Swaziland
Newsletter No. 759 – 6 January 2023
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.
Declaring
gender-based violence national crisis cannot solve problem – DPM
By
Sifiso Dlamini, eSwatini Observer, 3 January 2023
With calls increasing for government to
declare gender-based violence a national crisis, the Deputy Prime Minister,
Themba Masuku, says this would not bring an end to the scourge.
Masuku said government alone could not end
gender-based violence and called on civil society organisations, traditional
authorities and society at large to come up with solutions to the national
challenge.
In an attempt to curb gender-based
violence, politicians, the civil society and general public called on
government to declare GBV a national crisis following an increase in the number
of reported cases.
According to the Eswatini Priority
Indicator Report (PIR) launched on December 7, 2022, 38 per cent of girls
experienced sexual violence in childhood.
Almost 43 per cent of girls and women who
reported any incident of sexual violence had two or more incidents before they
reached the age of 18.
The report further detailed that one out
of four girls and young women reported experiencing physical violence prior to
age 18. Of these, 65 per cent described the perpetrator as being violent multiple
times.
Sexual violence was associated with
significantly increased probability of depression, thoughts of suicide,
unintended pregnancy, pregnancy complications or miscarriages, and sexually
transmitted diseases, including HIV/AIDS.
Meanwhile between January and August 2019,
there were 560 cases reported on gender-based violence. Between January and
August 2020, there were 629 cases recorded by the Royal Eswatini Police
Service.
The civil society has emphasised on the
need to identify the key drivers of gender-based violence, such as mental
health so they could be turned into solutions through programmes.
Masuku stated that declaring GBV as a national crisis alone was not the
solution, pointing out that such initiatives had been undertaken on other issues
with little to no improvement.
“For instance, HIV was declared as a
pandemic a long time ago but it has taken years to actually see significant
improvement,” he said.
He said other initiatives had been
undertaken by government such as the enactment of the Sexual Offences and
Domestic Violence Act with the hope that it would deter perpetrators but
instead the volume and nature of the crimes had escalated.
The deputy premier said as government, they were aware of a number of the root
causes for gender based violence, which include alcoholism, substance abuse,
child headed households and teenage pregnancy, among other.
“These problems cannot be solved by
government alone. Everyone has to step up and play their part if we are ever to
eradicate this disease from our society,” said Masuku.
He insisted on the need to have clear expectations on what would be done once
GBV was declared a national crisis.
Masuku challenged those calling for GBV to
be declared a national crisis to come up with solutions. “Let us all come
together as a nation to find a solution to ending GBV and not look to
government alone,” said Masuku.
He challenged the civil society,
traditional authorities, families and the nation at large to come up with a
proposal on how this could be addressed.
He said there was a need to have a clear expectation and proposals on what
would be done once GBV was declared a national crisis.
Adding, Masuku said there was a need for
all stakeholders to work together towards addressing the challenge at hand as
it was already out of control.
New
armoured vehicles: Army to patrol, ensure Tinkhundla elections take place,
political activists warned
By
Zweli Martin Dlamini, Swaziland News, 4 January, 2023
MBABANE: Army Spokesperson Lieutenant
Tengetile Khumalo says Government is better positioned to respond regarding the
purchasing of armoured vehicles for the Umbutfo Eswatini Defense Force (UEDF).
This comes amid reports and emerging
allegations suggesting that more vehicles would be purchased ahead of the
coming elections, to patrol the whole country and deal with those who intended
to stop the elections.
“We will patrol the whole country, day and
night and ensure that the elections are successful. Those who want to stop the
elections are warned not to dare disturb and violate the people’s right to
vote”, said an insider.
Lieutenant Tengetile Khumalo,the Army
Spokesperson said the Umbutfo Eswatini Defense Force (UEDF) can only respond to
operational issues.
“Your questionnaire is highly appreciated.
