Swaziland Newsletter No. 859 – 10
January 2025
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.
Police
accused of torturing man to death
By
Wonderboy Dlamini, eSwatini Observer, 7 January 2025
A Mabuza family of Ntamakuphila in Siteki
is demanding answers from Siteki police, who are alleged to have tortured and
killed a family member in full view of other family members.
Gift Nkosingiphile Mabuza died on
Christmas day while in the hands of the police. This is according to family
members who allege that Gift was tortured by the police within the homestead
before they took him away to the police station, where he eventually died.
The deceased was buried at his parental
home on Saturday.
Narrating the events of the fateful day,
Gift’s aunt, who only identified herself as Gogo Mabuza said the police arrived
at the Mabuza homestead after they had reported him (Gift) to the police for
assaulting another family member.
Gift was said to have hacked his cousin
with a sharp object on the head after they had a misunderstanding while at
home. She noted that Gift often shared the same room with his cousin, Sethu
Mabuza.
Gift is said to have hacked Sethu on the
head at around 11 am and he was rushed to the hospital after sustaining a
gaping wound on the head.
Gogo Mabuza said the matter was reported
to the police after the nursing staff at the hospital demanded a police report
before attending to Sethu. She alleged that two police officers who were
on general patrol attended to the incident.
“They arrived at around noon with the
intention of taking Gift in for questioning. However, Gift had left home at the
time and had headed to one of the drinking spots in the area,” she alleged.
According to the family members, the police returned to the homestead at 8 pm
on the same day.
Another family member, who witnessed the
alleged torture, Philile Simelane said Gift was already sleeping in his house
when the police arrived.
“He was drunk, so he went to sleep early
on that day”, said Simelane.
The police are said to have forcefully
entered the one-room house after Gift refused to open for them.
Upon entering the house, Simelane said the
police started torturing Gift as he was resisting going with them. Simelane
said the torture lasted for slightly over five minutes.
“We tried to stop the police from
torturing Gift, but they didn’t listen,” said Simelane.
She further alleged that the torture
happened behind the door and as such, they were unable to push the door.
Simelane alleged that the police
eventually took Gift, who had visible injuries on the head, away. Another
family member said Gift had one of his eyes damaged during the torture.
To read more of this report, click
here
http://new.observer.org.sz/details.php?id=23345
Banning of boreholes by Government
By Musa Mdluli, Swaziland News, 7 January, 2025
MBABANE: Jan Sithole,the then
Secretary General of the now defunct Swaziland Federation of Trade Unions(SFTU)
warned emaSwati that, almost everything will be taxed in eSwatini or utilized
for the benefit of the ruling elite.
It has been reported that,
after increasing electricity and water, Government is now considering banning
emaSwati from using solar systems and owning boreholes within their homes,
those who might wish to use underground water or solar systems will be required
to have taxable permits.
But Jan Sithole when
addressing thousands of workers at Salesian Sports Grounds-Manzini in 1995 at
the height of the series of ‘Khukhulela-ngoco strike action’ said, there will
come a time when the Tinkhundla Government will tax even chickens and ovacados.
The strike actions backed by
various political parties including the People’s United Democratic Movement
(PUDEMO) intensified even in 1996 under the twenty-seven(27) demands banner.
“Kuyawufika sikhatsi lapho
khona loHulumende lona uyawutselisa ngisho tinkhunkhu takho ekhaya, kubalwe
nemakotapeni akho kutsi esihlahleni mangakhi”, said the then SFTU Secretary
General who later founded and became the President of the Swaziland Democratic
Party (SWADEPA).
It has been reported that,
Musawenkhosi Mwelase, the Acting Director in the Department of Water Affairs
within the Ministry of Natural Resources and Energy, announced a looming
Government decision to ban all emaSwati from owning boreholes within their homes.
This comes a few months after
King Mswati’s Government through Parliament, increased water tariffs in a
country where about 70% of the population lives below the poverty line.
Mwelase was speaking during a
stakeholder engagement meeting this week, Jabulile Mashwama, the King’s
mother-in-law is the Managing Director of the Eswatini Water Services
Corporation.
The banning of the boreholes
within emaSwati’s homes would mean all citizens will be forced to use the
expensive water supplied by the Water Services Corporation managed by the
King’s mother-in-law.
World Vision to invest E125 million
towards universal water coverage in 15 areas
by
Ncaba Ntshakala, eSwatini Daily News, 9 January 2025
World Vision Eswatini (WVE) has unveiled plans to invest over E125 million in
its ambitious initiative to achieve universal water coverage across 15 Area
Programmes.
