Swaziland Newsletter No. 950 – 30 October 2026

 

Swaziland Newsletter No. 950 – 30 October 2026

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. The newsletter and past editions are also available online on the Swazi Media Commentary blogsite.

 

Justice for every victim of 2021 but are we ready for the full truth?

Editorial comment, Swazi Bridge, 28 October 2026

SOURCE 

This week, officials from the Attorney General’s office will fly to the United Nations offices in Geneva to explain what has become of the investigation into the murder of human rights lawyer Thulani Maseko. Earlier this week Swazi Bridge reported that government has been forced to write a comprehensive response to the UN human rights body on the progress, or the lack thereof, on finding out what happened to Maseko. The message could not be clearer. The world has not forgotten Thulani. More than three years after his death, it still wants answers. On Sunday Swazi Bridge also reported on the confessions of the killers of Thulani Maseko. 

Our story put Maseko’s assassination back on the national agenda. Judging by the feedback, this country has not found closure. Our people still wants to know who killed Thulani and why. Two reactions, from the barrage on social media and emails, stood out for us though. The first came from the leader of one of the banned political parties. His comment was buried deep among many, but it stands out because of who he is and what he proposed. The people who can bring us real answers, he proposed, are the FBI, (or independent investigators of FBI calibre). 

That is a sharp observation, and a hard one to argue with. The second came from a senator, who had previously asked why we always isolate Thulani Maseko when we talk about the violence of 2021 and never the victims of the progressives’ violence. In particular, why does the media never demand justice for Chief Prince Mahloma of Zandondo, who was savagely killed by members of the Swaziland International Solidarity Forces (SISF)? Here is the dichotomy: Maseko was a prominent and popular leader of the progressives while Prince Mahloma was a revered member of the royal family. The senator’s complaint therefore is that the focus on only one is unfair. That is a fair criticism, and it deserves an answer, not a shrug. 

Anyone who follows the progressives’ arguments can understand their frustration. Many people were killed by the police and army as the state tried to crush the 2021 uprising. The day the full scale of that brutality is revealed, many people will be embarrassed they cheer led the government. Consider, for example, the four boys killed by soldiers at Lobamba. They were not protesting. They were not burning anything. They were boys, and they are dead. Consider the young boy captured in the documentary “The Unthinkable”, who is today paralysed. Consider the woman who was allegedly burnt in a fire and spent almost two years in a South African hospital.

To this day she has received no justice. There are unconfirmed reports that some people were thrown into the fires at the Matsapha breweries. Their stories lie buried under the forced silence and the pretence of normalcy that has followed 2021. They are not the only ones. The eSwatini Solidarity Fund documentary managed to trace and document many people who were shot, killed and assaulted by the police and army. A full and transparent investigation by “the FBI”, as the party leader suggested, would expose the true scale of the state led terrorism. We have already heard confessions from the defecting police and correctional services officers who describe the nights they went out to kill, and who came back to recount it in the camps. 

Yet the country never conducted a full investigation that could help us all heal. Many of the soldiers and police who were ordered to kill are mentally disturbed or depressed today because haunted by what they were made to do. Sadly the low ranking junior officers men who did the dirty work for the authorities carry the scars, and have nowhere to lay down the guilt, the pain and the moral weight of it and are to this day refused their legitimate salary adjustment.

To read more of this commentary, click here

https://swazibridge.com/article/index.php?iywtrre=eFuu

 

See also

eSwatini blames widow for stalled Maseko murder probe, offers conditional international cooperation (Swazi Bridge)

https://swazibridge.com/article/index.php?iywtrre=eFur

Thulani Maseko assasination files (Swazi Bridge)

https://swazibridge.com/article/index.php?iywtrre=eFuq

 

1 516 girls drop out of school due to pregnancy

By Timothy Simelane, Times of eSwatini, 27 October 2026

SOURCE 

MBABANE: A total of 1 516 girls left school due to pregnancy between 2023 and 2025, while the number of reported violence cases in schools increased from 45 in 2023 to 204 in 2024–2025.

