Swaziland Newsletter No. 835 – 12
July 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.
Global support key to
fighting eSwatini abuses
Legalbrief
Africa, 8 July 2024,
eSwatini received a score of 17 out of 100
in Freedom House’s Freedom
in the World 2024 report. It scored
one out of 40 on political freedoms and 16 out of 60 for civil liberties, with
a conclusion that eSwatini was ‘not free’. The country’s score has been
consistently low for years, correlating with its entrenched culture of impunity
for human rights abuses. Human Rights Watch’s
Nomathamsanqa Masiko-Mpaka says there has been no accountability for the
security forces’ crackdown on pro-democracy protesters three years ago, despite
the deaths of at least 46 people and up to 390 others injured, at least 265 of
them with gunshot wounds. ‘On the contrary, the government has intensified its
assault on dissenting views by arresting government critics on bogus charges,
interfering with peaceful assembly and resisting calls for democratic reforms.’
In a column on the Mail & Guardian Online site, Masiko-Mpaka
notes it has been more than 500 days since Thulani Maseko – a prominent human
rights lawyer and opposition activist – was killed in January 2023. His wife,
Tanele Maseko, commented: ‘We need an independent and internationally-led
investigation into Thulani’s assassination. The government that jailed and then
killed him cannot investigate itself.’
Masiko-Mpaka says the role that global, continental and regional actors can
play cannot be overstated. Amnesty International has initiated a week of
action campaign with the hashtag #500days to demand decisive action and
accountability regarding the ‘stagnant’ investigation. The campaign seeks to
rally activists globally to mobilise and enter discussions with Foreign Affairs
Ministers and eSwatini diplomatic missions in their own countries. ‘Such
initiatives should be encouraged, supported and – where possible – scaled
up to ensure that the calls for justice and accountability ring out from
all corners of the world to put pressure on eSwatini authorities to do the
right thing.’ Masiko-Mpaka says if there are to be democratic reforms in
Africa’s last absolute monarchy, global and continental solidarity may be the
spark that will set alight the flame. ‘May the spark that brings democracy, rule
of law and human rights shine bright in the kingdom of eSwatini and that people
from other countries will reach out to that country’s people to provide the
solidarity they have long deserved.’
Full Thought Leader column on the Mail
& Guardian Online site
https://mg.co.za/thought-leader/opinion/2024-07-03-unite-to-fight-for-human-rights-in-eswatini/
15
family members share one room
By
Thokozani Mazibuko, eSwatini Daily News, 7 July 2024
In A heartbreaking disclosure, 23-year-old Thembelihle Dlamini from the Nyakeni
area under the Kukhanyeni Constituency has shared her family’s struggle to
survive on the meagre Elderly Grants received by both her parents, who are
persons living with disabilities.
According to Thembelihle, the grant they receive is the only source of income
for their family, which includes herself, her disabled parents, and three
siblings who also have disabilities.
In an interview with the Eswatini Sunday, Dlamini said they pay for a high
school pupil’s school fees every month from their parents’ social grant, as the
pupil is a member of the family.
“The school fees cost over E7000, and we have no option but to use the social
grant money to pay in instalments. We pay E500 monthly and we are left with
E300 for food and groceries,” Dlamini disclosed.
It is worth mentioning that the Dlamini family’s situation sheds light on the
harsh realities faced by many families in Eswatini who are living with
disabilities and struggling to make ends meet.
With a total of five disabled family members reliant on modest Elderly Grants,
Thembelihle’s family faces immense challenges in meeting basic needs and
covering essential expenses like food, clothing, and medical care.
“We are a family of girls and boys, and we all spend a night in this one-room
stick and mud accommodation. We urge the Nation to come to our rescue,”
Thembelihle said.
Thembelihle has bravely spoken out about
the difficulties her family is facing, drawing attention to the urgent need for
support and assistance for families living with disabilities in Eswatini. She
emphasizes the importance of creating a more inclusive and supportive society
that provides resources and opportunities for individuals with disabilities to
live dignified and fulfilling lives.
To read more of this report, click here
https://swazidailynews.com/2024/07/07/15-family-members-share-one-room/
Opinion
by Zweli Martin Dlamini, Swaziland News, 8 July, 2024
Freedom of expression and opinion suggests
that even journalists or editors are subject to criticism, anyone is free to
hold a different opinion to that of editors or journalists.
But it has become a norm for some
political activists to conclude that if this journalist writes anything
positive about the King, that means he has been captured by Mswati.
We are in court with the King and the
Government of eSwatini and this was triggered by my refusal to be controlled by
the State, I don’t expect political novices to do the same.
Any person who fights for democracy ought
to understand the independence of the media and its duty to provide balanced
news and analysis on issues of public interest.
But political activists are free to write
articles and share their opinions stating why they feel a journalist who
publish articles or anything positive about the King is captured, they can send
those articles to the editor and we will publish so that the public can see
their political stupidity.
