Swaziland Newsletter No. 786 – 21
July 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.
RFM, other Nazarene clinics gripped by financial
crisis
By Nkosingiphile Myeni and Kwanele Sibiya, eSwatini
Observer, 15 July 2023
Amidst the drug crisis in the
country, the Eswatini Nazarene Health Institutions (ENHI), which consist of the
Raleigh Fitkin Memorial (RFM) Hospital has owned up to being gripped by tough
financial situations.
ENHI acting Chief Executive
Officer Dr Raymond Bitchong revealed that the institution which had over 20
community clinics around the country, had failed to collect expected revenues
from its streams.
So serious is the situation
that Dr Bitchong said ENHI had been making ends meet by defaulting critical
payments, including the Pay As You Earn (PAYE), pension fund and stretching of
creditor obligations as well as taxes due to the Eswatini Revenue Service
(ERS), which has been going on for month-to-month.
The ENHI has been in the news
lately. This is after sources within the institution had shared their concerns
over the implementation of the institution’s cost saving strategy.
According to sources, one of
the initiatives is the on-call allowances for doctors, radiologists,
physiotherapists, and those working in the laboratory, pharmacy, and theatre
which would be suspended.
The institution had proposed
to reimburse its staff with off-days instead of overtime.
ENHI had said it would cap on-call to only 108 hours per month.
The sources also said they were of different minds with others of the idea that
this proposal be rejected.
The negotiation table however,
it was said, failed to come up with an agreement, as ENHI had another option
which was also not accepted.
By the time of compiling this
report, sources said they had up until yesterday to sign up for this proposal.
It was said if the employees
fail to sign up the forms of agreement, proposal of working for more than the
108 hours would be modified with a 50 per cent cut of their claims.
The aggrieved staff has
reportedly sought the intervention of the Ministry of Labour and Social
Security on this issue.
Dr Bitchong, in his statement,
said ENHI was a non-profit making public entity that gets its revenue from,
amongst other sources government subvention as well as collections from
patients’ consultations, among other revenue streams.
“The Eswatini Nazarene Health
Institutions (ENHI), a non-profit public entity, has been operating under a
major deficit for a long time.
The inflow, consisting of a
subvention from government and other income (mainly patient fees) has been
perennially lower than total operating costs,” he said.
Dr Bitchong said as the costs
continue to escalate, ENHI was forced to implement stringent measures which
would if implemented increase revenue.
Personnel emoluments
constituted the single highest cost at 73 per cent of total cost and 86 per
cent of total income.
“Due to this heavy weighting,
the wage bill constituted a major portion of the savings required (5-8 per
cent).
To this end, emergency
consultations had been held with staff covering those costs that have been
prioritised for rationalisation, which include the outsourcing of staff
transport, cleaning services, freeze of recruitment, discretionary overtime,
rationalisation of on-call allowance, reorganisation of wards to optimise
service provision and other measures,” Dr Bitchong.
Costs were higher than income,
adding that the institution would cut even costs of electricity, water,
telephone bills and non-critical maintenance through rationalisation.
More than that he said it would prioritise the use of solar energy to drive up
savings.
King lied during Sibaya on health system, Government hospitals are facing shortage of medication
Opinion by Zweli Martin Dlamini, Swaziland News, 15 July, 2023
It is the tendency of shouting “Bayethe”
even when King Mswati utters outright lies that destroyed this country, lies
should be condemned regardless of the author.
A majority of the people who attended the
Sibaya gathering cannot afford private hospitals and this, means they know
exactly the challenges faced by public health facilities amid shortage of
medication.
But regardless of this reality, they opted
to shout “Bayethe Wena Waphakathi” as the King lied saying, the country has an
improved health system, maybe Mswati was referring to his Manzana Royal
Hospital.
But the sad reality is that, some of those
who shouted “Bayethe” as Mswati lied, will be calling journalists in the coming
weeks saying;
“I am here at the Mbabane Government
Hospital, no medication and I don’t know what to do”.
Whether it’s a cultural norm or not, it
doesn’t make sense to sit down inside Sibaya, just to listen to one man uttering
outright lies, a speech from a Head of State should be a subject of public
scrutiny and/or debate.
Normally, in democratic countries, a Head
of State is ‘cross examined’ by Parliament and the media, these are
institutions that promote transparency and accountability.
But here in eSwatini, Mswati has a
prerogative of summoning the Nation just to lie with impunity.
The reality suggests that Government
hospitals are facing shortage of drugs and therefore, King Mswati was speaking
absolute nonsense during Sibaya.
It is therefore important to clarify that
such nonsense, if not corrected, will be believable in the eyes of the
unsuspecting members of the public.
Even those who knew that the health system
has collapsed found themselves shouting “Bayethe” because, that’s the cultural
norm.
As mentioned, it is such tendencies of
saying “Yes you are right Your Majesty” even when the King is messing-up, that
resulted to the collapse of public institutions like the health system.