This has raised concerns about learner protection and retention in Eswatini’s education system.

The figures are contained in a presentation on the Guidance and Counselling Programme, delivered by Acting Director of Guidance Londiwe Ngci Dube during the 2026 Education Joint Sector Review (JSR) Indaba, held at Sibane Sami from October 26 to 28.

According to the presentation, the number of primary school girls who left school due to pregnancy increased from 88 in 2023 to 180 in 2025, representing a rise of about 105 per cent. At secondary school level, the figure increased from 964 to 1 336 over the same period, a 39 per cent increase.

The presentation warned that pregnancy was the leading recorded reason for school dropout, while other reasons, including abuse at home, substance use and bullying, also increased.

The figures are counts rather than dropout rates, and the presentation cautioned that some of the increase could be attributed to improved reporting. It said enrolment figures were needed to calculate accurate dropout rates.

The presentation was made under the JSR’s deep dive into equitable access, participation and inclusion. During the ongoing Education Sector Review at Sibane Sami Hotel.  It assessed progress in guidance and counselling services against the Education Sector Strategic Plan (ESSP) 2022–2034, particularly the commitment to assist learners at risk of dropping out.

To read more of this report, click here

https://times.co.sz/47244/news/1-516-girls-drop-out-of-school-due-to-pregnancy/

 

King calls for no hungry student project at UNESWA

By Melisa Msweli, eSwatini Observer, 25 October 2026

SOURCE 

UNESWA Chancellor His Majesty King Mswati III on his way to the main arena for the 44th
graduation Ceremony at Kwaluseni Campus (Pic: Lucky Simelane)

His Majesty King Mswati III has called for the implementation of the No Hungry Student Project at the University of Eswatini to ensure students receive the nutritional support they need.

The king outlined challenges facing the institution and called for measures to support students.

He said the project should be implemented to ensure learners had access to the nutritional support they needed while pursuing their studies.

The call formed part of His Majesty’s wider remarks on the need to improve conditions at the university as it continues to educate young people and contribute to national development.

The King also highlighted the challenge of student accommodation, saying only 2 900 out of 9 000 students had access to on-campus housing.

He said the majority were left in potentially unsafe off-campus situations and called for public-private partnerships to address the housing challenge.

His Majesty said UNESWA required E1 billion in capital investment to modernise teaching spaces, expand ICT facilities and enhance security measures.

He encouraged public and private sector partners to continue supporting the university through infrastructure funding, research grants and technology transfer.

To read more of this report, click here

https://www.eswatiniobserver.com/king-calls-for-no-hungry-student-project-at-uneswa/

See also

King Mswati urges UNESWA graduates to consider creating jobs amid scarcity of employment opportunities (Swaziland News)

https://swazilandnews.co.za/articles/40061

 

UN advances inclusion at Ekwetsembeni special school

By Gcwalisile Mhlabane, eSwatini Positive News, 27 October 2026

SOURCE 

EKWETSEMBENI: The United Nations (UN) has reaffirmed its commitment to inclusion and equal opportunities for persons with disabilities through a visit to Ekwetsembeni Special School, where learners received staple food donations and support towards essential plumbing repairs.

The visit, held on October 26, 2026, brought together UN representatives, learners, teachers, caregivers and school leadership for a day centred on solidarity, inclusion and the shared responsibility of ensuring that no one is left behind.

The UN family donated staple food items and contributed towards plumbing repairs to support the school’s daily operations and the wellbeing of learners. The contributions reflected the collective commitment of the UN system, alongside the generosity of individual staff members.

Speaking on behalf of UN staff, Staff Federation President Zanele Thabede emphasised the importance of solidarity and equal opportunities for persons with disabilities.