This independent online publication
created its name in society and the international community even in the midst
of attacks by the eSwatini Government and other lunatics who claim to be
political activists.
But let me clarify the qualities of an
independent editor so that the political novices who claim to be fighting for
democracy while failing to embrace media freedom, can understand.
Being an editor, in the context of a court
structure, means you are presiding in the court of public opinion and therefore
you must, at all times, act in a manner that is fair and be credible.
An editor approves publication of stories
that influence the public discourse and therefore, the information must
credible because it impacts people’s lives and influence decisions.
But apart from that, decisions must be
influenced in the public interest not to massage the egos of political
activists, some who know nothing about democracy hence their failure to
understand media freedom.
Even if the masses can know your political
views as the editor, but you cannot report or analyze issues in a manner that
suggests that, the King or anyone within the Tinkhundla system is always wrong
even when he/she seems to be right.
Any journalist or editor who always create
a wrong where it does not exist, just to please a certain group of people loses
credibility and once you lose credibility as a journalist, you must drop your
pen, it’s over!.
I am a known critic of the Tinkhundla
system and King Mswati but that does not mean everything about Mswati or the
Tinkhundla system of governance is wrong, it’s just that, in my view,
Tinkhundla is not and, will never be democratic.
But despite that, it is for these reasons
you will find a story about the Deputy Prime Minister (DPM) Thuli Dladla
officially opening a house that has been built for the poor because journalism
is about reporting what is happening.
After reading the story, it is the duty of
political activists to contact the editor or use other platforms to challenge
Thulisile Dladla, maybe by sharing different political sentiments suggesting
that, the DPM is abusing the National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA) donated
funds to promote the Tinkhundla system and portray the system as if it is
taking care of the poor.
But if the story is reported without being
challenged, the DPM and the Tinkhundla system will abuse international donor
funds to gain political mileage unchallenged and as independent journalists,
there’s nothing we can do if political activists are sleeping.
The problem with some political activists
is that, they expect a journalist to fight their wars such that, even if the
information could be published and placed in front of them, they won’t
understand how to use it to intensify the calls for democracy.
To read more of this commentary,
click here
https://swazilandnews.co.za/fundza.php?nguyiphi=6894
‘Gawuzela’ coming Nov., says he is
ready to die
By
Ntombi Mhlongo, Times Sunday, 7 July 2024
MBABANE: Despite being regarded as a
fugitive of the law in the Kingdom of Eswatini, exiled President of the
Swaziland Liberation Movement (SWALIMO) has vowed to be in neighbouring South
Africa, come November 2, 2024.
On the aforementioned day, he will be
located in an area that is situated a few kilometres from the Kingdom of
Eswatini. He has said that he will be in attendance at an event organised
by his party dubbed ‘The Gathering of Nation’ set to be held at KaMhlushwa in
Mpumalanga. The former Member of Parliament (MP) introduced his upcoming
event on Thursday during his online show dubbed ‘Family Meeting’, where he
invited emaSwati to come in numbers. Simelane began his address by stating
that he was never in the Kingdom of Eswatini last week as many might have been
made to believe.
He claimed that he had heard that the
country’s security forces searched for him after having received a tip-off that
he had arrived through a train. “What I can assure emaSwati is that I will
travel to Africa after the month of October. When travelling to Africa, I will
be going to Kamhlushwa Stadium, which is 20 kilometres from the Mananga Border
Post. I am going there to call out to God and join other emaSwati. This will be
during the day,” he said. Elaborating, the former MP said the event was
all about uniting all emaSwati who want democratic change, since they cannot be
allowed to gather in the Kingdom of Eswatini.
“It will be very helpful for emaSwati to
gather, let alone the fact that I will be there. We will be praying against all
evil and the success of the movement,” he said. He vowed that all talk at
the event will be directed to God and that by the end of the year, there will
be a huge change in the country. Also, he said his political party will
engage certain institutions, one of them being the United States Embassy to
enquire about a petition that was delivered over two years ago. He said since
the general elections have been concluded in South Africa, SWALIMO will make
sure that it mobilised the political parties of the neighbouring country in
calling for a democratic Eswatini.
According to Simelane, an anticipated huge
turnout at the upcoming event will convince the people of South Africa that
emaSwati want change.
To read more of this report, click
here
Youth in sustainable energy receive
tools to launch careers
United
Nations Development Program, 5 July 2024
“It was a transformative experience that
opened my eyes to the potential of sustainable energy solutions in addressing
community challenges.” These are the sentiments of Ncamsile Dlamini, a
participant in the Youth Leadership and Sustainable Energy Academy (YLSEA).
This programme is a partnership between the University of Eswatini's Centre for
Sustainable Energy Research (CSER) and UNDP. It equips unemployed young people
from diverse backgrounds with basic skills in Solar PV Systems, solar
dehydrators, biogas digesters and entrepreneurship.