I will not shout “Bayethe” and endorse
lies while people are dying in Government hospitals.
See also
Shortage of medication in eSwatini
Government hospitals triggers protests by pro-democracy groups, nurses to
release number of deaths.
http://swazilandnews.co.za/fundza.php?nguyiphi=4735
Prince
Simelane lifts ban on marches, but ...
Sibusiso
Zwane, Times of eSwatini, 19 July 2023
MATSAPHA: The Minister of Housing and Urban Development,
Prince Simelane, has lifted the ban on gatherings, in particular marches, in
urban areas, but with stringent conditions.
This comes a year and nine
months after the minister banned local governments in the country from issuing
permits for gatherings in the streets of the urban areas. On October 21, 2021,
the minister held a press conference and announced that the local authorities
in the country should stop issuing permits for marches or
demonstrations. During the press conference, he stated that the issuing of
the permits was being suspended in order for the economy to recover as it could
not do so if marches were the order of the day.
He added that there was a
saying that goes; ‘once bitten, twice shy’, adding that in the past months
(June and July, 2021, to be specific), where protest marches were not uncommon,
there was looting and burning of businesses, with the cost of damages estimated
at E800 million. Furthermore, the minister said around 5 000 people were
left without employment and that during protests, innocent people, including
the police, were caught in the crossfire as their vehicles were stoned, burnt
and blocked on the roads. After this pronouncement, the labour force and
the mass democratic movement had challenges in hosting gatherings, especially
in the cities and towns, as the local governments would not grant them permits,
citing the minister’s directive.
After that, members of the
State security organs would be deployed in the towns or cities, where the
gatherings were supposed to be held, and would stop the demonstrations due to
lack of permits. On October 28, 2021, the Trade Union Congress of Swaziland
(TUCOSWA), called off its nationwide protest action and cited intimidation by
the heavy presence of members of the State security personnel in the cities and
towns. This was despite the fact that it had adhered to the provisions of the
Public Order Act of 2017, which governs gatherings. The minister made
changes to the ban yesterday during the official closing of a three-day
induction workshop for the councillors-elect from the town Boards, town councils
and municipalities in the country, which was held at Esibayeni Lodge.
He said inasmuch as the people
had the right to demonstrate for various reasons, including labour-related
issues, his plea to the councils was that it should engage the conveners of the
planned demonstration to send at least between five and 10 representatives to
deliver their petition to the relevant stakeholder. The minister said he
was making this plea because when many people participated in the
demonstration, it usually ended in chaotic scenes. He said most of the time,
properties, including businesses, would be damaged. In that regard, he told the
councils to engage the nation, in particular the conveners of gatherings, about
the matter. He said in other countries, in particular First World States, there
were places which were designated for demonstrations and the intended recipient
of a petition would send a representative to receive the letter of grievances.
On the other hand, Bongani Mkhatshwa, the Councillor-elect for Matsapha Town
Council, who spoke on behalf of the councillors-elect, said they noted the call
that was made by the minister and said as local governments, they were not
supposed to be seen going against it.
Food
inflation soars to 15.7%
By
Sifiso Nhlabatsi, eSwatini Observer, 20 July 2023
It appears there is no end in sight on
food price hikes, as in just one month, food inflation which remained in
double-digit, increased to 15.7 per cent in May 2023 compared to 14.7 per cent
in the previous month.
Driving food inflation were increases in
the prices of bread and cereals, fruit and coffee, tea and cocoa.
According to statistics shared by the
Central Bank of Eswatini Senior Economist Modelling and Forecasting
Zana Mabuza in the Recent Economic Developments report for the month of
May and June, the country’s annual consumer inflation increased to six per cent
in May 2023, from a revised 5.7 per cent observed in April 2023.
Food inflation has been a pressing issue
in the country as consumers have been calling for the Eswatini Competition
Commission to investigate if the food prices hike were justified.
On Thursday when the Commission met with
FSRA to sign an MoU to protect consumers at Happy Valley hotel there were some
members of the public who raised this concern.
The secondary sector according to the
report remained suppressed, declining by a steeper 10.1 per cent in the first
quarter of 2023, from a revised contraction of 0.4 per cent in the previous
quarter.
The indicators showed that the persistent
poor performance of the sector partially emanated from the manufacturing
subsector, which contracted by 12.1 per cent, year-on-year in the first quarter
of 2023, from a revised decline of 1.4 per cent in the last quarter of 2022.
“Slower growth was noted in the
manufacture of beverages, manufacture of textiles and processing and preserving
of fruits and vegetables subsectors, all of which are export oriented.
Crime on the rise despite police assurance
By Joseph Zulu, eSwatini News print edition, 15 July 2023
MBABANE:
While the police have ensured that the 2023 General Elections process is
peaceful, crime is said to be on the rise.
Since the
registration began on May 10, there had been no reports of disturbances despite
earlier concerns of threats and violence. Every registration centre had about
four police officers including plain-clothes police officers. This has,
however, resulted in some members of the public accusing the Royal Eswatini
Police Service (REPS) of giving more attention to the elections.