“Building inclusive communities requires all of us to stand together and ensure that persons with disabilities are treated with dignity, afforded equal opportunities and supported to participate meaningfully in society,” Thabede said.

She stressed that inclusion should extend beyond words to practical actions that address the needs of vulnerable groups and ensure that everyone feels valued in their communities.

UN Resident Coordinator George Wachira reaffirmed that inclusion and equality are central to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

“The promise of the 2030 Agenda is clear: to leave no one behind. This means ensuring that everyone, including persons with disabilities, has the opportunity to live with dignity and access the support they need to thrive,” Wachira said.

He emphasised that building a just and compassionate society requires collective responsibility, meaningful partnerships and deliberate efforts to address the needs of people who require additional support.

Wachira also paid tribute to Ekwetsembeni Special School’s teachers and caregivers for their dedication, patience and compassion in creating a nurturing environment where learners can develop their abilities and reach their full potential.

To read more of this report, click here

https://eswatinipositivenews.online/un-advances-inclusion-at-ekwetsembeni-special-school/

 

King Mswati allegedly backed by the United States to maintain diplomatic ties with Taiwan

By Zweli Martin Dlamini, Swaziland News, 26 October 2026

SOURCE 

MBABANE: King Mswati is allegedly backed by the United States (US) to maintain diplomatic relations with Taiwan; an Island historically regarded as a Chinese Province and in terms of the United Nations Security Council Resolution 2758 of 1971.

It has been disclosed that, the US now regards Eswatini as a key strategic diplomatic partner in southern Africa amid deteriorating relations with the neighbouring South Africa.
As a result, diplomatic relations were strengthened with Eswatini by the current United States President Donald Trump administration.

But two ‘political competitors’ in the US have different views or positions regarding the issue of Eswatini, President Barack Obama’s Democrats political party has been vigorously supporting the calls for democratic reforms in the Sub-Saharan Africa’s last absolute Monarchy while President Donald Trump’s Republicans “supports the Monarchy and/or the current ruling Tinkhundla system of Government in the Kingdom”.

To read more of this report, click here

https://swazilandnews.co.za/articles/40091

See also

The China-Taiwan diplomatic war is more about politics than economics (The Diplomat)

https://thediplomat.com/2026/10/the-china-taiwan-diplomatic-war-is-more-about-politics-than-economics/

 

eSwatini repatriates 11 third-country nationals

By Stanley Khumalo, Times of eSwatini, 25 October 2026

SOURCE 

MBABANE: Eswatini has repatriated 11 third-country nationals since July 2025 under an arrangement with the United States Government.

The latest to return home is a national of Guinea who departed Eswatini on Friday and arrived in his country on Saturday.

Acting Government Spokesperson Thabile Mdluli announced this in a statement yesterday, saying the individual had voluntarily returned to his country-of-origin following arrangements to facilitate his repatriation.

According to the statement, the latest departure brings the total number of third-country nationals repatriated from Eswatini to 11 since the arrangement with the US Government commenced in July 2025.

Government said it continued to work with relevant national authorities and international partners to facilitate the safe and orderly return of the individuals to their respective countries.

It added that the process was being conducted in accordance with applicable laws and procedures, with due regard for the rights, dignity and well-being of those concerned.

Government also reassured the nation that it remained committed to managing the process responsibly and making the necessary arrangements to support the individuals’ safe onward travel.

It said it would continue to inform the public of significant developments concerning third-country nationals temporarily residing in the country, where appropriate.

 

SWAZI MEDIA COMMENTARY

Find us:

Blog: https://swazimedia.blogspot.com/

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Swaziland Newsletter No. 940 – 21 August 2026

 Swaziland Newsletter No. 940 – 21 August 2026

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. The newsletter and past editions are also available online on the Swazi Media Commentary blogsite.

