Swaziland Newsletter No. 830 – 7 June 2024

 

Swaziland Newsletter No. 830 – 7 June 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.

Persecution of SNAT President, Public Transport Union boss Sticks Nkambule landed eSwatini on International Labour Organization (ILO) Special Agenda

By Bongiwe Dlamini, Swaziland News, 4 June 2024

SOURCE 

MBABANE: Mduduzi Gina, the Secretary General of the Trade Union Congress of Swaziland (TUCOSWA) says, the ongoing persecution of Mbongwa Dlamini, the President of the Swaziland National Association of Teachers (SNAT) and Public Transport Union Secretary General Sticks Nkambule landed eSwatini on the International Labour Organization (ILO)Special Paragraph Agenda.

Eswatini, a tiny Kingdom situated in Southern Africa is violating workers’ rights, trade union leaders are arrested, tortured or dismissed for representing the interests of workers.

Speaking to this Swaziland News Current Affairs program on Tuesday morning, the TUCOSWA Secretary General said, the banning of protests in the country by the Government was also reported to ILO as this, affected the work of unions.

“We have seen Government persecuting Mbongwa Dlamini and Sticks Nkambule for representing workers. The banning of protests by Government through an order directed to Town Councils not to grant permission to those who want to protest, affected the work of unions and these issues will be discussed by ILO this week”, said the TUCOSWA Secretary General.

During the discussions of the complaints filed by the workers with ILO, Government will be represented by Labour Minister Phila Buthelezi, Principal Secretary Makhosini Mndzawe, Labour Commissioner Mthunzi Shabangu while Nathie Dlamini, the Business Eswatini Chief Executive Officer (CEO) will be representing the interests of employers.

Gina said, being on the ILO Special Paragraph places eSwatini at the risk of being avoided by foreign investors or international partners.

“Foreign investors consider such issues before investing in any country because they don’t want to invest in countries that violate workers’ rights because, such countries are at the risk of being sanctioned or isolated by the world. It is for these reasons government takes the issue of being placed on the Special Paragraph seriously”, said the TUCOSWA Secretary General.

Torture for suspected criminals

By Andile Nsibande, Times of eSwatini, 4 June 2024

SOURCE 

LAVUMISA - Imbongolo or mjikeni has become the new language or rather another brutal way to counter rampant crime in Lavumisa and surrounding areas.

Imbongolo or mjikeni is the new form of punishment or torture adopted by Lavumisa folks, which involves tying a suspected criminal to a log suspended between two Y-shaped poles on each end or stripping the suspect naked and making them lie flat over a drum before administering a beating and even torching the suspect in the event they delay confessing to committing a crime.

Imbongolo is a donkey in vernacular, while mjikeni refers to a game of see-saw, and the terms may have been chosen by the residents for the resemblance of the punishment to the acts of riding the domestic animal and playing the game of see-saw.

It is alleged that a number of people have lost their lives through this brutal way of punishing suspects or method of extracting a confession from criminal elements, according to a member of a community policing forum from Mpalane, at Qomintaba.

This is the same area which is currently engulfed by tensions and the threat of more open violence following the recent torching of two young lads after they were suspected of stealing dagga and cash from a certain homestead.

“Yes, people decided it was enough after crime became rampant. Criminal elements were stealing valuables like cellphones from homes, some taking away the little that people had harvested as a way of earning an income. So, it was decided that the best way to curb the scourge was dealing with the criminal elements straight away. We lost one boy who was torched with an accomplice last week, then another one was killed in a neighbouring area, apart from the four who died around Nkonka (also situated around Lavumisa),” narrated a man who spoke under the condition of anonymity.

To read more of this report, click here

http://www.times.co.sz/news/145443-imbongolo-mjikeni-torture-for-suspected-criminals.html

 

EU Bushfire Schools Festival 2024 in eSwatini brings together 600 learners for art expression

European Union, 3 June 2024

SOURCE

Photo copyright EU

 

On 30 May 2024, in the context of Europe month, the European Union in Eswatini, in partnership with Bushfire, organised the 13^th edition of the EU Bushfire Schools Festival which brought together more than 600 learners from high schools and out-of-school youth clubs from around Eswatini for a day of self-expression in the many languages of art.