Under this partnership, 60 youth have been
trained in the last two years – the first cohort of 30 participants in 2022 and
the second in 2023. The second cohort, which Dlamini was part of, graduated
in November.
 |
Sobahle Dlamini all smiles after receiving her starter kit from the
UNDP-supported Youth Leadership and Sustainable Energy Academy.
Alongside nine other youth participants
she trained with last October, Dlamini has chosen to establish an association
dedicated to supplying energy to rural schools using biogas. This is after
these young people learnt about generating energy using biogas from the
three-week training and realised that some rural schools do not have
electricity connections.
“Due to the absence of electricity in
certain rural schools, children are compelled to bring firewood to school for
cooking,” said Dlamini, a resident of a rural community, Nkoneni, in the
Shiselweni Region. She highlighted that some students trek over two kilometres
to school, making carrying firewood a challenging burden for them.
“Even if the school is connected to
electricity, the cost is too high for many rural schools which still forces
them to use firewood for cooking,” she said.
UNDP Deputy Resident Representative Nessie
Golakai-Gould agreed with Dlamini's assessment, highlighting that despite
Eswatini's high electricity penetration rate of 85%, there are still areas in
the country without access. She further noted that even in areas with
electricity, much of it is primarily used for lighting rather than productive
purposes.
Eswatini imports 60% of its electricity
from neighbouring countries, rendering it unaffordable for poor households in a
country where 58.9% of the population lives below the poverty line. The nation
predominantly relies on coal-generated electricity, contributing to carbon
emissions and exacerbating climate change.
“Renewable energy is touted as one of the
avenues for not only having a green means of lighting and energy for ourselves
but also to be able to ensure that we have energy for productive capacity,”
said Golakai-Gould.
To read more of this report, click
here
https://www.undp.org/eswatini/news/youth-sustainable-energy-receive-tools-launch-careers
Sexual objectification of
women in adverts
By
Editor, Times of eSwatini, 5 July 2024
There was a social media reaction to a
certain company’s use of a naked woman to advertise their product, just the
other day. Now, if you are not aware of the consequences and implications of
such images on a public platform that has nothing to do with nudity, its easy
to see the uproar as unnecessary noise, and unwarranted. Let me break down what
this really means and how it takes us 10 steps back in the fight against
gender-based violence (GBV).
The objectification or sexualisation of
women and girls in advertising reinforces harmful gender stereotypes that women
are subordinate to men, contributing to the discrimination of women in many
aspects of life. ‘Objectification’ means treating people as objects and
reducing them to objects of sexual pleasure and gratification. It can lead to
normalisation of sexual and other violence against women. When the Times of
Eswatini facebook page reported about this commotion, one of the commenters
said: ‘Please do not take down the advert. I look at it every night before I go
to sleep’, further making the point that the billboard sexualises women in ways
that are harmful to them.
Now, the commenter did not imply that he
has been inspired to buy whatever product was being advertised, but instead is
using the image for sexual gratification. That is what is wrong with this whole
picture!Businesses should develop clear guidelines and policies and ensure
employees receive training on appropriate use of marketing and social media
platforms. In developing and implementing advertising or marketing campaigns,
care should be taken to avoid the objectification of women and girls. Women are
already faced with a lot of challenges that they do not need this added stress
onto their list of problems.
The primary goal of advertising is to
create a need so that a company can provide a product or service to meet that
need. For example, many of our parents buy medication because they see it being
advertised on TV and are tricked into believing they need those arthritis
pills, or the blue pill. What kind of need is the objectification of women
creating in advertising household products, for example? Also, are we that
backward that we honestly still feel only men are the primary target for
building materials? We can’t be in 2024 and still believe such.
Imagine seeing a man advertising Handy-andy and posing in a manner usually seen
on women - wearing boxers and standing over a kitchen counter in a sexually
suggestive manner.
That mental image is awfully weird, right?
This is an example of ‘normalisation’: Even though the actual pose is absurd,
we see it so often on women that it seems normal. We have normalised seeing
images of naked women everywhere, in music videos, in advertisements, on social
media moving statuses. And when a brand displays shocking images, the
assumption is that it is more memorable to the audience. Which is false.
Advertisers link the images with desires
of male’s emotion such as romance, love and sex. These pictures are suggesting
to men that those desires can be satisfied through purchasing their products.
However, these sexually suggestive images make women to be seen as sexual
objects rather than as people in many advertisements. Which then translates to
how men treat the women in their lives. This is where catcalling comes in,
sexual harassment, and God forbid, rape.
This is because such images do not only
sell products, but also sell a specific idea of the value and role of women as
subordinate and submissive objects for the use of men. Sexual images of women
have significant impact on their audience, and it is especially problematic
among men. I was happy to hear that the company in question agreed to take down
their billboard, I honeatly hope that they will find better ways to attract
ther audience other than using harmful iages of women, and probably find more suitable
names for their products too because the one in question also fed into the GBV
issues we are already facing as women.
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