 

eSwatini steps up efforts to get children off streets

By Phumelele Gamedze, eSwatini Positive News, 18 August 2026

SOURCE 

MBABANE: Key stakeholders gathered yesterday at Hilton Garden Inn to find lasting solutions for children living and working on the streets, with plans focusing on immediate support and long-term family care.

The meeting was convened by the Deputy Prime Minister’s Office through the National Children Services Department, bringing together municipalities, the Royal Eswatini Police Service and the Social Welfare Department.

In Eswatini’s major towns and cities, children can increasingly be seen on the streets, some selling goods or asking members of the public for money. Behind every child on the street, however, is a story that may involve family circumstances, poverty, lack of support or other challenges.

The meeting therefore sought to look beyond the presence of children on the streets and understand what can be done to change their circumstances.

The stakeholders are working towards a short-, medium and long term plan that will guide how children and their families can be supported. The intention is to create a coordinated response where children are identified, their individual situations understood and appropriate assistance provided.

This is important because prolonged exposure to street life can put children at risk of losing opportunities to attend school and may expose them to situations that threaten their safety, health and development.

To read more of this report, click here

https://eswatinipositivenews.online/eswatini-steps-up-efforts-to-get-children-off-streets/

 

eSwatini signs $195m US health funding deal

Associated Press, 20 August 2026

SOURCE 

Eswatini has signed a health funding agreement with the United States worth more than 3.24 billion emalangeni ($195 million) amid concerns the deal will expose the kingdom to abuse of its biological resources and health data in exchange for aid.

The memorandum of understanding was announced Tuesday during a courtesy call on Prime Minister Russell Dlamini by senior US State Department official Clinton Brown, who praised Eswatini’s “successful negotiation” under King Mswati III’s guidance.

Brown said the agreement would “benefit the health of Emaswati”, citing expanded support for HIV programmes and epidemic preparedness.

The deal forms part of Washington’s America First Global Health Strategy, which has replaced traditional aid channels such as USAID and scaled back President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR).

Under the scheme, the US provides funding for health systems in exchange for access to pathogen samples, surveillance data and sometimes critical minerals.

More than 18 African countries – including Nigeria, Botswana and the Democratic Republic of Congo – have signed similar agreements.

...

Critics describe the agreements as “transactional” and “imbalanced”, arguing they externalise US health responsibilities while undermining African autonomy.

Pathogen sequencing data is vital for biosecurity, pharmaceutical innovation and vaccine development, giving Washington a competitive edge.

 

See also

US credits PM leadership for e3.24 billion health deal (eSwatini Positive News)

https://eswatinipositivenews.online/us-credits-pm-leadership-for-e3-24-billion-health-deal/

 

One in three learners bullied as violence takes multiple forms

eSwatini Observer, 16 August 2026

SOURCE 

One in three school-going adolescents in the country reported being bullied on school property while almost one in five experienced cyberbullying.

The country’s latest national adolescent health survey paints a picture of pupils facing violence both inside and outside the school environment.

It found that 33.2% of learners aged 13 to 17 had been bullied on school property during the month preceding the survey. Girls were slightly more affected, with 35.1% reporting that they had been bullied compared with 31.3% of boys.

The findings also show that bullying is no longer confined to the school grounds.

A further 17.3% of learners reported being cyberbullied, with girls again recording a higher prevalence at 18.1% compared with 16.3% among boys. Cyberbullying also increased with age, rising from 16.5% among learners aged 13 to 15 to 18.6% among those aged 16 to 17.

The survey does not establish which digital platforms were involved, who was responsible for the harassment or what form the cyberbullying took. It also does not establish whether learners who experienced bullying at school were the same learners who reported cyberbullying. However, the findings point to an increasingly complex environment in which harassment can extend beyond the school gates and continue through phones and digital platforms after learners have left school.

The wider findings indicate that bullying forms part of a broader concern around violence and injury among adolescents.

