Swaziland Newsletter No. 772 – 14 April 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.
No
disruptions at Ngwenya border
Nhlanganiso
Mkhonta, Times of eSwatini, 13 April 2023
MBABANE: There were no disruptions in operations at the
Ngwenya/Oshoek Border Gate, despite the commemoration of April 12 by marchers
who wanted to stage a border blockade.
The marchers were from different political
formations and trade unions from South Africa (SA) and Eswatini. They gathered
at the border gate on the South African side, singing political
songs. They gave each other chances to deliver their speeches on behalf of
their organisations.
The border blockade was organised and led
by the Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU). Other organisations
that were represented included the People’s United Democratic Movement
(PUDEMO), Ngwane National Liberatory Congress (NNLC), Swaziland Liberation
Movement (SWALIMO), Multi-Stakeholder Forum (MSF), Swazis First Democratic
Front (SFDF), and Swaziland Youth Congress (SWAYOCO), to name a few. The
Swaziland National Association of Teachers (SNAT) President, Mbongwa Dlamini,
was also part of the marchers.
The marchers arrived at around 10am and
gathered by the border gate on the SA side. They sang political songs and then
moved backwards, away from the border and regrouped 100 metres away from the
border gate. At around noon, they moved closer to the border gate and were met
by members of the South African Police Service (SAPS), who formed a wall to
avoid them from reaching the border. The SAPS allowed them to assembly on
the side of the road, resulting in the free flow of trucks and other
vehicles. On the Eswatini side, members of the Royal Eswatini Police
Service (REPS) were also deployed at the border gate to maintain peace and
order. They remained on the Eswatini side and watched the proceedings on the
other side.
Most of the speakers called for the
withdrawal of the 1973 Decree, which saw political parties being banned in
Eswatini. On April 12, 1973, King Sobhuza II declared a state of
emergency, dissolved the House of Assembly, banned all political parties and
abolished the 1968 Constitution. They further called for the national
dialogue. SWAYOCO Deputy President Palesa Dlamini told the marchers that
they would do everything in their power to disrupt the upcoming elections.
Swaziland National Union of Students’
(SNUS) Sambulo Shongwe appreciated COSATU for organising the demonstration at
the border, as such events showed the South Africa’s workers union’s support to
the Eswatini struggle for democracy. Shongwe further highlighted the
challenges faced by the local tertiary students. He said currently, the
University of Eswatini (UNESWA) was closed indefinitely, following a strike
action by lecturers. He also highlighted that as students, they were also
engaged in a campaign to demand scholarships for all students who had been
admitted to tertiary institutions. Shongwe mentioned that they were also
demanding free education in both primary and secondary/high school.
National shutdown failure: You work
the ground first before imposing a shutdown Mr Sticks Nkambule, lobby public
transport owners
Opinion by Zweli Martin Dlamini, Swaziland
News, 12 April, 2023
Sticks
Nkambule, the Public Transport Union Secretary General, must understand that
every struggle has pillars; there’s no way you can impose a national shutdown
without consulting the Executive Command of the Underground Forces and other
key ‘behind the scenes’ political leaders who are highly influential in the
struggle.
Before
calling a press conference, Deputy Prime Minister Themba Masuku and the entire
Tinkhundla regime worked the ground; public transport owners were engaged, and
those who tried to resist were intimidated by King Mswati’s government.
During
the historic protest to the United States (US) Embassy, one businessman spent
around two hundred thousand Rands (R200,000.00) paying ‘bus fares’ to public
transport operators just to transport protestors to Ezulwini; hence, thousands
attended that protest.
But
what happened thereafter; one political leader ran to Facebook, consistently
claiming that he is able to summon people to a protest; the question is, who
transported those protestors?.
Even
during Mswati’s events, there are those who transport regiments with government
trucks, they work the ground first and it’s not a miracle to see thousands
attending Buganu, uMhlanga or Incwala ceremony at the end, the glory goes to
Mswati.
But
in the struggle it’s different, we want one collective MultiStakeholder Forum
organization that will drive the agenda for democracy, we don’t want to work
and then one man emerges from nowhere and thank us on Facebook as if we are his
“boys”.