The Umbutfo Eswatini Defence Force Public Affairs can only respond to
operational issues. Kindly contact the Government Spokesperson in this regard,”
said the Army Public Relations Officer (PRO).
But Government Spokesperson Alpheous
Nxumalo when contacted this week said issues touching on elections were handled
by the Elections and Boundaries Commission (EBC).
“Issues touching on elections are handled
by the EBC, contact the Chairman,” said the Government Spokesperson.
Efforts to reach Prince Mhlabuhlangene,the
Elections Commission Chairperson proved unsuccessful at the time of compiling
this report.
Eswatini is in the midst of a political
crisis,elections might be held under the barrel of a gun despite calls for a
political dialogue.
Reached for comments, human rights lawyer
Thulani Maseko, the Chairperson of the MultiStakeholder Forum (MSF) said it was
deeply concerning that at a time when violence seemed to be escalating, there
were no signs on the part of the King and Government to normalize the
situation.
“The fact that the King and Government are
buying arms of war and vehicles is a bad sign that the Tinkhundla regime is
gearing for war, in a situation where there is already a low-key civil war. No
matter how long the Government and the King can prolong the question of a
transition to a multiparty democratic dispensation, it is inevitable,” said the
MSF Chairperson.
See also:
King Mswati buys multimillion
armoured Toyota LandCruisers for the military amid political unrest
http://swazilandnews.co.za/fundza.php?nguyiphi=3626
Bring law allowing voters to recall
MPs - EBC chairman
By Bodwa Mbingo, eSwatini Observer, 1 January 2023
With
the nation gearing up for next year’s national elections, EBC Chairman
Mhlabuhlangene Dlamini has seen the need for the country’s political system to
allow voters power to recall underperforming representatives voted into
Parliament.
EBC
is the Elections and Boundaries Commission. It is a body that will be
overseeing next year’s elections for members of Parliament (MPs), constituency
headmen (tindvuna tetinkhundla) and chiefdom councillors (bucopho) in all the
59 Tinkhundla or Constituencies around the country.
In
an interview with this publication, the EBC chairman noted that it was a
weakness that under the election system of the country, there is not available
a controlled and balanced mechanism, by which voters are able to hold their
elected politicians accountable.
He
said the filling of this gap is among the reform measures for the Tinkhundla
political system urgently required for its efficiency and utility and that this
may include the power to recall, in a non-abusive and controlled method, not
made too easy to exploit for abuse.
Most
recently, he noted that the Southern African Development Community (SADC) now
had a benchmark, Elections Model Law for the respective member States, as
Eswatini is, to align its respective national election laws in the context of
legal harmonisation.
He
said these were the principles and laws, instruments and reports that the EBC
had, in his personal assessment, been progressively and systematically endeavouring
to meet, over the election cycles post the 2005 Eswatini Constitution
promulgation to date.
“The
various reform and improvement areas have been largely informed by these
objectives in the context of the country’s obtaining legal universe, from the
national Constitution.
Equally
notable also, in any election reform initiative undertaken, involves national
consultations through the respective representative stakeholder clusters,
especially during civic and voter education.”
To
read more of this report, click here
http://new.observer.org.sz/details.php?id=19612
Persecution
of 3 Swazi MPs - Editor writes for the Congress of African Journalists international
magazine
By
CAJ coordinator eSwatini, Eugene Dube, Swati Newsweek
African journalists are called upon to act
in solidarity with the oppressed Swazi people, influential Swaziland Liberation
Movement President (SWALIMO) President, Mduduzi Gawuzela Simelane said Tuesday
during an interview.
Simelane an exiled lawmaker, escaped the
cruel grip of injustice under King Mswati III dictatorship, believes African
journalists can assist in the Swazi struggle for multiparty democracy.
King Mswati’s government arrested two
other pro-democracy Members of Parliament who together with Simelane called for
the end of King Mswati’s hand-picked Prime Minister.
The lawmakers Mthandeni Dube and Bacede
Mabuza had been in prison for over a year now. They have been denied bail by
the King’s judges.
