Swaziland Newsletter No. 813 – 9
February 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.
16
people wanted by cops for unrest terrorist acts
Mbongiseni Ndzimandze, Times of eSwatini, 6 February 2024
MBABANE - At least 16 people are wanted by the police in
connection with alleged terrorist activities committed during the civil unrest
in 2021 and 2022.
According to the police, on
the list of those who are at large, are security officers and civilians who
were employed. They are alleged to have abandoned their different occupations,
homes and children after they were made aware that they were wanted in connection
with terrorism offences. They are believed to be hiding outside the Kingdom of
Eswatini. The number of the people who are now of interest to the police
is contained in court papers where the prosecution is strongly opposing the
bail application of the University of Eswatini (UNESWA) student, who was
arrested for alleged terrorist activities committed during the civil unrest in
2021 and 2022.
The student, Mayibongwe Pupu
Nyawo (20) of Siphofaneni, is the 23rd person to be arrested and charged under
the Suppression of Terrorism Act, for crimes that were committed during the
unrest. He is accused of the same offences as Bonginkhosi ‘Bongo’ Nkambule
and Menzi Bhembe, who were arrested in the past two weeks. Nkambule is a member
of the Communist Party of Swaziland (CPS). The trio is alleged to have
burnt a police car at the Mbabane Government Hospital and a national flag at
UNESWA Mbabane Campus, during a students’ march to the Ministry of Labour and
Social Security on September 30, 2022. So far, none of the 23 accused persons
have been granted bail. Detective Collen Mazibuko, who works under the
Criminal Investigations Department (Organised Crime and Counter Terrorism
Unit), told the court that it would not be in the interest of justice to
release Nyawo on bail.
He alleged that in the event
the accused was released on bail, he would flee the country and join those who
were wanted by the police. Mazibuko told the court that the overwhelming
evidence, coupled with the likelihood of being convicted, as well as the heavy
custodial sentence, would entice the accused to escape the
jurisdiction. “About 16 of the accused persons who participated in the
terrorist acts are at large and out of the court’s jurisdiction,” submitted the
investigator. He averred that in the event that Nyawo was released on bail, he
was likely to join them as they seemed to have many sympathisers, who were
readily available to sponsor their stay in the foreign jurisdiction.
According to the investigating
officer, Nyawo could fit easily in a foreign jurisdiction, as he was still
young and could be able to enrol at any university and continue with his
education. It was further his contention that it would be easy for Nyawo to
flee the jurisdiction as he was unemployed, without assets, but just a
student. Detective Mazibuko also averred that the accused was
likely to interfere with and influence two independent Crown witnesses, who
accompanied the police during point-outs. “It is submitted that the
applicant’s (Nyawo) release on bail will, therefore, endanger the lives of the
witnesses, mostly because he is aware of who was present when they torched the
police van. He can easily reach to them directly or indirectly, through those
in solidarity with overthrowing the current government,” he argued.
He implored the court not to
release the applicant on bail, as he would allegedly endanger the safety of the
public. The investigator pointed out that during the march, the applicant
failed to heed orders of the Hhohho Police Operations officer, when he
instructed them to disperse and return home. It was alleged by the
investigating officer that the applicant was able to threaten to assault a
police officer, who was in full uniform, before allegedly setting alight the
police van. “So clearly granting him bail will undermine or jeopardise the
objectives or the proper functioning of the criminal justice system, inclusive
of the bail system,” submitted the law enforcer. He added that the allegation
that the applicant was a student at UNESWA did not make him entitled to being
granted bail.
He said even though the
applicant alleged that he would be sitting an examination, he did not take the
court into his confidence by stating the exact date. He highlighted that the
applicant and his co-accused were facing charges of terrorism, arising from the
civil unrest and that the objective of same was to bring about an unlawful
regime change. “The blanket statement is a result of the fact that he was
writing no test and that no examination is commencing on February 24,
2024. Such has been alleged to mislead the court,” argued the
investigator. The bail application is pending before Judge Nkosinathi Maseko
and appearing for the applicant is Noncedo Ndlangamandla. The Crown is
represented by Mxolisi Dlamini from the chamber of the director of public prosecutions
(DPP).