That’s
the danger of working as an individual and Sticks Nkambule must avoid working
in isolation, he must subject himself to the collective of the Mass Democratic
Movement (MDM) and listen when other leaders advise him that it’s not the right
time for a national shutdown.
Indeed,
we are more vigilant now, we don’t want repeat the same mistake and elevate an
individual who then take the struggle back to Tinkhundla system because he
doesn’t want to listen to MultiStakeholder Forum.
As
mentioned, individuals end-up becoming power-drunk, bullying even journalists
who are playing a key role in disseminating information for the world to know
what is happening in the Kingdom eSwatini.
Sticks
Nkambule should not consider himself a failure, he is and remain a vibrant
political leader.
But,
he announced the national shutdown at a wrong time when the struggle is
silently cleaning itself of politically ambitious leaders who always ride on
the shoulders and work of others for political fame and popularity.
But
there are other developments that might have resulted to national shutdown
becoming a failure.
Sticks
Nkambule announced that he wants public transport workers to earn four-thousand
Rands(R4000.00) salary per-month without conducting any research and or
consultation with public transport owners.
The
truth is; public transport owners are facing various challenges in this country
and this, include damaged roads, they are spending more money on maintenance
not to mention the theft of their monies (umdlazi) by their employees.
You
cannot therefore, demand R4000 as a minimum wage for public transport workers
some who are allegedly stealing from their employers and then expect owners to
park their vehicles and support your shutdown.
King
Mswati’s regime gained more political points on Wednesday when the national
shutdown announced by Sticks Nkambule became a mockery of the eSwatini struggle
for democracy.
But
the struggle will again be a laughing stock after the results of the Tinkhundla
elections, political activists who will lose those undemocratic elections will
be mocked by the regime, perhaps for the next five (5) years.
It’s
true that public transportation is one of the key stakeholders that can
liberate and usher this country into a new democratic dispensation but, that
doesn’t mean Secretary General Sticks Nkambule can wake up in the morning and
impose a national shutdown without proper consultation.
This
regime has strengthened its political machinery and security, and now it’s time
to re-strategize and gather more intelligence about the strengths and
weaknesses of the Tinkhundla system before taking any action.
Sticks
Nkambule must consult the Executive Command of the Underground Forces; they
will tell him when it’s time to announce a national shutdown.
This
regime worked the ground to regain its power, people were killed, others
arrested, and tortured.
Therefore,
certain developments must manifest within the Underground Movement to demand
justice for those who were killed before you can announce or impose a national
shutdown.
Political
and trade union leaders must learn to accept that there are pillars of this
struggle; the struggle for democracy needs resources and intelligence.
In
light of the aforementioned, it is therefore important for SWATCAWU Secretary
General Sticks Nkambule to relax for now and refrain from attempting to remain
relevant.
Keeping
quiet and allowing things to be normal in the country is also a fight because
the regime will not know what you are planning.
Education
International fully supports education unionists
Education
International, 11 April 2023
Education International (EI) sent a
High-Level Mission to Eswatini to reiterate on-site the support of the
education union community to colleagues in the country, and to urge the
national governmental authorities to put an immediate halt to the persecution
of Swaziland National Association of Teachers (SNAT) leaders, introduce
democratic governance in the country and respect basic human and trade union
rights.
The mission, led by EI General Secretary
David Edwards, EI Vice-President Mugwena Maluleke, and the Director of the EI
Africa Regional Office Dennis Sinyolo, and hosted by SNAT General Secretary Lot
Vilakati, met with the Eswatini Education Ministry, the Prime Minister’s Office
and the national trade union center to address the issue of the governmental
harassment of the SNAT leadership.
Despite the fact that Eswatini has
ratified the International Labour Organization (ILO) Convention 87 – Freedom
of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise –
and 98 – Right
to Organise and Collective Bargaining –
the unions are not allowed to march in streets or protest, and that SNAT is
being targeted by the government for basic union activity.
“It is a true honor to be with such a
committed, brave, and vibrant organisation defending quality teaching and
learning for the students and teachers of Eswatini in the face of repression,
violence and threats. The world’s teachers stand with you!” Edwards told SNAT
members during the mission in March.