The three Swazi lawmakers Simelane, Dube
and Mabuza said it was time that the electorate vote for their Prime Minister
and democratic reforms be introduced.
Currently, King Mswati appoints the Prime
Minister of Eswatini. He usually appoints his relatives.
However, the Swazi regime responded by
issuing warrant of arrests accusing the three MPs of master minding the 2021
June 29 unrests where security forces allegedly killed over hundred citizens.
Simelane managed to escape to South Africa
while MPs Dube and Mabuza were arrested and charged with tramped up charges
including terrorism.
“It’s not freedom of speech if it is not
freedom after speech. The reason the three of us are in this situation is
because there is absolutely no freedom after speech which to me means that
there is no freedom of speech,” said Simelane.
Bonginkhosi Ignetius Dlamini (IB) Founding
chairman of Lubumbano Lwenkhululeko YeMaswati (United Front For Democracy in
Swaziland), and Founding convenor of the United Eswatini Diaspora (The UED)
also urged international journalists and bodies to support the Eswatini
struggle for multiparty democracy.
“The world must know that Swaziland is in
both political and constitutional crisis. The blame is put squarely on the
institution of the Monarchy. The king is not accountable to anyone, but to
himself and his family. He controls the three arms of government; Executive,
Judiciary and Legislature, also intimidates and imprisons the members of fourth
estate,” said Dlamini.
He explained that if King Mswati realises
that a clique of citizens are a threat to his absolute power, he sends them to
jail. “The arrest of the two MPs, Bacede Mabuza and Mthandeni Dube is testimony
that the system lacks checks and balances,” he said.
The veteran activist said it is wrong for
King Mswati III to be above the Constitution.
Dlamini urged the international media not
to allow Swaziland to be a failed state right under their noses.
“Don't forget the people of Eswatini. Be
the voices of the voiceless people of Eswatini,” he said.
Political Parties Assembly (PPA)
Chairperson, Nombulelo Motsa, the said the incarcerated MPs have exposed the
failure of the Swazi royal government.
“The issue of the pro-democracy MPs is an
eye opener to many Swazis. It has exposed the legislative uselessness of the
Swazi legislative system. MPs only go there to warm seats and formalize King
Mswati’s interests,” she said.
Also, Phumlani Dlamini, editor of Eswatini
Newsroom urged global journalists to focus on Eswatini crisis.
Dlamini said, “African Journalists must
expose the atrocities perpetrated against citizens who want democratic reforms.
As defenders of Freedom of speech and expression, journalists especially those
in Africa must call for an unconditional release of the two MPs and the return
of Simelane from exile,” said Dlamini.
Wandile Lulane, the editor of Breaking
News 82 in Eswatini, said international journalists can play a massive role in
the matter.
He said, “I believe that International
journalists can help by raising awareness about the plight of these persecuted
MPs by the royal family regime.”
“Other organisations can help by working
in collaboration with organisations like LAW-DERSWA (Lawyers for Democratic
Reforms in Swaziland) through strategic litigation initiatives in regional
courts since the court's in Eswatini are not independent because they are
captured by the regime.
Voice of the People’s News editor
Mzwandile ‘Stufuza’ Dlamini said, “King Mswati III made it clear that he will
never release the incarcerated Members of Parliament Hon. Bacede Mabuza and
Mthandeni Dube therefore we have no choice but to challenge the King for the
liberation of our MPs.”
He added, “There is no Judiciary in Swaziland
as the High Court and Supreme Court consults King Mswati III before issuing
judgments on cases where he has interests. All Judges are appointed by King and
they are also told how to prosecute political activists.”
Also, civil society leaders believe
freedom of expression is still an issue in Eswatini.
Apostle Bheki Vilakati said, “The African
journalists should advocate for the freedom of the persecuted MPs as it is
clear to everyone that there is miscarriage of justice in their case;
“It is a lip talk when one says there is
freedom of speech in Swaziland.
