivenews.online/6-012-girls-receive-hpv-vaccine-in-10-days/
See also
Alcohol and
obesity fuel eSwatini’s chronic disease crisis (eSwatini Positive News)
https://eswatinipositivenews.online/alcohol-and-obesity-fuel-eswatinis-chronic-disease-crisis/
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