He added that “we remain concerned for the
safety and the security of teachers and the citizens, in the face of what we
see as unnecessary repression. We worry about labour rights and about the
casualisation of education. We also wanted to make sure that the SNAT president
was treated fairly, reinstated, and remunerated.”
If the government of Eswatini does not
address the issues, EI will go to the International Labour Organization, where
it will be supporting the grievance process, Edwards also said. “We will also
be discussing the situation with the UN, UNESCO, the Global Partnership for
Education, and all other members of the teacher community. These international
organisations expect that the teachers of any country are treated with
fairness, see their rights respected, and teach their students, and their
students can learn, without fear of intimidation and the necessary resources. The
choice is right now with the government,” he insisted.
The mission was held after the EI
Executive Board had reaffirmed during its March 2023’s meeting, via a Resolution
on Eswatini, “EI’s unwavering
solidarity and support for the SNAT, its leadership and members,” and requested
the EI Secretariat to “organise a high-level mission to meet the authorities of
Eswatini to restore dialogue and respect for international labour standards”.
Support from African colleagues
Meeting in Johannesburg, South Africa,
from March 21st-22nd, the EI Africa Regional Committee also adopted a Resolution
on Eswatini acknowledging that
it is “deeply concerned about the developments in the Kingdom of Eswatini where
the Government continues to violate trade union rights, and deny the SNAT the
right and autonomy to effectively engage with the Government on all matters
pertaining to the welfare, training, and retention of teaching personnel”.
Deploring that “the Government of Eswatini
has continued to harass the SNAT President for his role in the union and the
persistent attempts by the Government to weaken SNAT by interfering with the
check-off system and by refusing to increase dues or to register new unionised
members,” it urges the Government of Eswatini to:
Respect and protect the fundamental rights
of workers and trade unionists, including the right to freedom of association,
collective bargaining, and peaceful assembly, in line with International Labour
Standards, to which Eswatini is a signatory, in particular, ILO Conventions 87
on freedom of association and Convention 98 on the right to organise and
collective bargaining;
Cease immediately all forms of harassment
and intimidation against trade unionists and human rights defenders and instead
engage in constructive continuous dialogue with SNAT;
Uphold the check-off system and process
the request to increase SNAT membership dues in a timely manner, and register
all new unionised teachers as required by law; and
Reinstate the salary and benefits of the
President of SNAT, drop all charges laid against him for undertaking legitimate
union duties, and ensure his safety.
Stop repression in Eswatini
Industriall, 6 April, 2023
Trade
unions and civil society organizations call for national dialogue on
democratic reforms in Eswatini, Africa’s last absolute monarchy, amid
repression by the police and state security.
In
support of the trade unions and civil society organizations, the ITUC is
calling for Eswatini Global Day of Action on 13 April.
Unions
say there appears to be no political will on the part of the Government of
Eswatini to start dialogue. Instead, unions say that their leadership
and that of civil society organizations live in fear following the
assassination of prominent human rights activist and lawyer, Thulani Maseko,
who was shot dead on 21 January allegedly by hired “mercenaries.”
Maseko
was the chairperson of the MultiStakeholders Forum which together with the
Political Parties Assembly and other organizations are calling for democratic
reforms through dialogue facilitated by the Southern African Development
Community.
Hundreds
of protesters have died from injuries sustained in brutal attacks by state
security agencies while others have been hospitalised or forced into exile.
Some have been imprisoned included two Members of Parliament.
King
Mswati III, Eswatini’s absolute ruler, who as the head of state has all
executive powers to appoint the Prime Minister, cabinet ministers, judges, and
with powers to dissolve parliament, appears not to be interested in the
proposed dialogue. The king, who has a net worth of over $200 million, is known
for a lavish lifestyle. For instance, in 2018 he bought 12 Rolls Royces, for
himself and the royal family. This purchase met with heavy criticism from
unions and civil society who argued that the money would have been better spent
towards reducing poverty which is over 60 per cent.
IndustriALL
Global Union supports the ITUC Global Day of Action and its 3rd Congress
in 2021 adopted a resolution in support of democratic reforms for Eswatini in
which it stated commitment to “support the people of Eswatini as they continue
to fight for democratic reforms” and demanded “the respect and protection of
human rights including the right to life, rights to freedom of expression,
assembly, and association, and the rule of law.” Further the resolution called
for “national dialogue for democratic reforms that will allow for the
democratic election of the Prime Minister and to review the country’s
constitution to allow for the transfer of executive powers from the kind to a
democratically elected leadership.