“What is practised in Swaziland cannot be
called freedom of speech, because the moment you speak against a certain
practice, you are called a terrorist and jailed. As citizens, we are
responsible for holding the current government accountable. The fact that there
is no freedom of speech, the right to hold them accountable is taken away from
the people to allow the government to do as it pleased. Calling for an elected
Prime Minister by the people, does that qualifies an arrest? Does taking a
petitions to the Tinkhundla centres guarantee brutal killing and torture of
citizens by the State security?
“In a country where freedom of speech is
allowed, public officials tolerate more criticism, however, in our country,
defamation laws are crafted to stop legitimate criticism of the government and
public officials. That means there is a violation of the right to freedom of
speech,” he said.
Vilakati is one of the eminent Swazi
religious leaders who support the struggle for freedom in Eswatini.
Another Swazi Pro-democracy Member of
Parliament Simosakhe Shongwe from Mtsambama Constituency said, “We appeal to
the global journalists to put pressure on King Mswati to release our lawmakers
and Swazis should continue fighting for their freedom,” said Shongwe.
On 12, April 1973, the late Swazi King
Sobhuza II banned all political parties and turned the kingdom into his mini
farm !
Prior to the royal decree Swazis had
freely participated in the political landscape. They were allowed to speak
freely without being intimidated by Swazi police and their chiefs.
It is 49 years since the proclamation of
the 1973 decree which banned multiparty politics, organizations and activities
as well as suspending human rights.
Power in Swaziland remains in the hands of
the absolute monarch, and the result has been deepening poverty among the
people
The present king Mswati III also holds all
judiciary, legislative and executive powers.
In 2021 The (PPA) told the United Nations
office in Eswatini that over 70 Swazis including democracy activists were
massacred by King Mswati III’s soldiers and police officers in June, July, 2021
during protests after the banning of the delivery of petitions in the Constituency
centres.
In an interview, Eswatini government
Spokesperson Alpheous Nxumalo refused to explain why the two incarcerated
Pro-democracy are not given bail.
Govt
reverses recruits’ 52% salary cuts
By
Stanley Khumalo and Sibusiso Zwane, Times of eSwatini print edition, 5
January 2023
MANZINI: Government will return the 52 per
cent it deducted from security forces recruits’ allowances.
The allowances will be restored to E5 636
per recruit. This decision by government follows that leaders of the State
security agencies in the country appealed the decision to reduce the allowances
to E2 931 during the training of the recruits.
Government, through the Principal
Secretary (PS) in the Ministry of Public Service, Sipho Tsabedze, issued
Establishment Circular No. 5 of 2022: Salary adjustment of the Royal Eswatini
Police Service (REPS) and His Majesty’s Correctional Services (HMCS).
This circular, which minimised the
allowances allocated to recruits, was issued on November 30, 2022. It reduced
the allowances by E2 705.58.
In the review, the circular did not only
alter the remuneration for recruits, it also changed their post titles.
Trainees under the HMCS were all along referred to Warder II and were listed on
Notch I, which is a position that was remunerated at E67 639 annually. Under
the new circular, they were referred to as ‘Trainee Warder Recruit’ and were to
be paid E35 172 yearly.
It was the same with the REPS wherein
police recruits held the title of Constable II, listed in Notch I and paid E67
639 annually. However, under the new circular, these were referred to as
‘Trainee Police Recruit’ and were to be paid E35 72 per annum.
Meanwhile, according to sources, in
December 2022, recruits were paid E2 931 per month.
According to a source at the Umbutfo
Eswatini Defence Force (UEDF), in December 2022, recruits were paid their
allowances for three months’ training.
The allowances were reportedly paid at the
reduced 52 per cent and it was alleged that the recruits were informed that the
reduction would be refunded to them when they were remunerated this month.
It has since been gathered that last
month, the three security forces lodged an appeal on the decision to cut the
allowances allocated to the recruits. It was said the appeal was on the basis
that the aspirant servicemen were not in an open market training process.