Organised under the theme: “Art Effect: The Transformative Power of Artistic Expression in the Creative Economy”, the festival provided a platform for the young people to experience the magic of art and learning through performances and workshops whilst also discovering career possibilities in the creative art industry in Eswatini.

At the end of the festival, the learners composed and performed a song titled 'United in Diversity' which is the motto of the European Union. The students composed the song as part of their creative activities during the festival.

For the first time this year, teenagers from the refugee reception centre at Malindza, east of Eswatini, also participated in the festival along with students with special needs from institutions such as the school for the deaf in Siteki, also in the east.

The programme featured, amongst other things, drama, gumboot dancing, story-telling, poetry and orchestra performances.

The festival has been organised since 2010 and takes place ahead of the world-acclaimed MTN Bushfire music festival and uses the same infrastructure.

To read more of this report, click here

https://www.eeas.europa.eu/delegations/eswatini/eu-bushfire-schools-festival-2024-eswatini-brings-together-600-learners-art-expression_en

 

Doctors’ 12 demands to medical aid schemes

By Sibusiso Dlamini, eSwatini Observer, 3 June 2024

SOURCE 

Doctors have listed 12 demands to medical aid schemes, threatening to reject medical aid starting on July 1st if their conditions aren’t met.

The doctors, who run practices, issued the ultimatum on Friday when they sent a letter of demand to all medical aid schemes in the country through their association; the Eswatini Private Doctors Association (EPDA) following an extraordinary general meeting held the previous week.

Among the demands was that payments of claims be made within one week, as timely payments are crucial for the survival of their practices, saying they found it unacceptable for service providers to wait a month for claims to be settled given the introduction of electronic claims submissions.  

They also want fair pricing policies, stating that medical aid schemes should not dictate prices for professional services in a free market as this undermined, the autonomy of healthcare providers.

“By 1st July, medical aid schemes must meet these 12 demands, or doctors will begin rejecting medical aid cards, compelling patients to pay cash for consultations and minor procedures,” reads a part of the letter endorsed by the association’s President Dr. Muyabala Muna.

The move by the doctors comes after reports of frustration and financial strain due to delayed payments and alleged opaque practices by the medical aid schemes.

To read more of this report, click here

http://new.observer.org.sz/details.php?id=22521

 

King Mswati to fly to Singapore for medical checkup, no drugs in eSwatini public hospitals

By Zweli Martin Dlamini, Swaziland News, 30 May, 2024

SOURCE 

MBABANE: King Mswati is highly expected to fly to Singapore for medical checkups at the time when the eSwatini public hospitals face shortage of drugs, hundreds have died since the health crisis erupted.

The King who is fresh from a Taiwan visit, indicated that he will travel this week when addressing members of the Shembe Nazareth Church at Ludzidzini Royal Palace last week, however, he did not mention the countries he might visit.

“I was told that your prayer service event was supposed to be held next week.But as I won’t be available, I decided to see you before I go”, said the King.

This journalist then contacted royal sources close to Mswati who confirmed to this Swaziland News that, the King will be traveling to Singapore allegedly,f or medical checkups and then South Korea.

Eswatini authorities receive quality healthcare in other countries amid the collapsed health system in this tiny Kingdom.

 

eSwatini faces maize shortage, spike in food prices

By Mthunzi Mdluli, Times of eSwatini, 30 May 2024

SOURCE 

MBABANE: Seemingly, Eswatini is far from attaining its desired food security status, as it has recorded an acute decline in its maize yield for 2024.   

According to the final post-harvest assessment report issued by the Ministry of Agriculture, the country recorded 75 000 metric tonnes this year, which is a far cry from the 140 000 metric tonnes annual target. The ministry said the maize yield was lower than that of last year, when the country recorded 85 000 metric tonnes. This means that Eswatini is expected to import 65 000 metric tonnes, almost half of the maize needed by the country.