At an
official side event of the Summit for Democracy in Zambia on 20 March, the
Congress of South African Trade Unions, the International Domestic Workers
Federation, the Solidarity Centre, ITUC-Africa, ITUC CSI IGB and the Southern
African Trade Union Coordinating Council, and the Trade Union Congress of
Swaziland, gave solidarity messages in support of the campaign for democracy in
Eswatini under the theme: “Amplifying the voices of workers to safeguard
democracy in Africa.” The organizations concurred during discussions that there
will be no democracy without workers’ rights.
Wander
Mkhonza, Amalgamated Trade Union of Swaziland (ATUSWA) secretary general says: “We
appreciate global solidarity in support of the working class struggle for
democracy in Swaziland. The government must recognize that we have a role to
play in the democratization and future of our country. The king must enter
negotiations and respect freedoms and human rights.”
ATUSWA is
affiliated to IndustriALL.
Atle
Høie, IndustriALL general secretary says: “We are concerned by the lack
of the commencement of dialogue on democratic reforms in Eswatini. It is sad
that a culture of fear has replaced the optimism that trade union and civil
society had a few years ago on a possible transition to democratic rule. We
call upon the government of Eswatini to start the engagement process with all
key stakeholders.”
IndustriALL
3rd Congress, adopted a resolution for the democratization of Eswatini that includes the respect for the right
to life, freedoms of association, assembly, and expression.
Teacher
beats grade II pupils with crutch
Thokozani Mazibuko, eSwatini News, 1 April 2023
MANZINI: Over 250 parents at Manzini Central Primary School are
calling for the immediate removal of one of the teachers, whom they allege
beats up Grade II pupils with her crutch.
Further, the teacher allegedly bangs the pupils’ heads against
classroom walls. The teacher, name withheld as he has not been charged
with any offence, is said to have continued with her unfamiliar methods meting
corporal punishment and ignored the numerous complaints from the parents.
“I have registered the complaint two times with the Manzini Police
Station and nothing has been done so far concerning the maltreatment that my
child has been subjected to at school.
“The only thing that the police have advised me to do is to report
the matter to the Manzini Regional Education Officer (REO), which I have
already done,” one of the parents told a highly-charged meeting held at the
school on Wednesday. Further, the parents revealed that their children had
been reporting to them that they were being beaten by their teacher using her
walking crutch during lessons.
“My child has told me that his teacher beats him with a walking
crutch and sometimes hits his head against the wall countless times. How many
times should we complain about this teacher? “Or someone is waiting for
her to actually kill one of our children for them to take this matter
serious?
“I tried reasoning with the teacher but she told me to withdraw my
children from the school if I did not like the way she mete out punishment,”
disclosed the parent. Other parents in the meeting alleged that the
teacher in question used anything at her disposal to beat the pupils. “I am not
afraid of the teacher; if need be, I can take the law into my own hands,”
threatened another parent. It has been gathered that the parents vented
their displeasure in the presence of a representative of the REO in the Manzini
Region.
It should be noted that this same publication also ran an article
whereby the same teacher was convicted by the Eswatini National Court for five
months with an option of a fine of E500 for assaulting her colleague in the
same school. Chairman of the School Committee, Victor Ngwenya, confirmed
the parents’ latest concerns. “Yes, the parents raised this matter during
a meeting which was held at the school, whereby they were called to elect a new
committee of the school. Almost all the parents disclosed that they were not
happy with the way one of the teachers was meting out corporal punishment in
one of the classes,” confirmed the chairman.
Meanwhile, Ngwenya disclosed that as a school committee, they had
done all possible means to talk to the said teacher with the hope that she
would stop acting this way, but to no avail. “I must say that this is pure
abuse and I am very disappointed with the Swaziland National Association of
Teachers (SNAT) and the Swatini Action Group Against Abuse (SWAGAA) as this
matter has been reported to them several times and the teacher has continued to
assault the pupils,” alleged the school chairman. He said they could not
be dealing with the same matter for years and this had led parents to give the
REO and the schools manager a two-month ultimatum to resolve it or they would
force the teacher out of the school premises.