SWAGAA
Director says organization spending more money on victims amid collapsed health
system, urges Senators to support looming motion seeking to declare GBV a
national disaster
By
Bongiwe Dlamini, Swaziland News, 7 February, 2024
MBABANE: Nonhlanhla Dlamini, the Executive
Director of the Eswatini Action Group Against Abuse (SWAGAA) says the human
rights organization is spending more money providing health care to some
victims of violence.
Responding to this Swaziland News
on Wednesday, the Director said, some victims of violence arrive at SWAGAA in
urgent need of medication and organization found itself with no alternative but
to assist.
“With the shortage of drugs in hospitals,
you cannot then dump the victim and sometimes we find ourselves buying
medication for the victims. That’s why we are urging Government to declare
Gender Based Violence (GBV) a national disaster so that the country can
allocate resources to fight domestic violence. We also urge Senators to support
the looming motion seeking to declare GBV as a national disaster and should the
motion pass, Cabinet is requested to implement it”, said the SWAGAA when
speaking to editor Zweli Martin Dlamini.
On another note, some Senators and Members
of Parliament (MPs) told this publication that, they will support efforts to
declare GBV as a national disaster including supporting a motion.
eSwatini
prepared to treat cholera - PM
By
Bongiwe Dlamini, eSwatini Observer, 3 February 2024
Prime Minister Russell Mmiso Dlamini says
Eswatini is highly-prepared to treat cholera in the event the disease manifest
itself in the kingdom.
He said this yesterday on behalf of His
Majesty King Mswati III in a speech during a virtual SADC Extra-ordinary Summit
on the cholera outbreak.
At the summit, Dlamini presented a report
on Eswatini’s cholera situation, wherein he said the country had not yet
recorded any case this year.
However, the prime minister noted that the
country recorded only two cholera cases in 2023, and that the bacteria was
successfully contained through support from international partners, as well as
other interventions.
On the cholera response, Dlamini stated
that the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) Africa Region Office afforded
Eswatini technical assistance. In addition, the premier said health workers
along with laboratory personnel at national and regional levels were trained on
how to diagnose, isolate and treat cholera patients.
“We also received a stock pile of
equipment for cholera use, which includes cholera beds, spraying kits, testing
kits and protective wear to protect our health personnel from contracting this
infectious disease,” he asserted.
Further, the prime minister said not
having any recorded cholera case this year did not mean the country is out of
the woods yet.
“We are cognizant of the fact that even
though we have no recorded cases as yet in 2024, we remain at risk and
therefore we support a regional approach to fighting cholera,” he said.
Also, Dlamini said Eswatini, with
assistance from Africa Centre for Disease Control (CDC) and WHO Africa Region
Office, conducted a national simulation exercise (SIMEX) for cholera and it
placed the country at 72 per cent in terms of readiness for this epidemic.
“We are currently embarked on an exercise
to assess the extent of health facility readiness. We have also procured
medicine through emergency procurement,” added Dlamini.
On behalf of His Majesty’s government,
Dlamini expressed his gratitude to international partners who have pledged
support to the region in the fight agaisnt cholera.
On another note, the prime minister
mentioned the saddening news of a Liswati student who died of cholera while in
Zambia. Dlamini expressed gratitude to the republics of Zambia and South Africa
for their cooperation as preparation for the repatriation of the deceased body
is made.
To SADC member states where lives were
lost due to the cholera epidemic, the premier, on behalf of Their Majesties and
citizens of Eswatini conveyed his deepest condolences.
“The Kingdom of Eswatini welcomes and
appreciates the contents of the report on cholera. We regret to learn of the
slow pace at which the interventions and recommendations to contain this global
emergency are implemented.
“We would like to urge ourselves to
accelerate implementation so as to prevent the spread of the bacteria and
protect our people,” he said.
Dlamini concluded by expressing Eswatini’s
support for the appointment of His Excellency President Hakainde Hichilema as
the Regional Cholera Champion to spearhead the fight against cholera in the
region.
“We believe in your leadership and the
experience amassed by your country in the fight against cholera, we will
successfully eliminate this epidemic in the region,” Dlamini said.