Following such a decline, consumers must brace themselves for a sharp increase in food prices in the upcoming months. Meanwhile, Nelson Mavuso, the Director of Agriculture, said this was an unfortunate situation for the country as the National Maize Corporation (NMC) would have to look for alternative markets outside the Southern African Development Community (SADC) to buy maize, because all the major producing countries are faced with the same predicament. Mavuso said countries like Zambia, Malawi and South Africa indicated that they would not be selling their maize this year to countries like Eswatini, since they also had insufficient produce.

To read more of this report, click here

http://www.times.co.sz/news/145352-eswatini-faces-maize-shortage-spike-in-food-prices.html

Belarus and eSwatini establish diplomatic relations

Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Belarus, 5 June 2024

SOURCE 

On June 4, 2024 a Joint Communiqué on the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations between the Republic of Belarus and the Kingdom of Eswatini was signed in Pretoria [South Africa] by the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Belarus to the Republic of South Africa, Igor Bely, and the High Commissioner of the Kingdom of Eswatini to the Republic of South Africa, Lindiwe Kunene.

This event paves way to opportunities for the development of the entire range of relations between both nations in political dialogue, promotion of trade and economic cooperation, creating ties in the fields of education, healthcare, science and technologies, cultural exchange.

In certain areas of cooperation work between two countries is already underway. There is a mutual interest in providing a legal framework for the relations between Belarus and Eswatini.

To read more of this report, click here

https://mfa.gov.by/en/press/news_mfa/c5580a3b57e6fbfa.html

 

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 Swaziland Newsletter No. 763 – 3 February 2023

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.

 

Hundreds pay tribute to slain eSwatini political activist

AFP, 28 January 2023

SOURCE

 

MANZINI: Hundreds of people, including foreign diplomats and activists, paid homage Saturday to a human rights lawyer who was shot dead in Eswatini, sparking alarm over political violence in Africa's last absolute monarchy.

Thulani Maseko, a political activist and fierce critic of authorities in the tiny landlocked nation, was gunned down through the window of his home last Saturday by unknown attackers.

Hours before his murder, King Mswati III had warned activists who defy him not to “shed tears” about “mercenaries killing them”.

Diplomatic envoys from the US, European Union, the United Kingdom and the United Nations attended a sombre memorial service on the outskirts of the commercial capital, Manzini.

Lawyers and rights activists from several other African countries, as far afield as Kenya, also travelled to the country - sandwiched between South Africa and Mozambique - to pay their tributes.

A portrait of Maseko was displayed in front of a cream-coloured wooden podium with a spray of white, yellow and red flowers laid out at the bottom.

The UN representative George Wachira said Maseko’s killing was a “loss not only to Eswatini but to the world and humanity. We cannot avoid bitterness because Thulani didn't deserve to die in this manner”.

“His death shall not be in vain. Thulani was at the core of that theory that through dialogue this country can be fixed,” he told mourners.

Maseko, who died aged 52, had spent most of his life fighting state repression and representing opposition activists in court.

In 2014, he was jailed for contempt of court over articles critical of the government and judiciary, but he was acquitted on appeal and released a year later.

At the time of his death, Maseko led a broad coalition of political and civic rights and religious groups created in November 2021 to foster dialogue with the king and seek a way out of the political crisis in the country of 1.2 million people.

Eswatini, formerly known as Swaziland, has long cracked down on dissent, with political parties banned since 1973.

At least 37 people were killed during weeks of anti-monarchy protests in June 2021.

Maseko’s murder drew widespread international outrage and calls for an impartial probe and the prosecution of the culprits.

UK ambassador Simon Boyden, said “human rights defenders, like Thulani, must be able to able to depend on institutions of the state to protect them from violence, from intimidation and from death”.

The Vice President of the Law Society in Eswatini, Sdumo Dladla, bemoaned that Maseko “had to die such a violent death while he was preaching against violence”.

EU ambassador Dessislava Choumelova called for the “safety of all citizens including political activists”.