To read more of this report, click here

https://www.eswatiniobserver.com/one-in-three-learners-bullied-as-violence-takes-multiple-forms/

 

eSwatini eyes curbing children’s social media access

By Mlondzi Nkambule, Times of eSwatini, 19 August 2026

SOURCE 

MBABANE: Government is examining measures to shield children from harmful social media content as countries tighten age restrictions on young users.

The issue came under scrutiny in Senate last week when Senator Isaac Magagula asked what was being done to prevent minors from accessing social media platforms that expose them to harmful content. Magagula sought to know what mitigating measures were in place to combat what he described as a scourge affecting children.

Responding on behalf of the Ministry of Tourism and Environmental Affairs during the Senate debate on the Deputy Prime Minister’s Office First-Quarter Performance Report, the DPM’s Office said it was working with the Ministry of Information, Communications and Technology (ICT) on the regulation of online content.

“On the issue of regulating content on social media platforms, the office works in close collaboration with the Ministry of ICT to ensure that contents on certain social media platforms are censored, as per the practice globally, to ensure that children are protected from accessing harmful social media sites,” the DPM’s Office stated.

It further pointed to the regulatory framework administered through the Eswatini Communications Commission (ESCCOM), saying it was intended to ensure compliance with cyber laws and protect children from harmful and inappropriate online content. The response, however, did not announce a specific minimum age for social media use in Eswatini or indicate that government had adopted a blanket restriction on under-16 accounts.

Instead, it signals that the protection of children online is increasingly being treated as a regulatory issue involving content control, cybersecurity, data protection and cooperation between government agencies.

Eswatini already has legislation dealing with a range of online harms.

To read more of this report, click here

https://times.co.sz/41773/news/eswatini-eyes-curbing-childrens-social-media-access/

 

Govt eyes incentives to grow eSwatini to 2 million

By Sifiso Nhlabatsi, eSwatini Positive News, 14 August 2026

SOURCE 

LOBAMBA: Government could consider introducing incentives to encourage population growth in Eswatini, with a Cabinet minister suggesting that the country should set a long-term target of growing its population to two million people.

This was disclosed by Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Senator Pholile Shakantu, who was representing Minister of Home Affairs Princess Lindiwe during the Senate Portfolio Committee debate on the Ministry of Home Affairs’ First Quarter Performance Report for 2026/27.

Shakantu was responding to a question raised by Senate President Senator Lindiwe Dlamini on the country’s population growth.

The minister said Eswatini’s relatively slow population growth was an issue that deserved attention, suggesting that Government could explore incentives aimed at encouraging families to have more children.

She cited examples of other countries where governments provide financial allowances and other forms of support to families with children as part of efforts to stimulate population growth.

According to the minister, Eswatini could similarly examine what incentives would be appropriate and sustainable to encourage population growth.

She noted that for many years, the country’s population has remained within the region of 1.1 million to 1.2 million people, arguing that a clear long-term national population target could help shape future policy.

To read more of this report, click here

https://eswatinipositivenews.online/govt-eyes-incentives-to-grow-eswatini-to-2-million/

See also

73 % of eSwatini’s population is under age 35 (eSwatini Positive News)

https://eswatinipositivenews.online/73-of-eswatinis-population-is-under-age-35/

 

The King’s Emperor is naked as Judiciary and Cabinet fight

Comment by Wandile Dludlu, Swaziland News, 16 August 2026

SOURCE 

King Mswati III (Pic: via TimesLive)

After the 2021 unrest, the State is working overtime to sell a story, through State media, royal events, and curated optics, Emaswati and the world are told that the Monarchy is strong, united, in charge, efficient, and loved by the people.

But the numbers tell a different story, the fiscus is bleeding, debt is climbing. Unemployment and poverty are at crisis levels, the Judiciary and Cabinet are at war with themselves, the clothes are gone, the Emperor is naked.

The cash flow crisis in Government has reached unprecedented proportions, for 2025/26, total expenditure is projected to grow by 8.5% to E32.61 billion, driven by security wages and infrastructure.

