Swaziland Newsletter No. 853 – 15
November 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 reinforces diplomatic ties with Russia
By Sibusiso Dlamini, eSwatini Observer, 11
November 2024
Minister of Foreign Affairs
and International Cooperation Pholile Shakantu reinforced the country’s
diplomatic and strategic ties with Russia through a high-profile meeting with
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.
Held on the sidelines of the
inaugural ministerial conference of the Russia-Africa partnership forum in
Sochi, the meeting, according to the minister, underscored the ongoing
cooperation between the two countries as they commemorate 25 years of formal diplomatic
relations.
Accompanying Minister Shakantu
at the two-day ministerial conference attended by government and business
leaders from Russia and Africa is Minister of Public Service Mabulala Maseko.
During the engagement, Shakantu and Lavrov expressed the countries’ shared
commitment to enhancing collaborative efforts in sectors critical to national
and regional development.
To read more of
this report, click here
http://new.observer.org.sz/details.php?id=22979
One Billion Rising eSwatini concerned as Gender Based
Violence (GBV) women’s rights violations not receiving attention from
Government
By Bongiwe Dlamini, Swaziland News, 14
November, 2024
MANZINI: Colani Hlatjwako, the
One Billion Rising Africa Regional Coordinator, has expressed concern as Gender
Based Violence (GBV) issues continue to be ignored by the Government.
Hlatswako disclosed this
during a media and stakeholders engagement meeting held at Shosholoza-Manzini
on Thursday morning.
“In Eswatini, it looks like so
much has changed, but at the same time it feels like little has changed. The
rights of women are completely being undermined and eradicated. It is
concerning that Gender Based Violence and women’s rights violations do not
receive the same level of attention by government as compared to other issues.
As One Billion Rising Eswatini we unequivocally condemn the horrific killing of
women and all forms of violence in Eswatini. This violence not only violates
fundamental human rights but also undermines the dignity and safety of entire
communities. We stand in solidarity with the victims and survivors, demanding
justice and accountability. It is imperative that the government and society as
a whole take urgent action to eradicate this violence, protect the vulnerable,
and create an environment where all individuals can live free from fear and
discrimination. The time for change is now—every life lost is a tragedy that
must propel us toward a future of equality and respect for all”, said the One
Billion Rising Africa Coordinator.
Hlatjwako further mentioned
that the purpose of the engagement, was “to communicate the significance of the
transformative feminist leadership training”, while ensuring that, it has a
broader impact and creates lasting change.
“We are seeking to build
solidarity on the advocacy actions that will be carried forward. Also we got to
share progress on our work in the community circles,” she said.
Govt’s E50m debt contributes to EEC tariff hikes
By Stanley Khumalo, Times of eSwatini, 11
November 2024
MBABANE: As government fails
to pay its electricity bill, which is in excess of E50 million, consumers
suffer the most as they tend to pay for it through tariff increments.
The proposed electricity
tariff hike has spotlighted a significant revenue loss issue, impacting
consumers, as government fails to pay its over E50 million bill. As the
threat to have the value of electricity units depreciate due to a proposed
electricity tariff hike of 25.51 per cent and 27.06 per cent in the two
upcoming financial years, this publication has established that not only does
government still have post-paid metres, but it also fails to service the
accrued debt.
As such, this burden is then
shifted to the ordinary citizen, through proposed electricity tariffs hikes,
which, according to the proposal made by the Eswatini Electricity Company
(EEC), are to, among other things, set to rehabilitate and maintain power stations
in a quest to ensure a steady grid.
EEC is a Category A
state-owned enterprise in terms of the Public Enterprise Control and Monitoring
Act No.8 of 1989, wholly-owned by the Eswatini Government. It is regulated
under licences granted by the Eswatini Regualtory Authority (ESERA) to generate,
transmit and distribute electricity in terms of the Electricity Act 2007.
EEC generates, transmits and
distributes electricity to industrial, mining, commercial, agricultural and
residential customers. It also imports electricity from the Southern African
Development Community (SADC). Government ministries and parastatals owe
EEC varying amounts and at different instances, the utility has disconnected
the entities; however, it is later restored without the debt being fully
settled. This is against the backdrop of the EEC having reported in its annual
report that it had recorded a negative operating profit for the financial year
ended March 31, 2024; a situation that is not desired.
The profits, when scrutinising
the EEC financial reports, have been trending downwards over the past five
years, mainly due to the cumulative effect of adverse tariff decisions. The
utility reported that while absorbing very high increases from electricity
import tariffs, it was granted an average tariff increase of 9.08 per cent for
the financial years 2023/24 and 2024/25.