Paying tribute to the “fallen, giant baobab”, Mlungisi Makhanya, president of PUDEMO, a political movement which was banned in 2008, said the killing was “one of the most brutal acts in the history of” Eswatini.

“There is a lot of innocent blood on Mswati's hands. For his atrocities, Mswati and his henchmen must be indicted”.

“It is time like this that we must intensify our struggle and exert pressure,” said Makhanya speaking via video link from exile.

Maseko was also a senior member of PUDEMO, a political movement pushing for the creation of a constitutional multi-party democracy.

 

Two shot at march for Thulani Maseko

By Phiwase Phungwayo, eSwatini News (Times of eSwatini), 28 January 2023

SOURCE

 

MATSAPHA: A petition delivery march meant to demand justice for assassinated Human Rights Lawyer Thulani Maseko turned violent when two marchers were shot by police officers.

The shot people include Samuel Hlandze, who has been identified as a member of the Swaziland Liberation Movement (SWALIMO), and a Communist Party of Swaziland (CPS) member, who was identified only by his surname, Mtsetfwa. Political Party Assembly (PPA) Chairperson Nombulelo Motsa said Hlandze also has a disability.  

The pair was shot about 30 minutes after political parties and civil society groups had delivered the petition to the Manzini Regional Headquarters (RHQ). The march started at exactly noon yesterday, where the political parties and civil society groups began by singing and dancing to political songs outside the Manzini RHQ. The marchers would be seen moving along the stretch along the RHQ road.

A platform for delivering speeches was made for the various political parties and civil society groups, which consisted of the People’s United Democratic Movement (PUDEMO), Swaziland Youth Congress (SWAYOCO), Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) Swaziland, SWALIMO, CPS, Trade Union Congress of Swaziland (TUCOSWA) and the Swaziland Rural Women Assembly. After the speeches were delivered, PUDEMO Secretary General Wandile Dludlu read the petition, which had eight demands, to the Regional Commissioner, Schoolboy Simelane. Thereafter, the marchers proceeded to the Manzini Police Station, which is situated a few metres away from the RHQ. The marchers were seen chanting political songs. They were stationed there for about 10 minutes when they later proceeded along the Standard Bank/Nedbank Road, where some marchers were seen emptying concrete dustbins and singing political songs.

It should be noted that police officers were there to monitor the marchers during the course of the march. Oncoming vehicles were seen trying to navigate along the littered road next to Futi’s Chicken Cottage. The political parties and civil groups further proceeded downward towards the Nando’s direction along the Bhunu Mall road. It was when they reached the KFC road leading to the heart of the Manzini Bus Rank that some marchers began to block the road by placing stones while others littered the road with rubbish from concrete dustbins.

Meanwhile, other marchers were seen throwing stones at the Swaziland Building Society’s refurbished branch, when a vehicle belonging to the Operational Support Services Unit (OSSU) with officers of the law, fired gunshots towards the crowd of marchers. The marchers were seen dispersing, and the locals who had gone to town were running helter skelter. In the process, the two members of the political parties were shot.
According to SWALIMO Spokesperson Thandaza Silolo, the shot member in Hlandze was from the Manzini Region. Silolo disclosed that he was shot in the left leg. He said Hlandze was stable and was awaiting an operation at the Raleigh Fitkin Memorial (RFM) Hospital, where he was taken to after the shooting.

“We condemn the violence by law enforcers who willy-nilly use guns to disperse marchers. My question is; what has stopped them from using teargas when dealing with a rowdy crowd?” he questioned. Silolo added that the marchers were going back home to board various public transport vehicles, and they were not disrupting anything. The spokesperson was of the view that the officers of the law should have at least escorted the marchers back to the bus rank, than to fire shots at them. He mentioned that the marchers were now injured.