See also
Your stomach bug is
not cholera
http://www.times.co.sz/news/143720-your-stomach-bug-is-not-cholera-health.html
EmaSwati must unite and take government to court for
the medical and education crises
Swaziland Liberation Movement media statement, 8
February 2024
The Swaziland Liberation
Movement (SWALIMO) calls on all EmaSwati to unite and take the government of
Eswatini to court for the continued shortage of medical supplies in the medical
sector which has sure led to thousands of deaths and affected thousands of
families and livelihoods. This must be done alongside a prayer for government
to recognise the now abandoned responsibility on Free Primary Education to all
EmaSwati school going kids.
EmaSwati have painfully
endured this horrendous ordeal while king Mswati 111’s government continued to
shift goal posts when it was very evident that fraud and corruption had taken
place leading to glaring and extreme shortages of drugs in the country’s hospitals
and health centers yet not even a single face has faced justice for this
anomaly while we died and suffered from diseases.
Every death and health
deterioration that happened on EmaSwati during this period was as a result of a
careless government that does not honor its obligations and thrives on lies and
empty promises. This act by the Eswatini government when diagnosed well, points
to treason by all involved.
On the one hand, the
government of this country has renegaded on its responsibility to ensure Free
Primary Education (FPE) and graduate to also the High School level as many
parents are left to themselves to foot the bills at schools to ensure that
their kids get an education. This happens while kids of those in power get
scholarships to study in upmarket schools while the kid of a commoner is left
burdened by expensive school fees.
EmaSwati must not hesitate,
but bring these matters to court soon. All fronts of the liberation struggle
must be active and not once should we seek to abondon any. In as much as the
courts remain strangled by the monarch, we have responsibility to seek redress
in the courts as a means to an end.
If we stand up and face the
State in court we will be honoring our late leader Thulani Maseko who never
cowered from taking authority to court for every power abuse. We are the
generation that must never leave any stone unturned until we attain all the freedoms
we seek and democracy. It is up to us now!
Issued by:
Thantaza N Silolo, SWALIMO Spokesperson.
By
Zweli Martin Dlamini, Swaziland News, 2 February, 2024
KWALUSENI: The Administration of the
University of Eswatini (UNESWA) has informed all first year students that, only
those paying from their own pockets will commence their studies and those who
secured scholarships from Government have been told to wait until the August
2024 intake.
In a text message sent to the University
students this week, the Administration further informed the students that, this
resolution was adopted by the University Senate.
“UNESWA applicants who were admitted for
the 2023/2024 academic year, are hereby advised that Senate has resolved that
the 2023/2024 academic year should commence on the 15 April 2024. Orientation
is scheduled to start on 15 April 2024.Registration starts on 18 April 2024 and
classes will commence on 22 April 2024."
Reached for comments, Gabie Ndukuya, the
President of the Swaziland National Union of Students (SNUS) said, the purpose
of the enrolling the first year students in April 2024 “is to collect funds” to
mitigate the ongoing financial crisis within the institution of higher
learning.
“The truth is; all the students will start
in August 2024 but they are trying to collect money from the self-funded
students to mitigate the ongoing financial crisis within the institution. Once
they pay, they might find ways to tell them to start in August with the other
Government funded students”, said the Students President.
Reached for comments, Dr. Salebona
Simelane, the Registrar of the University of Eswatini (UNESWA) confirmed
knowledge of the gradual intake but, he promised to share more details with
this publication at the later stage.
“It’s that some students will start in
April but, will come back to you Nkhosi later with more details how this will
work”, said the UNESWA Registrar.
The Registrar then came back with a press
statement confirming the decision for the gradual intake with a few changes.
“The University would like to make the
following announcement with respect to an adjustment to an earlier announcement
made regarding the enrolment of new first year students and the commencement of
their classes in 2024:Classes for the admitted first-year full-time students,
classes for the Institute of Post-Graduate Studies students and part-time
classes for the admitted Institute of Distance Education (IDE) students who
will pay their tuition and related fees shall commence on Monday, 15"
April, 2024;Classes for the admitted first-year Mbabane Campus students who
will pay their tuition and related fees shall commence on Monday,1 2 ‘February,
2024; and a second group of students who will not be able to enrol in April,
2024 shall enrol in August, 2024.Any inconvenience caused is regretted”, reads
the statement in part.
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