To read more of
this report, click here
http://www.times.co.sz/news/147995-govt%E2%80%99s-e50m-debt-contributes-to-eec-tariff-hikes.html
See also
EEC wants to raise
E8.7bn from customers
http://www.times.co.sz/news/147993-eec-wants-to-raise-e8-7-bn-from-customers.html
eSwatini workshop
on implementation of the Biological Weapons Convention
E.U. Press
and information team of the Delegation to Eswatini, 13 November 2024
Biological weapons pose a real threat to global peace and security, hence the
need for coordinated biosecurity strategies, reinforcing the critical role of
the Biological Weapons Convention in mitigating the biological threats from any
source, be it natural, accidental or deliberate.
EU [European Union} Charge d’Affaires,
Eva-Maria Engdahl, said this on 13 November 2024 at the opening of a two-day
Awareness and Capacity-Building Workshop on the Implementation of the
Biological Weapons Convention held at Hilton Garden hotel in Mbabane.
Engdahl said the Biological
Weapons Convention (BWC) plays an indispensable role in the global disarmament
landscape and in fostering peace and security globally.
She then commended the Kingdom
of Eswatini for making significant steps toward implementing the BWC,
particularly through the recent appointment in July 2024 of the country’s first
National Contact Point at the Ministry of Natural Resources and Energy. This
appointment, according to Engdahl, marks an important commitment to advancing
biosecurity practices in Eswatini and improving national coordination in
countering biological risks.
To read more of
this report, click here
Blow to farmers: drought kills 170 cattle
By Thokozani Mamba, Times of eSwatini, 11
November 2024
LUBULINI: Disaster!
This resonates with the
suffering of farmers from four communities, who have lost 170 cattle due to
drought. In a space of five months, four communities; namely Mcocwane,
Sinyamantulwa, Bhadlane and Lugaganeni, lost a combined 170 cattle due to
the drought, as the rivers and dams have dried up, as a result of the
persistent dry spell. When these communities were visited over the
weekend, it was established that some of the rivers and dams had dried up,
while other communities have no rivers and water supply.
Noteworthy is that bones and
carcasses of cattle were found in the veld in these communities. It was also
established that some of the cattle died while trying to drink from some of the
drying streams and dams. A resident of Bhadlane, Mahlathini Matse, lost a
herd of 49 cattle due to the drought. Another resident, Mzileni Dludlu, lost 15
cattle. Dumsile Shongwe from the same community also lost 15. At Lugaganeni,
Nduku Nhleko lost 16 cattle, while Bakhetsile Shongwe also suffered a loss of
10 cattle. Interviewed about this tragedy, community members collectively
expressed their suffering, as they survive through selling their livestock to
raise money for their families. They further urged government to intervene and
make means of compensating the farmers.
To read more of
this report, click here
http://www.times.co.sz/news/148007-blow-to-farmers-drought-kills-170-cattle.html
Graduates urged to uphold discipline disposition
By Crime Watch, eSwatini Observer, 9 November
2024
Academic achievements by
police officers raises the profile of the Royal Eswatini Police Service,
portraying it as a learning organisation.
National Commissioner of
Police Manoma Vusi Masango speaking during a meeting with police officers, who
recently graduated from different institutions of higher learning said the
academic achievements of the officers have a bearing both on personal and organisational
levels.
He said the general belief was
that education at a higher level broadens the mind and completes the
professional training received at the Police academy, which translates to
better service delivery.
The national commissioner
noted that the police service, for the longest time, had been aligned with
certain stereotypes but with more officers acquiring academic achievements
these will fade away.
He said the police service
been associated with poorly educated people for a long time but was hopeful
that it would be a thing of the past as more officers get educated.
“Having more of our officers
graduating in various disciplines from different institutions of higher
learning adds to the value of the organisation’s human capital and serves to
quash these stereotypes. Furthermore, the organisation in its entirety, earns
respect and confidence of the community.”
He said these newly acquired
academic qualifications presented a challenge to the officers as it meant they
will have to work extra hard in all their duties to prove themselves and not
be complacent. He said the qualifications do not necessarily mean the
officers should look down upon authorities and their colleagues.
The graduates were urged to
continue working in harmony with their colleagues as some have vast experience
which no level of education would be equal.
To read more of
this report, click here
http://new.observer.org.sz/details.php?id=22969
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