Swaziland Newsletter No. 812 – 2
February 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.
Adequate funding needed to address violence
against women
By Chinomso Momoh, Development Diaries, 30
January 2024
The government of Eswatini needs to urgently address violence
against women in the country, as the menace remains a pressing and deeply
rooted issue.
Development
Diaries reports that
approximately one in three females has experienced some form of sexual abuse by
age 18, and 48 percent of women have experienced some form of sexual violence
in their lifetime, according to figures from the United Nations Populations Fund (UNFPA).
One of the setbacks identified
by Human Rights Watch (HRW) is the lack of resources to effectively implement
the 2023–2027 National Strategy to End Violence in Eswatini.
It is understood that the 2018
Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Act lacks a funding mechanism, and the
government has not ensured coordination amongst departments responding to
violence against women and girls, to expedite trials involving sexual assault,
or to offer victims and survivors adequate support and shelter.
As highlighted by the rights
organisation, the year 2023 ended with a spate of killings of women and very
little to show by way of concrete government action, despite the rise in the
frequency and brutal nature of violence against women.
The consequences of such
violence extend beyond the immediate physical harm, affecting the mental
health, economic well-being, and overall quality of life of survivors.
The legal framework in Eswatini
has undergone some positive changes to address gender-based violence, including
the enactment of laws and policies aimed at protecting women’s rights.
However, the enforcement of
these measures faces significant challenges, including resource constraints,
inadequate infrastructure, and a need for increased awareness and education.
The former 2017–2022 National
Strategy and Action Plan to End Violence in Eswatini called for the
establishment of a multi-sectoral strategy to address violence in the nation, including
violence against women and girls. However, the plan was never completely
executed and was not funded by the government.
Addressing violence against
women in Eswatini requires a sustained and collaborative effort to challenge
deep-seated cultural norms, enhance legal frameworks, and provide support
structures for survivors.
To ensure the safety of women and girls in Eswatini, Development Diaries calls on the country’s parliament to give the matter top priority in both words and deeds by ensuring that sufficient resources are available to implement laws and policies that seek to guarantee the safety of women and girls in the country.
See also
Address Violence Against Women
https://www.hrw.org/news/2024/01/29/eswatini-address-violence-against-women
Public sector associations want meeting with PM
By Sibusiso Dlamini, eSwatini Observer, 29 January
2024
Public sector associations want
a meeting with Prime Minister, Russell Dlamini, amid growing concerns over
salaries and healthcare crisis, which they said government was seemingly
failing to address.
The unions also highlighted
challenges in the education sector, in particular that teachers were
demotivated and were leaving for countries such as Taiwan.
The unions, which include
the Swaziland National Association of Teachers (SNAT), the Swaziland National
Association of Government Accounting Personnel (SNAGAP), Swaziland Democratic
Nurses Union (SWADNU) and National Public Services and Allied Workers Union
(NAPSAWU), said salaries were low, thus the need for a salary review to be
prioritised.
They said the issue of the
salary review dates way back despite that government in 2022 awarded civil
servants a three per cent cost of living adjustment (CoLA), a decision which
PSAs are still bitter about, arguing that it was taken after government negotiated
in bad faith.
Civil servants had initially
tabled an 8.7 per cent CoLA but government countered with a three per cent
offer, which the unions said they were forced to take.
They said the low salaries had
resulted in the country losing experienced professionals to other countries
thus it was one of the priority areas they wanted government to urgently
address thus the proposed meeting with the prime minister.
According to SWADNU Secretary
General, Mayibongwe Masangane, said they had already made a request to meet the
premier and were awaiting a response, stating that they were looking forward to
developing a strong relationship with the prime minister.
“Previous heads of government
always met us regularly, in particular the late Sibusiso Barnabas Dlamini as
well as his successor in the late Ambrose Mandvulo Dlamini,” Masangane said.
“The only one we never got to
meet was Cleopas Dlamini, so we would like to ensure that there are no strained
relations from the onset with the incumbent,” he added, stating that they hope
for a positive response to their meeting request.
A focal point of concern raised
by Masangane was the pressing issue of the drugs shortage crisis, making it
known that an urgent solution to the crisis was imperative.
He also highlighted the salary
review, citing how low salaries have prompted numerous skilled healthcare
professionals to seek better prospects in the United Kingdom.
The ministry of health had
previously stated that it could not stop nurses from being recruited in the UK
as there was no policy that prevents a nurse from leaving the country even if
they were trained by government.
This was after it was reported
that 87 nurses with experience in mental health and learning disability were
recruited to work within the National Health Service (NHS) in the UK.
“We cannot afford to keep on
losing experienced professionals in such a manner because it is costing us
greatly, so the issue of the salary review takes priority for sure,” he said.
SNAT Secretary General, Lot
Vilakati, echoed the concerns about the salary review, emphasising the
protracted delay in addressing this matter, despite the escalating cost of
living.
“It's becoming increasingly
challenging to survive on the meagre salaries we receive,” Vilakati said,
highlighting the financial challenges faced by teachers, leading to many of
them opting to seek opportunities in Taiwan.
“The inadequate remuneration
leads to a drain of invaluable experience, which adversely affects the
education system,” Vilakati stated.