The fiscal deficit is projected to widen to E2.88 billion, or 3% of GDP.

The World Bank is even bleaker, projecting a deficit of 6.3% of GDP in 2026-among the largest in Africa and nearly double the Sub-Saharan average of 3.5%.

Public debt has followed. It rose to 40.3% of GDP by June 2025, up from 38.6% a year earlier. The IMF projects it will hit 42.9% owing to the regularization of arrears.
Borrowing is now expensive, with government securities trading 3.75 percentage points above South African instruments.

The result on the ground is collapse. Departments operate at a bare minimum. Local service providers remain unpaid, with government arrears still at 3.2% of GDP despite E1.05 billion in “clearance”. Clinics lack drugs. Schools lack books. Yet the pageantry continues.
The economy is not just failing. It is failing the majority by design. Unemployment sits at 34%, with youth unemployment at 58% in 2023. Poverty is at 59%. Income inequality is among the highest in sub-Saharan Africa.

Growth projections of 4% to 4.6% for 2026 mean little. Economists warn this is “largely cyclical, driven by consumption” and “insufficient to fundamentally alter the country’s high levels of unemployment, poverty and inequality”. Without structural reform, “this momentum risks fading, leaving the economy trapped in a familiar pattern of stagnation, limited job creation and persistent social pressure”.

Social security provisions are buckling under the same pressure.

With deficits eroding contingency buffers and financing costs rising, the state has less capacity to protect the 59% living in poverty. Grants, health, and education — the bare minimum of a social contract — are being sacrificed to keep the system afloat. Governance has collapsed inward, the Judiciary is once again at odds with the executive.

The Master’s Report released by the Chief Justice a week ago depicts a Government that is coy and evasive of accountability to the poor — the victims of malfeasance, corruption and maladministration.

The deplorable saga of the United States detainees has been yet another emblematic reminder of a system in jeopardy, one that has compromised the integrity of His Majesty’s Correctional Services together with the judiciary. It exposes a chronic political disease.

The Head of State has failed once more to intervene and restore confidence, the King is failing to provide leadership when it is most needed. In the Tinkhundla system, no one can evaluate the performance of the most expensive public officer.

Yet for the sake of the nation, one person must urgently pull the different organs of state in one direction.

Instead of removing deployed officials presiding over looting, there is a clear pattern of protecting mediocrity and maladministration.

In Cabinet, endless political wrestling between the Prime Minister and ministers exposes the rot at the top.

The appointing authority appears either unwilling or unable to enforce unity and cohesion. If the Cabinet cannot agree among itself, how can it deliver national goods and services to Emaswati?

The optics cannot hide the reality and the maths on the ground anymore.

6.3% deficit. 40%+ debt. 34% unemployment. 58% youth unemployment. 59% poverty.

A Government that cannot pay its bills, cannot keep its house in order, and cannot account to its people.

The post-unrest narrative of strength and stability is a misdiagnosis, it is propaganda to cover a regime in total dire straits.

Eswatini does not need more pageantry, we need accountability, jobs, and a Government that serves the people and is democratic now!

 

SWAZI MEDIA COMMENTARY

Find us:

Blog: https://swazimedia.blogspot.com/

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Swaziland Newsletter No. 939 – 14 August 2026

 

Swaziland Newsletter No. 939 – 14 August 2026

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. The newsletter and past editions are also available online on the Swazi Media Commentary blogsite.

 

Dangerous criminals dumped in eSwatini by United States Donald Trump administration secretly released

By Musa Mdluli, Swaziland News, 12 August 2026

SOURCE 

MBABANE: The dangerous criminals some who were previously convicted of child rape, robbery and murder and were subsequently dumped in Eswatini by the United States (US) Donald Trump administration as per an agreement signed with the tiny Kingdom, has been released.