This, it was gathered, meant that upon
entry at the various training camps, they became State security personnel and
would then be enlisted in the institutions that were training them.
It was said they were not like doctors and
or other cadres, who after training, could be recruited in the private sector.
The sources said the appeals by the State security agencies claimed that
immediately after the recruits started training, they could be assigned to
partake in any task that required their skill set. This was confirmed by the
Acting PS in the Ministry of Public Service, Richard Phungwayo. He said the
decision to review was implemented across the board on the recruitment in
training for government departments.
Phungwayo said this was meant for all
people who were recruited and trained by government as there should be a
difference between those employed from trainees.
“This was for all, including nurses and
doctors and it also included the police; however, the latter appealed right
away formally,” he said.
He said the State security institutions
emphasised that they were not training personnel for the open market, but those
recruited started the service upon being recruited.
Phungwayo said in their case, whatever
action that may ensue, they were accountable for it as officers and not
trainees. He said in retrospect, government acknowledged the arguments that
were being advanced, resulting in the reversal of the decision.
Furthermore, he said they would be
reimbursed the difference that was withheld as the reasons submitted to
government were clear. It is worth noting that the adjustments that were
implemented in the now scrapped remuneration structure for recruits was
subsequent to the awarding of an additional four per cent to security personnel
as they raised concerns of being left out for almost eight years since the
implementation of Phase I of the Salary Restructuring Exercise of 2014 in line
with the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC).
Phase I of the Salary Restructuring
Exercise of 2014 benefitted about 102 personnel of the REPS and HMCS and the
low ranking officers in the two State security agencies are yet to benefit.
These officers are 8 170.
In addressing the concerns by lowly-ranked
officers in the aforementioned security agencies, Minister of Public Service
Mabulala Maseko announced that with effect from January 2023, the junior
personnel would be awarded four per cent cushion which would be backdated to
April 1, 2022. Leading to November 30, 2022, recruits in the aforementioned
security agencies were to earn E65 669, according to the Establishment Register
supporting the estimates of public expenditure for the financial year 2022/23.
However, the annual salary for aspiring HMCS and the REPS officers was further
reviewed upwards during the implementation of the three per cent cost-of-living
adjustment (CoLA) and a once-off payment of one per cent of the annual salary.
During this process, the salary was
increased by E1 970, to E67 639 per annum. However, in a twist of events, as
government was in a bid to defuse the tension between it as an employer and
junior security officers over the issue of Phase II, the recruits were not only
omitted from the said cushion, but had their pay minimised. It is worth noting
that in the Establishment
Leaders of the PSUs formally raised their
concerns over government’s offer to junior members of the State security organ
in one of their - Joint Negotiation Forum (JNF) meetings. Unions under the
banner of PSUs are; the Swaziland National Association of Teachers (SNAT),
National Public Service and Allied Workers Union (NAPSAWU), Swaziland
Democratic Nurses Union (SWADNU) and Swaziland National Association of
Government Accounting Personnel (SNAGAP).
Meanwhile, the ministry, through its
political leader, claimed that the four per cent salary cushion was reached
during bilateral talks, not collective negotiations.
Circular No. 5 of 2022; salary adjustment
of the REPS and HMCS officers, Tsabedze said pursuant to the review and
restructuring of the two entities pay structure and the grievances raised by
junior officers emanating from the implementation of Phase I on the
restructuring of strategic levels in the two forces in terms of Circular No.1
of 2014, government had deemed it appropriate to issue the circular to
implement the new salaries.
He said: “Government had, therefore,
approved the restructuring of the aforesaid institutions for salary adjustment
implementation. This process shall address the remaining part of the
operational as well as the tactical levels of the two institutions.” Tsabedze
said any outstanding issues shall be addressed by the consultant who would be
engaged by government this current financial year to undertake the review of
salaries for civil servants across the public service.
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