Swaziland Newsletter No. 826 – 10 May 2024
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.
eSwatini among Africa’s
worst governed nations
by Sibusiso Dlamini, eSwatini
Observer, 6 May 2024
Eswatini
is among the top 10 worst-governed nations in Africa, according to World
Economics, a respected UK-based research organisation.
The
United Nations defines good governance as the process where public institutions
conduct public affairs and manage public resources in a manner that promotes
the rule of law and the realisation of human rights (civil, political,
economic, social and cultural).
The
good governance ranking, according to the organisation, is assessed through
four main indexes; corruption perception, rule of law, press freedom, and
political rights, with each of them given equal weight.
The
comprehensive assessment of the governance dynamics expose glaring deficiencies
across these benchmarks and systemic issues hindering progress and development
in the country, from rampant corruption and political instability to a
disregard for the rule of law.
….
Public Sector Associations who represent
civil servants in various sectors said the index’s findings were believable to
them as its findings was a lived experience for them, emphasising that a
majority of their issues stem from bad governance.
“There are no lies to that at all because
working with government exposes poor governance on a daily and it is incredibly
frustrating,” said Swaziland National Association of Government Accounting
Personnel (SNAGAP) Secretary, Phumzile Masilela, reacting to the Index.
“There's no transparency, no respect for
workers' rights, and even the law is disregarded,” she added, emphasising the
frustrations encountered within government's operations.
She complained of corruption within government and said it had planted an
attitude and spirit of incompetency.
“There are people who do as they please
because they are connected, and once you try to be vocal about it, you are
ostracised and victimised, which is bad governance of the highest order,” she
stated. Masilela also accused government of bad communication, and shone light
on the fact that the country could not chart a path towards inclusive growth
and development without concerted efforts towards comprehensive governance
reform.
“Until we commit to that, the new era of
prosperity and stability will remain nothing but a pipe dream,” she said,
further speaking against the introduction of the Performance Management System
(PMS) without provision of working tools.
Similarly, President of the Swaziland
National Association of Teachers (SNAT), Mbongwa Dlamini, said the Index was a
true reflection of the country, calling to attention the pervasive corruption
in the nation and its impact on the education sector. “Nothing is transparent,
from the hiring of teachers to promotions, so imagine what that does to the
spirit of the professionals in the profession, let alone the learning process
when educators have to teach while dispirited,” he quipped.
Dlamini warned that it is high time the
government realises that bad governance has far-reaching consequences, in
particular on critical sectors such as education.
To read this full report, click here
http://new.observer.org.sz/details.php?id=22423
By
Bongiwe Dlamini, Swaziland News, 6 May, 2024
MBABANE: Prime Minister (PM) Russell Mmiso
Dlamini who attended the Workers Day Celebration at the Prince of Wales Sports
Group on Wednesday [1 May 2024], did not come with a solution on how his
administration will create jobs for workers but instead, he urged nurses and
teachers to build their own clinics and private schools in order to make money.
This is contained in a written statement
that was supposed to be delivered by the PM on Wednesday, the Prime Minister (PM)had
to flee for safety after being stopped by angry workers from addressing the May
Workers Day Celebration.
“On this May Day, I would like to make
propositions that will transform our lives as workers. Primarily, I would like
to motivate that we can be better than where we are today and our future can be
brighter if we maintain the right mindset. Workers, for instance, can build
their own banks that will enable us to access finance at low rates. Through
these banks, we can lend even to our employers and charge them reasonable
interest rates. Teachers can build private schools and make a decent living
from that, just as we have other international schools in the country. Nurses
can build private clinics and hospitals and make a decent living from that as
well”, said the Prime Minister (PM).
The sentiments of the PM comes amid a
collapsed health and education system in the midst of corruption in the public
administration and royal extravagant spending.
Reached for comments by this Swaziland
News on Monday afternoon Wander Mkhonza, the Secretary General of the
Amalgamated Trade Union of Swaziland (ATUSWA) criticized the statement of the
Prime Minister, saying privatization of basic services like health and
education will not improve the wellbeing of the people.
“While we agree that workers must everyday
work on improving their financial independence, we as workers do not agree with
the views of Prime Minister on workers building private clinics and private
schools precisely because we don't believe that privatisation basic necessities
like health and education improves the general wellbeing of our people. Private
institutions do not work on a mandate to improve lives but work to make profits
and the detrimental of those that do not have the means. It is therefore wrong
for government to suggest that workers must build businesses that would somehow
replace the social responsibility of government”, said the well-known unionist.
Warning on syndicate harvesting body
parts
By
Sithembile Hlatshwayo, Times of eSwatini, 7 May 2024
MBABANE: The Office of the Prevention of
People Trafficking and People Smuggling has warned members of the
public to be on the lookout for a syndicate harvesting human body parts and
trafficking of same.
This warning follows revelations by some
victims who said they survived the trap by a certain woman who had lured them
after running an advert in this publication, purporting to be looking for a
helper. A post was also run on the social media pages attracting attention from
desperate job seekers.
Head of Secretariat- Prevention of People
Trafficking and People Smuggling at the Prime Minister’s Office Nompumelelo
Lukhele, urged the nation to carefully study details on adverts and social
media posts regarding job opportunities. Lukhele said the location was
important to get an idea of who the people offering the jobs were and where
they came from. In the process, Lukhele said the job seekers should get clear
particulars of the advertisers.