The deportees were recently seen embarking on a shopping spree this week in the densely populated Matsapha where the country’s Correctional Facility is situated but, even though some are dangerous ex-convicts, it has been disclosed that some are law abiding deportees dumped in the Kingdom of Eswatini merely for allegedly being in the United States illegally.
Justice and Constitutional Affairs Minister Prince Simelane told Parliament that these deportees are not dangerous.

“They are not dangerous it’s just that they don’t want them in the United States,” the Justice and Constitutional Affairs Minister told Parliament last week.

It has been disclosed that, some of the deportees have been released after applying for asylum in the Kingdom of Eswatini while some are still residing at the Matsapha Correctional Facility pending repatriation to their respective countries.

The United States signed an agreement with the Kingdom of Eswatini and subsequently paid about R100million for dumping dangerous criminals in the southern African country.

Reached for comments by this Swaziland News, Wandile Dludlu, the Deputy President of Eswatini’s main and largest liberation movement, the People’s United Democratic Movement (PUDEMO) described the dumping of the dangerous criminals in Eswatini as a political hoax.

“The whole deportees saga is a political hoax nothing legal nor due process. Tinkhundla, for money will remove their clothes for the funder to enjoy”, said the PUDEMO Deputy President.

See also

US deportees not serving eSwatini sentences – govt (eSwatini Positive News)

https://eswatinipositivenews.online/us-deportees-not-serving-eswatini-sentences-govt/

Trapped in eSwatini: The men Trump deported to a country they had never heard of (Eastern Herald)

https://easternherald.com/2026/08/12/trump-deportees-eswatini-prison-third-country/

 

 eSwatini facing reading crisis – World Bank

By Sibusiso Dlamini, eSwatini Observer, 9 August 2026

SOURCE 

The country is facing a reading crisis, with thousands of children progressing through the early years of primary school without mastering the basic literacy skills needed to learn.

A Grade III pupil reads, on average, just three English words correctly in a minute, according to a 2025 learning assessment cited by the World Bank. In Siswati, the figure rises to only eight words per minute.

How far behind that is becomes clearer when measured against the international measure of where children are expected to be at around this stage of their education.

The International Association for the Evaluation of Educational Achievement’s Progress in International Reading Literacy Study (PIRLS), regarded as a global standard for measuring reading achievement, assesses pupils in their fourth year of schooling, an important transition point when children have typically learnt how to read and are beginning to read in order to learn.

Singapore emerged as the world’s leading performer, recording an average of 100 to 120 words correct per minute aloud.

The local figures are contained in an article published by the World Bank detailing government’s efforts to address what has become a serious foundational learning problem in the kingdom.

The problem appears to begin early. According to the World Bank, only 16% of Grade II and III children in the country demonstrated foundational reading skills in 2022, while just 8% displayed the expected proficiency in mathematics.

That matters because reading is not a skill children leave behind during the early years of their education. It becomes fundamental to almost everything else they are expected to learn as they progress through school.

A World Bank report reveals that eSwatini is facing a reading crisis, with Grade III pupils reading just three English words per minute on average. [AI Generated Image]

To read more of this report, click here

https://www.eswatiniobserver.com/eswatini-facing-reading-crisis-world-bank/

 

 Why most emaswati are not feeling economic growth – minister explains

By Sifiso Nhlabatsi, eSwatini Positive News, 12 August 2026

SOURCE 

LOBAMBA: The Gini coefficient, a measure of income inequality, offers one explanation for why economic growth is not being felt equally by Emaswati.

Minister of Commerce, Industry and Trade Mancoba Khumalo said yesterday that while the country’s economy was growing, the benefits were concentrated among a relatively small section of the population, leaving many citizens struggling to participate meaningfully in the economy.

In explaining the issue in simple terms, Khumalo told the Senate “Laba labadla lizambane lapondo bancane kakhulu” meaning that those eating from the economic pot are too few.