CPS Spokesperson Pius Vilakati could not be reached at the time of compiling this report. However, information gathered from the SWALIMO spokesperson was to the effect that the shot member of CPS was identified as Mtsetfwa. He said he was shot in the back. When he was queried on whether the behaviour of marchers in emptying dustbins and causing disruption after the petition delivery was provocation, Motsa, the PPA Chairperson, said it was not. “I think there is a way for police officers to use when dispersing a crowd besides firing shots. However, this is not shocking to us because they got an order to shoot,” she supposed.

She alleged that people were being silenced by the gun. The chairperson said this was something that was expected from the law enforcers. She declared that in their revolution, they were ready to be killed by the gun. The chairperson said she thought the law enforcers used live ammunition when shooting the marchers. However, she said this was subject to confirmation. She said the shot SWALIMO member was physically challenged and shot more than once in his leg. When drawn for comment on the number of people shot, Chief Police Information and Communications Officer Superintendent Phindile Vilakati said there was no report of any shot persons. Vilakati was further asked about the report of the petition delivery march at the RHQ, and her response was: “They arrived, the petition was delivered.” She did not elaborate.

An expert, who was contacted by this publication, suggested that the type of ammunition used to shoot at the two marchers were rubber bullets.
The expert, who requested to comment on condition of anonymity, said a live bullet had a projectile at the end such that when fired, it was designed to come straight at a person. He said it could injure or kill a person. On the other hand, he said a rubber bullet was designed in such a way that it could immensely injure a shot person. He said it was most unlikely for a person to be able to walk when they had been shot with live ammunition.

 

Engage in peaceful dialogue – US

By Kwanele Sibiya, eSswatini Observer, 30 January 2023

SOURCE

 

Head of Mission in the US Embassy in Eswatini, Earl Miller, has urged Emaswati to come together and engage in a peaceful dialogue, which the late human rights lawyer, Thulani Maseko, patiently supported. 

Miller said this would also be a way of honouring Maseko, who was buried yesterday at his home at KaLuhleko. 

He said Maseko fought passionately for non-violence advocacy and reforms and also advocated for the rule of law, governance and justice during his lifetime.

He described Maseko as a powerful visionary leader, who raised his voice for positive change and the path for non-violence.

Miller pointed out that Martin Luther King, who is one of his favourite heroes, once said ‘the teaching of eye for an eye principle, only creates a declaration of blind victims in the society.’

“In this difficult day and time, it is perhaps wise to ask ourselves what direction we want to take, either the one which Maseko took, as Martin Luther King would have wanted us to go, which is to embrace our common citizenship and humanity and replace violence with compassion and warmth,” he said.    

He urged Emaswati to honour Maseko’s legacy of placing commitment to human rights, ensuring that the rule of law was being upheld by all, as well as his legacy of non-violence.

“American author Maya Angelou once said a great soul never dies, but it brings us together again and again, surely Maseko’s legacy will endure and be honoured by all Emaswati coming together in a peaceful dialogue he so patiently supported,” he said

Miller spoke during Maseko’s memorial service held at Esibayeni Lodge on Saturday.   

He said he knew that Maseko was a principled, dedicated and zealous person and was deeply saddened by his passing.

He extended his condolences to Maseko’s family and loved ones on behalf of the people of the Unites States of America.

“My heart aches, I have two young sons myself,” he said.

He sent prayers, love and support of the US Embassy community to Maseko’s family and his admirers around the world.

“We give you our strength, warmth and love,” he said.

Miller said Maseko was well-known to the USA, as he was a family and close partner in the fight for justice. 

 

Other reports on the Thulani Maseko assassination

Thulani Maseko’s assassination roils Eswatini’s democracy project (By Peter Fabricius Institute for Security Studies)

https://issafrica.org/iss-today/thulani-masekos-assassination-roils-eswatinis-democracy-project

 

Eswatini government denies that it ordered a hit on slain human right lawyer Thulani Maseko (News 24, South Africa), 27 January 2023

https://www.news24.com/news24/africa/news/eswatini-government-denies-that-it-ordered-a-hit-on-slain-human-right-lawyer-thulani-maseko-20230127

 