He said teachers were not
motivated to do their best because they are depressed by their living
conditions, which is bound to negatively impact the learning process.
Vilakati further disclosed the
intention to make a plea to the prime minister about SNAT’s inclusion in the
Teaching Service Commission to ensure accountability in the hiring of teachers.
“We saw that the prime minister
met the TSC a few weeks ago and urged them to deal with the alleged corruption,
but we strongly believe that transparency can only be ensured through the
inclusion of SNAT to oversee,” he stated.
To read more
of this report, click here
http://new.observer.org.sz/details.php?id=21922
Candidate
with lowest score picked for Mbabane CEO post
Timothy
Simelane and Ntombi Mhlongo, Times of eSwatini, 30 January 2024
MBABANE: Councillors of the Municipal Council of Mbabane have
recommended a candidate who scored the lowest in the recent interview for the
position of chief executive officer (CEO).
This happened yesterday [29
January 2024] during a council meeting convened to, among other things,
deliberate on the report of the consultant, who carried out the recruitment
exercise.
It has been gathered that during the council meeting, which had members of the Royal Eswatini Police Service (REPS) present; the councillors ignored the recommendation made by the consultant, as they picked a female candidate who scored 49 per cent and was placed third. They are said to have completely overlooked a candidate who had scored 87.5 per cent and had topped them all. In terms of the Urban Government Act, 1969, a council is mandated to appoint a fit person to be town clerk or CEO, upon such terms and conditions as it may determine.
The candidate chosen by the councillors once worked for the municipality a few
years ago, but will not be named as the recommendation is yet to be handed over
to the Minister of Housing and Development Appolo Maphalala, as per the
procedure. The one who scored the highest mark is well-known in the local
government circles, having worked in different municipalities before joining
the corporate sector. The latest developments come at a time when reports
had surfaced that there was division among the councillors regarding a variety
of issues, one of them being that of the recruitment of the CEO.
To read more of this
report, click here
http://www.times.co.sz/news/143684-candidate-with-lowest-score-picked-for-mbabane-ceo-post.html
See also
Councillors go for third choice
http://new.observer.org.sz/details.php?id=21927
Government
cash flow challenges affect more institutions: Alliance Church Clinics closed,
nurses in strike over unpaid January salaries
By Bongiwe Dlamini, Swaziland News, 1
February, 2024
MBIKWAKHE: Thabo Dlamini, a
former Times of eSwatini journalist and resident of Mbikwakhe has
confirmed that nurses working for the Alliance Church clinic in the area are on
strike.
Speaking to this Swaziland
News on Wednesday Dlamini said, patients were not receiving services when
visiting the health facility.
“Patients are not receiving services and
when I enquired from the nurses, they told me, they haven’t received their
January 2024 salaries,” said the journalist.
Efforts to reach the
Management of the Alliance Clinics proved unsuccessful at the time of compiling
this report.
But a nurse who spoke to
this publication on Thursday morning confirmed that, they were still waiting
for their salaries as Alliance Clinics health workers.
“It’s true that we haven’t
received our salaries and when we asked the administrators, they told us
Government did not pay the subvention to all mission health institutions”, said
the nurse.
A questionnaire was sent to
Mduduzi Matsebula, the Minister of Health, however, he had not responded at the
time of compiling this report.
Reached for comments,
Mayibongwe Masangwane, the Secretary General (SG) of the Swaziland Democratic
Nurses Union (SWADNU) described the challenges faced by the health workers
within Alliance Clinics as unfortunate particularly at the time when parents “are
in need of monies” for schools fees.
“This is an unfortunate
situation and extremely bad for the staff. January is the toughest month when a
lot of people are required to pay school fees for their children. No worker
deserve such treatment after providing his or her services to the employer. It
is government's responsibility to provide health to the populace and when
missionary health institutions are struggling government should subvert them.
We condemn the act by government and the employer in the strongest possible
terms”, said the Nurses Union Secretary General.
AJ Electrical accused of intimidating
workers who want salary raise
By
Nokwanda Mamba, Swaziland Democratic News, 31 January 2024
MATSAPHA: AJ Electrical is accused of
refusing to raise salaries for its workers while intimidating those who
negotiate on behalf of their colleagues.
Speaking to this Publication, one of the affected
workers said they were being underpaid by the company and those who petitioned
the management to address their grievances were dismissed from work.
“We are being underpaid, sometimes we don’t
get our salaries in full, our employer doesn’t even communicate beforehand when
they are facing cash flow challenges and our last pay raise was in 2018.
“Our representatives petitioned the
management but were sadly dismissed from work just for fighting for our rights”,
revealed one of the aggrieved workers.
Andrew Begg, the Manager at AJ Electrical
had not responded at the time of compiling this report.
Reached for comments Wander Mkhonza, the Amalgamated
Trade Union of Swaziland (ATUSWA) Secretary General said the workers were
failed by government particularly the Ministry of Labour.
“Employers continue to put workers on a
precarious position because the government, particularly the Department of
Labour is failing in her primary responsibility to make sure that anyone in the
Labour space respected the law. The fact that inspections are not carried out,
informs us that government is in bed with these rogue employer”, said the
ATUSWA Secretary General.
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