The minister was representing Minister of Economic Planning and Development Dr Tambo Gina, during the ministry’s appearance before the Senate to present the first quarter performance report for the 2026/27 financial year.

One of the key issues raised by Senators was whether the economic growth figures being reported are translating into meaningful improvements in the lives of ordinary Emaswati. Senator Dr Stukie Patricia Motsa questioned whether the growth rates being presented truly reflect the economic realities experienced by citizens on the ground.

Responding to the concern, Minister Khumalo acknowledged that income inequality remains a significant challenge. He explained that while the economy may grow, the benefits of that growth are not always distributed equally, meaning that those who are already financially stable may experience the benefits more readily than vulnerable households. He noted that this remains an issue requiring continued attention as Government works towards more inclusive economic growth.

To read more of this report, click here

https://eswatinipositivenews.online/why-most-emaswati-are-not-feeling-economic-growth-minister-explains/

 

Water, sanitation and hygiene for every child

UNICEF eSwatini, 10 August 2026

SOURCE 

Did you know? Over 55,000 people in Eswatini have no toilets and practise open defecation.

Did you know? Simple hand hygiene habits, such as washing hands with running clean water and soap, can reduce diarrhoeal diseases by 33%.

Did you know? More than 300 children under five die from diarrhoeal diseases in Eswatini every year.

Did you know? In Eswatini, diarrhoeal disease, driven by unsafe water and sanitation, remains a leading killer of young children.

Every June, Eswatini joins the rest of the continent in marking the Day of the African Child (DAC). This year’s commemoration carried a message that could not be more fundamental: a child’s right to clean water, a safe toilet and the means to stay clean and healthy. Eswatini recognizes June as children’s month and uses it to intensify advocacy on children’s issues- a month of advocacy and action for children.

The Day of the African Child was established in 1991 by the Organisation of African Unity, now the African Union, to honour and advance children’s rights across the continent. For 35 years it has served as an annual moment of reflection and advocacy, with a theme chosen each year by the African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child. For 2026, that theme is “Ensuring universal access to water, sanitation and hygiene for every child.” In Eswatini, June was observed as a month-long advocacy campaign around this theme, led by the Children’s Services Department in the Deputy Prime Minister’s office, ministry of education, ministry of natural resources and energy, ministry of Tinkhundla, NGO children’s consortium, municipalities and UNICEF.

Water, sanitation and hygiene, known as WASH, are not conveniences. They are the foundation on which a child’s health, dignity, education and protection all rest. Yet across Eswatini, that foundation remains out of reach for far too many children.

The objectives for this year’s advocacy month were clear: embed WASH in the policies and budgets that shape children’s lives, raise awareness of WASH as a right, ensure that girls, children with disabilities and other vulnerable groups are included in WASH planning, and hold leaders accountable through concrete, measurable commitments.

To read more of this report, click here

https://www.unicef.org/eswatini/stories/childrens-month

 

First medical detox, rehabilitation centre opens

eSwatini Observer, 10 August 2026

SOURCE 

The first medical detoxification and rehabilitation centre in Eswatini, City of Refuge has officially opened its doors to assist people struggling with substance abuse.

The centre has three locations in the country, with its head office in Ezulwini and additional facilities in Matsapha and Mkhondvo.

City of Refuge provides rehabilitation services to people aged between 12 and 78 years with the aim of helping individuals overcome substance abuse, rebuild their lives and make positive changes.

City of Refuge Director Bishop Ronnie Doorsamy said the centre’s establishment in Eswatini is about bringing healing and transformation to people affected by substance abuse.
He said the organisation had come to Eswatini with the goal of providing healing and helping people recover from addiction.

The rehabilitation programme runs for between 21 and 28 days during which clients receive support as they work towards recovery.

In addition to its rehabilitation services, City of Refuge also has a college where young people can undergo two years of TVET vocational training.

The programme is intended to equip young people with practical skills that can help them become self-reliant and improve their future prospects.

 

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