According to Lukhele, it was difficult for
the job seekers to know who the people were, hence it was safer to avoid going
to the location sent by those offering the jobs alone. She said the
companion should wait until the interview was over in either the office or
home, where it was taking place, in the case where helpers were being
sought. The head of secretariat added that in the event the job seeker had
suspicions about the offer not being authentic, they should go with their
instinct and not show up.
To read more of this report, click
here
http://www.times.co.sz/news/144981-warning-on-syndicate-harvesting-body-parts.html
‘You are loved’: A
clinic for at-risk people in eSwatini
Doctors Without
Borders, 2 May 2024
The small
but bustling town of Matsapha in Eswatini is known for its industrial
businesses and textile firms. Women from across the country come here seeking
employment opportunities, often in factories offering minimal pay.
Known as a town “where the buyer meets the seller,” Matsapha is also a
hub for sex work. This year, Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières
(MSF), in collaboration with stakeholders from Eswatini's Health Ministry and
community leaders, officially opened a clinic, which the local community has named
“Sitsandziwe,” translating to “you are loved.”
The clinic’s scope of health coverage was informed by a 2022 MSF study
on sexually transmitted infections (STIs), which identified a significant
prevalence of STIs, particularly impacting people between the ages of 18 to 29.
Matsapha is also a welcoming place for the LGBTQI+ community, and has
hosted events to encourage marginalized groups to seek health care.
In response to the need for an inclusive and comprehensive sexual health
clinic, Sitsandziwe aims to offer effective and convenient sexual health
services. The team provides all services free of charge, while ensuring a safe
and private environment.
Addressing the STI burden is a long-term endeavor that involves not just
medical solutions but also tackling social challenges.
“The ultimate goal of the clinic's activities is to gather data,
identify challenges, and uncover opportunities for the national program,
leading to policy changes. These could include the introduction of lab-based
STI diagnosis and treatment, as well as hepatitis services at primary health
clinics,” said Dr. Hayk Karakozian, MSF medical coordinator in the clinic.
To read more of this report, click here
https://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/latest/you-are-loved-clinic-risk-people-eswatini
Good Shepherd’s life-changing surgery
on kids with disabilities
By
Wonderboy Dlamini, eSwatini Observer, 8 May 2024
Good Shepherd Catholic Hospital has
recorded in its history books the first ever procedure known as gastrocnemius
recession and other procedures on four children with disabilities.
The four children who were initially
diagnosed with cerebral palsy and clubfoot had severe joint contractures and
deformities.
The operations to lengthen and
straightening the hands and feet were performed last week at the hospital's
theatre by a team of doctors from the United Kingdom (UK).
The team was invited to the country by one
of the hospital's volunteer surgeons, Dr Joseph Northway.
Explaining about the procedure, Dr Alex
Aarvold, a visiting surgeon, said it was all about helping children with
disabilities.
“The surgeries were to help these children
stand and perform tasks independently. We screened nine children, and operated
on four of them,” he said.
Aarvold expressed hope to help more
children when his colleagues visit the hospital in the next two months.
To read more of this report, click
here
http://new.observer.org.sz/details.php?id=22425
By
Zweli Martin Dlamini, Swaziland News, 8 May, 2024
MBABANE: Themba Masuku, the former Deputy
Prime Minister(DPM) allegedly received over R2million alleged African National
Congress (ANC) laundered corrupt monies from controversial Bishop Bheki Lukhele
of the All Nations Church in Zion, an investigation by AmaBhungane Centre for
Investigative Journalism in collaboration with the International Consortium of
Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) has found.
In a report published this week and
quoting a bundle of documents sourced from the Eswatini Financial Intelligence
Unit (EFIU), the team of international investigative journalists found that, through
his company-Lawuba Investments (Pty) Ltd, former DPM Themba Masuku, the then
Shiselweni Regional Administrator (RA), sold a Farm to Bishop Lukhele at a
suspicious inflated price amounting to over R2million in what was suspected to
be an act of money laundering.
Referring to an article previously
published by this Swaziland News, AmaBhungane quoted Bishop Lukhele
having claimed that his money was legitimate.
This publication questioned the Bishop in
2019 after he was seen questionably accumulating wealth with no clear source of
income.
“I can confidently confirm that my money
is clean because it is received through the banks, it is traceable with all the
proof. I don’t deposit money to the bank in cash except for the church
offerings,” said Lukhele.
The investigative report produced under
the ongoing highly effective investigative journalism project by Swazi Secrets,
AmaBhungane and the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ)further
reveals that, Judge Andreas Lukhele while practicing as a lawyer at Peter
Dunseth Attorneys, was an alleged transferring attorney and a money-laundering
conduit for Bishop Lukhele and former DPM Themba Masuku.
A questionnaire was sent to the former
DPM, however, he had not responded at the time of compiling this report.
To read more of this report, click
here
https://swazilandnews.co.za/fundza.php?nguyiphi=6503
See also
Eswatini Financial Intelligence
documents suggest that, ex-FSRA CEO Sandile Dlamini was sacrificed for
government to be seen fighting corruption.
https://swazilandnews.co.za/fundza.php?nguyiphi=6504
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