This substantial commitment forms part of
a project valued at over E250 million. This was contained in the organisation’s
report for the financial year 2023–2024.
In the report, WVE emphasized its
dedication to enhancing access to safe drinking water, sanitation, and hygiene
(WASH) services in Eswatini.
The organization asserted that it
continues to advocate for a collaborative or co-financing partnership with the
government to realize this vision.
 |
A-pupil-at-Khalakahle-Methodist-Primary-School-washing-hands-on-a-water-tank-installed-in-the-school-by-World-Vision-Eswatini
According to the report, the WASH
programme has already achieved a performance rate of 103% towards its set
targets for FY24, a notable improvement from the 91% reported in FY23.
This progress was said to reflect significant
strides in ensuring sustainable access to clean water and improved hygiene
practices in communities, schools, and healthcare facilities.
To read more of this report, click
here
eSwatini
AGOA trade benefits renewed for 2025
By Nokukhanya Musi, Voice of America, 8 January 2025
MBABANE: The southern African nation of Eswatini
has secured continued eligibility for benefits under the U.S African Growth and
Opportunity Act (AGOA) for the 39 companies currently trading under AGOA,
including some of Eswatini’s biggest brands. U.S. Trade Representative
spokesman Sam Michel confirmed Eswatini’s eligibility in late December.
Eswatini’s exclusion from the trade agreement in 2015 followed the country’s
failure to meet benchmarks for democratization and respect for human rights and
highlighted how the country’s political situation negatively impacted the
country’s economy.
In a written statement issued on December
21, U.S. Trade Representative spokesman Sam Michel said the decision to
continue Eswatini’s participation in the African Growth and Opportunity Act was
based on an annual AGOA eligibility review, which concluded that the list of
eligible and ineligible countries will remain unchanged for 2025.
Eswatini, an AGOA member for 23 years,
exported some $23.5 million worth of goods in 2022. It is among more than 30
African nations, including Namibia, South Africa, and Mozambique, eligible for
the U.S.-led trade initiative, aimed at boosting trade and economic ties
between the United States and Africa through duty-free access.
To read more of this report, click
here
https://www.voanews.com/a/eswatini-agoa-trade-benefits-renewed-for-2025/7929476.html
Strong
religious beliefs lead to critical blood shortage
By
Sebentile Shongwe, Times of eSwatini, 6 January 2025
MBABANE: Eswatini is grappling with a
critical blood shortage.
The situation is exacerbated by religious
scepticism surrounding blood donation, among other factors. According to
Dr Velephi Okello, the Director of Health, the country is facing a severe
shortfall of blood supplies, putting patients in urgent need of medical care at
risk. She attributed part of this crisis to strong religious beliefs that
prevent people from donating.
“The insufficiency is due to the decrease
in donor numbers,” Dr Okello explained, adding that the ministry is actively
encouraging regular donations. She noted that over the past few years, the
primary donors for the Eswatini National Blood Transfusion Service (ENBTS) have
been high school pupils.
“When schools are closed, we appeal to the
general public to donate through outreach campaigns in communities and shopping
malls,” she said. However, Dr Okello expressed uncertainty about how long
the available blood supplies would last. “Since blood cannot be procured or
bought, the ministry continues to plead with the public to make donating blood
a habit rather than waiting until a relative is in need,” she stressed.
Currently, when a patient requires
transfusion, they often have to call family members to come and donate,
irrespective of the blood type.
To read more of this report, click
here
http://www.times.co.sz/news/148832-strong-religious-beliefs-lead-to-critical-blood-shortage.html
15
rape cases in 7 days
By
Bongiwe Dlamini, eSwatini Observer, 3 January 2025
Police have reported a shocking number of
15 rapes, which are said to have happened over the festive period from December
25 to January 1st.
This translates to an average of two cases
reported daily over seven days.
Chief Police Information and
Communications Officer, Senior Superintendent Phindile Vilakati, said rape was
the most committed offence during the festive season reporting that out of the
15 cases, police successfully arrested five suspects.
Vilakati said the police were working
around the clock to bring all law-breakers to book.
While she did not reveal where the cases were reported, reported incidents
which continue to be a headache not only for the police, but women and girls
who are at the receiving end of the brutal violation included that of two
elderly women of Nginamadvolo aged 72 and 74 who were allegedly raped by
Bayanda Simelane 22, who is currently awaiting trial.
Another was of a four-year-old girl who
was raped allegedly by her 36-year-old biological father in Pigg’s Peak. The
incident came to light after the child’s grandmother noticed the minor’s
changed behaviour, which included bed wetting and being visibly uncomfortable
around her father.
To read more of this report, click
here
http://new.observer.org.sz/details.php?id=23323
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