“Assassination of Thulani Maseko has killed prospects of peaceful struggle in Swaziland” (by Pavan Kulkarni, Peoples Dispatch)

https://peoplesdispatch.org/2023/01/27/assassination-of-thulani-maseko-has-killed-prospects-of-peaceful-struggle-in-swaziland/

 

One death too many (Times of eSwatini editorial comment)

http://www.times.co.sz/feature/138611-one-death-too-many.html

 

Eswatini’s orgy of violence (Sunday Independent, South Africa)

https://www.iol.co.za/sundayindependent/news/eswatinis-orgy-of-violence-c1f212d4-9891-4f5e-a91c-f4d9b1b7f825

 

PUDEMO takes over funeral, members carry casket to graveyard (Times of eSwatini)

http://www.times.co.sz/news/138672-pudemo-takes-over-funeral-members-carry-casket-to-graveyard.html

 

eSwatini king ‘uses mercenaries to torture activists’

By Sandile Motha, Sunday World, South Africa, 29 January 2023

SOURCE

South African-based mercenaries are among the military extremists reported to have been roped in by the Eswatini government in its bid to clamp down on pro-democracy forces calling for regime change in the landlocked country.

This was revealed to Sunday World by political activists who are leading a campaign to bring an end to king Mswati III’s reign, who is Africa’s remaining absolute monarch since 1986.

Eswatini government was, however, quick to point out that there was nothing untoward with the recruitment of foreign agents to assist in the war against “terrorists”.

Eswatini deputy Prime Minister Themba Masuku said: “Government has not hired any mercenaries. However, there are security experts that have been engaged to assist with certain aspects of the country’s security issues.”

But spokesperson for the Swazi Solidary Network Mfanafuthi Tsela told this paper that their own intelligence had revealed that besides the South African rightwing grouping who are also ex-combatants, other militia grouping from central Asia and the Middle East had been brought to Eswatini “to hunt down political activists”.

“These mercenaries are used by King Mswati to carry out assassinations and to torture political activists. They report directly to the king, and we know through our intelligence that some of these private military contractors are from Afghanistan, Iraq and Israel,” he said.

Other revelations by Tsela, who is currently in South Africa following a threat on his life, is that militia groupings are also responsible for providing training to a group of recruits assembled to deal with the so-called terrorists. “This training is conducting in Mhlambanyathi forest. The sole aim is to clamp down on any political activism in the country,” said Tsela.

According to the Swaziland Solidarity Network, members of a white supremacist grouping known as “the Boeremag”, convicted of treason in 2003, are part of the South African private combatants.

The Boeremag , as South Africa enter a new phase of democracy in the 1990s, were allegedly hellbent on assassinating former president Nelson Mandela, among other prominent black leaders. In 2002, the grouping claimed responsibility for a series of bombings targeting black townships in Gauteng. These included the planting of the bombs, which killed a woman and injured her husband. The group was allegedly brought to eSwatini by finance minister Neal Rijkenberg, a South African-born businessman and one of Mswati’s trusted lieutenants.The political developments come hot on the heels of the brutal slaying of Thulani Maseko, a known political activist and human rights lawyer, who was assassinated on January 21 at his home in Luhleko, outside Mbabane, Eswatini’s capital.

Maseko had been watching a football match between Sundowns and Kaizer Chiefs with his wife and two children when he was shot at point-blank range in front of his family.

Other political activists have since gone into hiding.

Spuku Phakathi of the People’s United Democratic Movement, one of the key political formations in Eswatini, believes that for far too long Mswati has been allowed “to get away with murder”.

Meanwhile, the South African Council of Churches is leading a campaign calling for the South African government to take visible steps against Mswati III.

“The key thing for which we advocate is that visible active steps must be taken with time frames, and if regular diplomacy does not work, the next step must be economic sanctions. King Mswati III is personally heavily invested in much of the country’s economic activities.

“You can hardly find a tourist or hospitality facility where he or his networks are not active.”