Members
of the public who have become victims of crime are of the view that there is an
increase in crime.
This is
reportedly the case in different parts of the country where robberies are said
to have been on the increase.
The
public is of the view that though crime was equally high in the past, this
time, there was little action being taken and that arrests were not being made
of the alleged criminals. “It appears criminals are getting away with crimes,”
said a businessman.
One of
the towns where crime is said to be on the increase is Buhleni, where it is
allegedly that recently, within 14 days criminals stole about E94 000 from three
business establishments. It is alleged the criminals committed the crimes while
armed with pistols.
Some of
the criminals are also said to have been armed with knives during the
robberies.
It was
gathered that a manager at a filling station was forced to drive to the filling
station by criminals. Trouble is said to have started when the manager was
stopped while driving. He was then forced to drive to the filling station,
where it is alleged that about E70 000 was taken. The matter was reported to
the Buhleni Police Post but no one had been arrested concerning the matter yet.
Also, a Pakistan businessman, popularly known Makhelwane ,was robbed of amounts
of E11 000 and E13 000 from his two shops.
Speaking
about the robberies, Makhelwane said initially, in the first robbery, workers
at the shop were forced to lie down while criminals robbed them of the cash and
some items. It is alleged they took about E11 000. The matter was also reported
to the police but no one was arrested.
A week
later, another shop belonging to Makhelwane was also robbed of about E13 000.
Makhelwane said the alleged criminals used the same modus operandi of entering
the shop and forcing everyone to lie down before robbing them. This is said to
have happened around Herefords. Also, no one was arrested and the alleged
criminals are still at large.
It is not
only the shops that are being targeted but also homes which are said to be
targeted. Last Monday, a resident of Mpofu, which is an area under Mhlangatane
Inkhundla, was robbed of items valued at about E10 000. It is alleged the
criminals stole a tractor engine and also a water pump. *Jack, to whom the
items belonged, said the alleged criminals were driving as they transported the
heavy items using the vehicle.
In other
towns, crimes are also said to be taking place, including incidences of car theft
around Manzini.
It was
reported in June that four minors aged between 13 and 16 years were arrested in
Manzini for allegedly committing crime. The children are said to have been
involved in housebreaking and stealing household items and that they are said
to have been engaged in this illegal activity since March 2023.
*Not real
name.
Mswati's police re-arrest
CPS member immediately after release on bail
Communist Party of
Swaziland statement, Solidnet, 14 July 2023
MBABANE: In an act reminiscent of
the rapacious apartheid regime’s 60-day detention without trial policy,
Mswati’s police on Friday 14 July 2023 re-arrested political activist, Sambulo
Shongwe, shortly after receiving bail at the Mbabane magistrate’s court.
Sambulo Shongwe (22) a Central Committee
member of the Communist Party of Swaziland (CPS) had earlier on the day
appeared before the court for his bail application following his arrest on
Tuesday 11 July 2023 at his dormitory at the University of Swaziland, Mbabane
Campus.
His legal representative, Professor
Dlamini, confirmed that Sambulo was granted E2,000.00 for five charges of the
six assault charges which the regime alleged he had committed in Mbabane.
He further explained that Mswati's police withdrew one assault charge allegedly
committed in Manzini. He did not know the motive behind the withdrawal.
CPS members who had gone to support
Sambulo for the bail application were denied entry into the court.
CPS Central Committee member, Manqoba
Motsa, revealed that the regime’s police barred democracy
activists the right to attend the bail hearing in court, and thus were not
able to see Sambulo.
“After payment of the bail, we eagerly
waited at the Sidvwashini Prison gate for his release. What shocked us was witnessing
about seven armed police officers travelling in three police vans grabbing and
throwing Sambulo into the police van and quickly driving off with our comrade
to Manzini,” said Motsa.
It then became clear to them that Mswati’s
police had all along been plotting to re-arrest Sambulo using
the very same arbitrary assault of a police officer charge that was being
withdrawn.
The police’s intention is, therefore, to
keep him in prison indefinitely, without trial, like they are doing to another
CPS member, Mvuselelo Mkhabela who continues to languish in Mswati’s
prison. They had already concocted a plan to torture him for the whole
weekend before he his appearance at the Manzini magistrate’s court on
Monday.
Eye witnesses later revealed that Sambulo
Shongwe was held at the Manzini Police station after the arrest.
The Mswati autocracy’s actions are a
frustration strategy intended to crush the activism of the CPS, and they will
fail. No amount of arrest and torture will stop the tide of the
revolution.
The CPS calls upon all democracy activists
to remain strong and vigilant, mobilise for the offensive. The struggle
for Democracy Now is about fighting to overthrow the
oppressive state. It is a political war against those who control state
machinery, the minority class which uses state machinery to oppress the
majority; the working class and poor.
In the end, the people will win!
Issued by the Communist Party of Swaziland
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