Head teacher of the school, Victor Xaba, confirmed the matter and
said that the parents had raised their concerns over the manner in which one of
the teachers was punishing pupils at the school. “I am the custodian of
positive discipline; I always talk most of the time about positive
interventions and I believe that if you are a teacher, you are a co-parent.
Since I carried a study on the positive discipline, it should begin at home
whereby the child, if he/she has done wrong, must be deprived of certain
privileges,” pointed out the head teacher. He said naturally, he did not
believe in corporal punishment and teachers needed to come to a point where
such was adhered to. “Pertaining to the complaint raised by the parents,
we should allow the office of the REO to handle the matter and if it fails,
then it would be dealt with by the schools manager,” said Xaba.
The implicated teacher, when called by this reporter, denied the
allegations levelled against her. “There is nothing like that,” said the
teacher who then hung up her phone as she refused to respond to the questions
posed to her.
eSwatini
records first cholera case
By
Kwanele Sibiya, eSwatini Observer, 4 April 2023
The country has recorded its first case of
cholera following the worldwide outbreak as reported by the World Health
Organisation.
The confirmed case is from a Mozambican
patient, who allegedly made it into the country through an informal crossing at
Lomahasha.
Minister of Health, Lizzie Nkosi, revealed
that there had been a confirmed diagnosis of cholera in one patient in the
Manzini Region.
The minister said the diagnosis followed
continued surveillance by the ministry of health teams and health facility
reports through the integrated disease surveillance and response system and
immediate disease notification system.
When giving details of the patient, Nkosi
said the patient is a male non-Liswati, who had come into the country from
Mozambique to visit relatives on March 27.
She said the patient became ill with diarrhoea and vomitted within two days of
his stay in the country (March 27-29).
The minister further stated that the
patient upon being presented to the local hospital on March 29 was found to be
moderately ill with severe dehydration, wasting and lethargy on admission and
was immediately treated.
“The patient is still undergoing treatment
at the health facility and reported to be improving,” said the minister.
Nkosi further said upon receiving the
notification, the ministry’s regional response team carried out case
investigations and contact tracing.
She said the team visited the patient’s
place of residence to inform the dwellers and provide health education on how
to prevent further spread and how to recognise cholera symptoms.
She added that the ministry’s public health emergency management system had
moved to the alert mode for cholera.
The minister mentioned that the public
health emergency management core team was continuing to provide guidance on
preparedness to diagnose and manage cholera disease in communities and in
health facilities.
She added that the ministry was continuing
to investigate and identify more cases and advised the nation to call 977 if
they notice anyone with severe diarrhoea and vomiting, that was three or more
watery stools in 24 hours, diarrhoea that was accompanied by severe weakness
and inability to walk, as well as sudden death of a person who had symptoms of
diarrhoea and vomiting.
“The nation is further advised to
immediately seek medical attention at a nearby health facility when they
experience symptoms of severe diarrhoea,” she said.
Nkosi said to minimise the spread of
cholera, the nation was advised to use proper sanitation or toilet facilities,
wash hands thoroughly with soap and water after using the toilet and before
every meal and to boil water for drinking if in doubt of its source.
She said the ministry would keep the
nation informed of developments in this regard and requests for co-operation in
minimising the spread of cholera.
The WHO has categorised the cholera
outbreak in Mozambique as a multi-region Grade 3 public health emergency,
requiring a major WHO response.
The Grade 3 categorisation – the highest
level within WHO’s grading system – was made considering the scale of the
outbreak, the potential for further international spread, the rapidity of
spread, and the lack of adequate response capacity.
Low levels of access to safe drinking
water and sanitation and hygiene facilities and a fragile surveillance system,
are contributing to conditions that drive the spread of the cholera throughout
the first quarter of the year.
This after more than a million people
across eight provinces of Gaza, Inhambane, Manica, Maputo, Sofala, Tete and
Zambezia bear the brunt of the compounding effect of cholera, floods and
cyclone Freddy.
Additional information: UN office for
Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).
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