 

Community demand release of suspects

By Nokuzola Thwala and Bongiwe Dlamini, eSwatini Observer, 2 February 2023

SOURCE

 

Schools and businesses were closed at Matsanjeni after community members marched to Lavumisa Police Station to demand the release of 10 people who were detained following the lynching of four men on Sunday evening.

The police yesterday are said to have visited the area and rounded up a few people who were alleged to have been part of the mob that tortured and burnt the four men alive at a sports ground.

The four men who died were aged between 21 and 34 years old, and were killed on suspicion of being part of a criminal gang behind a string of housebreakings and robberies in the area.

The suspected thieves were fetched from their homesteads by the mob of about 200 community members, who accused them of being behind various attacks and theft from residents in their homesteads.

The murder was strongly condemned by the Deputy Prime Minister, Themba Masuku, who described the community members’ action as evil while the National Commissioner of Police, William Dlamini, said it was unSwazi and called on all those involved to surrender to the police.      

This community members, however, believe they were justified in their actions as police had failed to respond to a number of cases reported against the men.    

When news started circulating in the community in the morning that some of the people had been taken by the police, they marched to the police station to demand their immediate release.

Members of kuGonco under Nkonka said the arrest was unacceptable and wondered how many people would be eventually arrested for the mob justice.

They spent over six hours outside the police station demanding answers from the police as to why they did not attend to reported cases promptly, something which they said would have prevented events leading to the deaths and arrests.

Indvuna, Gadi Siphiwe Mabuza, said the community members stood in solidarity with those who were taken by the police.

She stated that during the march to the police station, a textile firm was closed early and four schools closed as well because the pupils were affected by what was happening.

Adding, she stated that the pupils were not forced out of class but joined the march claiming that they were also affected by the series of crimes happening in the area.

She was, however, quick to note that some of the children only marched but did not reach the police station.

Affected schools were Matsanjeni, Lavumisa and Ndabazezwe Primary, and Matsanjeni High Schools.

To read more of this report, click here

http://new.observer.org.sz/details.php?id=19785

 

Pro-democracy MPs Bacede Mabuza, Mthandeni Dube’s politically motivated terrorism case concluded, judgement reserved indefinitely

By Sicelo Mhlanga, Swaziland News, 31 January 2023

SOURCE

 

MBABANE: The politically motivated terrorism case for the incarcerated pro-democracy MPs Bacede Mabuza and Mthandeni Dube has been concluded, pending judgement.

Speaking to this Swaziland News,Sicelo Mngomezulu, the lawyer representing the pro-democracy MPs thanked the Nation and the entire legal team for their support and efforts in the matter.

“I would like to reassure the Nation that they will be informed about the developments and thanks to the legal team for their dedication and unwavering commitment to pursuing justice for the MPs,” he said.

On Tuesday, the respective Counsels for the Crown and the MPs made their closing arguments, however, High Court Judge Mumcy Dlamini indefinitely postponed the judgement. 

The MPs were arrested and charged for terrorism allegedly on King Mswati’s order after calling for democratic reforms in Parliament.

 

EEC electricity hike: EFF Swaziland calls for a big protest

By Mthokozisi Kunene, EFF Swaziland Deputy President, Swati Newsweek, 2 February, 2023

SOURCE

 

EEC is a public company owned 100% by Swazi citizens and funded through their hard earned taxes. What is now happening with this exorbitant tariff hike is an attack on the people. It’s double taxation by the government which wants to top up its coffers through the dividends they’ll receive from EEC. This is immoral and must be confronted without hesitation. The people of our country must also remember that another tax called VAT is in existence. The people are being taxed to death.

The economic freedom fighters rejects the electricity increase of 10.89%. it comes at a time where the majority of Swazis are economically oppressed, salaries are not increasing, and unemployment is reigning supreme as 48% of the young and energetic people are not employed. The 10.89% hike is way above the current inflation rate in the country which is at 4,87%.

We believe as EFF that the 246000 customers of EEC will not afford the increase which will dig deep into their pockets. It will also affect the revenue of the 18 715 commercial customers.

What is surprising is that EEC have been making huge profits over the years as in the 2021/2022 financial year EEC made a profit of 379 million thus making it unjustifiable to call for an increase in electricity. Swazis are also subjected to exorbitant fees when installing electricity in their businesses and homes, which in our view its suppose to be free as these customers will buy the electricity from the same company.

As EFF we want an electricity providing company to not be driven by profits but by service for the people. As we reject this increase we will sit down and engage all stakeholders and the swazi nation at large to take legal steps to stop the electricity increase. We will also call upon the masses to a march against this act of depriving people their right.

SWAZI MEDIA COMMENTARY

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NAKED PREGNANT SOLDIERS LOCKED UP

Three pregnant soldiers in Swaziland were locked up naked in a guardroom without water, food or access to the toilet in the latest example of bullying by the Army.

The ordeal which lasted 12 hours was a punishment for not taking part in physical exercises, the Swazi News reported on Saturday (6 January 2017).

The women described as ‘heavily pregnant’ said they were no longer fit to take up intense routine exercises meant for physical fitness. The News said it happened on 26 December 2017 at the Matsapha Army Barracks.

The News said female officers would not arrest the women and take them to the guardhouse so male officers were called.

One of the pregnant women told the newspaper, ‘We were shocked to see male soldiers storming our dormitories where they dragged us and carried us to the guardroom. It was very humiliating and it was the first of its kind.’

She said the women decided to be naked to deter their male colleagues from dragging them to the guardhouse.

The News reported, ‘While in the guardhouse they remained naked for over four hours until some of their friends decided to send them clothes which they wore for the remaining eight hours while they were still locked in.’

This was the latest example of bullying within the Umbutfo Swaziland Defence Force as the Army is officially known.

In January 2017, four potential army recruits were tortured for about 90 minutes when they tried to cheat on a run. The punishment included having to pose like a urinating dog for 20 minutes appears to have been officially sanctioned. It contravened the United Nations Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment.

It happened at Mafutseni during a recruitment exercise. Fifteen men had to complete a 3.2km run, but four of them were spotted getting into a car that was to take them close to the finishing line.

The Times of Swaziland, reported at the time that they were caught and punished for about an hour and a half. They were ordered to do push-ups, which were followed by sit-ups. They were also ordered to lie on their backs and face the sun. They were also instructed to ‘sit on an invisible chair’ while holding their ears with their hands. They were ordered to pose like a urinating male dog for about 20 minutes.

The Army has also tortured and humiliated civilians in Swaziland. In September 2015, the Swazi Parliament heard that soldiers beat up old ladies so badly they had to be taken to their homes in wheelbarrows. 

Member of Parliament Titus Thwala said that the women were among the local residents who were regularly beaten by soldiers at informal crossing points between Swaziland and South Africa.

In 2011, a man was reportedly beaten with guns and tortured for three hours by soldiers who accused him of showing them disrespect. He was ordered to do press ups, frog jumps and told to run across a very busy road and was beaten with guns every time he tried to resist.

His crime was that he tried to talk to a man whose vehicle was being searched by soldiers at Maphiveni. The man, December Sikhondze, told the Swazi Observer at the time, ‘I only asked for a lift but they told me I was being disrespectful and that I should have waited for them to finish. They took my cell phone and ordered me to do press ups.’

In July 2011, three armed soldiers left a man for dead after he tried to help a woman they were beating up. And in a separate incident, a woman was beaten by two soldiers after she tried to stop them talking to her sister.

He said that he did more than 50 press ups and he was beaten with guns every time he asked to rest.

See also

ARMY SEXUAL ASSAULTS AT BORDER POSTS

https://swazimedia.blogspot.co.uk/2017/12/army-sexual-assaults-at-border-posts.html

ARMY STRIPS BUS PASSENGERS NAKED

https://swazimedia.blogspot.co.uk/2017/07/army-strips-bus-passengers-naked.html

SOLDIERS INSPECT WOMAN’S PRIVATE PARTS

http://swazimedia.blogspot.com/2017/06/soldiers-inspect-womans-private-parts.html