Swaziland Newsletter No. 834 – 5 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.
Doctors,
Govt meeting ends in stalemate
By
Nokuphila Haji, eSwatini Observer, 2 July 2024
Despite that government has asked doctors
to allow them at least two more days to process on-call allowances, they have
vowed not to work beyond their normal working hours.
The ministry of health and the doctors
yesterday had a meeting to discuss the issue of the payment of on-call
allowances, which took over six hours.
Doctors had previously undertaken to
abandon overtime and on-call duty with effect from yesterday, promising to only
work their normal hours.
Their issue is that government had
reportedly failed to pay them their allowances.
During the meeting, this newspaper
understands that government pleaded with the doctors to allow them until
tomorrow to process their payments.
Government is said to have further asked
the doctors to resume on-call duty while their allowances were processed.
“There is a stalemate. Doctors flatly
refused the offer on the table, saying they want their money first before
resuming on-calls,” a source told this newspaper. The ministry met with the
on-call doctors committee which represented the over 300 doctors owed overtime
allowances for the period between October 2023 to March.
The allowances were supposed to be
included in their June salaries.
The public health facilities that
were anticipated to suffer from the stand-off included Mbabane Government
Hospital, Hlatikhulu Government Hospital, Mankayane Government Hospital, Pigg’s
Peak Government Hospital, Mkhuzweni health centre, Dvokolwako health centre and
Matsanjeni health centre.
To read more of this report, click
here
Chief
Gija: arrest those who charge for imiphakatsi stamps
Mthunzi
Mdluli, Times of eSwatini, 2 July 2024
MBABANE: Following the
public outcry on charging residents for imiphakatsi stamps, Chief Gija has
called for the arrest of anyone who charged for the service.
The Manzini Regional
Administrator (RA), Chief Gija, is also calling for the arrest of anyone who
charges members of the public for other services, such as confirmation letters
issued by the royal kraals. Recently, Ekutsimuleni residents, under the Mkhiweni
Inkhundla, complained that they were not receiving government services brought
by the Ministry of Home Affairs, last Thursday, because they did not have E100
to pay for the royal kraal stamp. This is not the first-time residents
complained about being made to pay for royal kraal stamps.
It has been gathered that
about 50 residents of Ekutsimuleni were affected on that day. Information
gathered was to the effect that the E100 was paid towards the stamp, cartridge
and paper. The royal kraal collected a sum of E5 000 from typing letters,
alleged some of the residents. This means that those who do not have the E100,
especially orphaned and vulnerable children (OVCs) and the elderly, will not
get the necessary assistance. The less privileged have been hindered from
getting government services since they are expected to pay the stamp fee. Masotja
Magagula, who is a member of Ekutsimuleni Inner Council, confirmed that the
royal kraal was charging residents for the royal kraal stamp and letters
confirming that they belonged to the community.
To read more of this
report, click here
http://www.times.co.sz/news/145882-chief-gija-arrest-those-who-charge-for-imiphakatsi-stamps.html
eSwatini’s young
leaders embrace Commonwealth Charter values
The Commonwealth, 1 July 2024
Young people who play leading
roles throughout society in Eswatini, have been learning how values enshrined
in the Commonwealth Charter can empower them to become ambassadors for
democracy, peace, and sustainable development in their communities.
They came from diverse
backgrounds, representing civil society, religious organisations, NGOs, youth
advocacy groups and the business sector, to attend the two-day Commonwealth
Charter workshop. Participants say they will pass on the knowledge and skills
they have gained to their colleagues and peers.
Sakhile Nsibandze, who works
with the Youth Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said:
“The interesting part about
this workshop, for me, is how the youth are starting to understand the local
system of governance, and how they can integrate it with the Commonwealth
Charter, and how it would be helpful for them in their day-to-day lives.”
Lindokuhle Mahlalela, a young
attendee, said: “I’ve been very impressed with how the workshop has been
facilitated. The Commonwealth came with a different approach to dealing with
our problems, as we know them intimately. The sort of questions they’ve been
asking us are ‘how can you affect change?’ so it’s more about how they can
guide us in using home-grown solutions to address not just one problem, but
across the board.”
2023/2024 has been designated
a ‘Year of the Youth‘ across the Commonwealth.
To read more of
this report, click here
https://thecommonwealth.org/news/eswatinis-young-leaders-embrace-commonwealth-charter-values
Near
chaos as Bacede mobilises inmates to riot
Kwanele
Dlamini and Stanley Khumalo, Times of eSwatini, 1 July 2024
MBABANE: Chaos almost erupted at the Matsapha Maximum Prison
when former MP Mduduzi Bacede Mabuza reportedly mobilised inmates to riot.
The former Hosea Member of
Parliament (MP) is alleged to have accused Correctional officers of feeding
inmates unpleasant food and started chanting political slogans.
Other inmates, according to the source, responded in like
manner. Mabuza also reportedly tried to attack a senior Correctional
officer. It is said the situation was so tense such that the prison authorities
had to call for reinforcement from recruits at the Correctional Services
College, to quell the situation, which was seemingly getting out of
hand. Meanwhile, the inmates are said to have been ordered to go
back to their cells with immediate effect.
The source said some inmates
obeyed the order while others remained behind. However, according to the
source, the inmates who had remained behind followed the others into the cells
after realising that they might be in trouble. In the period of two years
and 11 months that he has spent in custody, Mabuza has allegedly breached
Correctional laws more than 10 times.
There are, however, different
versions on why Mabuza lost his cool on the fateful day. Another version
was to the effect that on June 16, 2024, Mabuza wanted to use the
telephone but was reportedly denied that privilege and he banged the receiver
against the wall.
To read more of this
report, click here
http://www.times.co.sz/news/145864-near-chaos-as-bacede-mobilises-inmates-to-riot.html
June 29, 2021 victims, survivors commemorate
peacefully
By Joseph Zulu, Times Sunday, 30 June 2024
MANZINI: It was an emotion-filled day as members of the
democratic change movement commemorated the survivors and those who lost their
lives during the civil unrest on June 29, 2021, peacefully yesterday.
This was despite the heavy security that was present over the past week
on all major roads around the country, which culminated in drama unfolding at
Siphofaneni on Friday morning, where members of the security forces raided
homes of Siphofaneni Member of Parliament (MP) Nomalungelo LaZwide Simelane and
former Senate Deputy President Ngomuyayona Gamedze, in the wee hours of morning. The
event was organised by the Swaziland Massacre Victims and Survivors Association
(SWAVISA). The event was held at Caritas, Manzini yesterday.
The heavy security presence continued yesterday, as members of the
security forces engaged on random patrols around the country, a security
surveillance helicopter was also spotted hovering over the venue where the
commemoration was held. It is worth noting that despite the heavy security
presence, things continued as usual in the busy city of Manzini, as people went
about their business despite the anticipation and uncertainty that engulfed a
majority of the public, as they anticipated yet another violent encounter
between members of the public and security forces.
At the event, different political activists, including members of the
People’s United Democratic Movement (PUDEMO), Swaziland Liberation Movement
(SWALIMO), Swaziland National Union of Students (SNUS), joined in to
commemorate the day, as well as pay their respects to those who lost their
lives. The event which began vibrantly as the attendees sang political
songs and danced, ended on a sad, teary and emotional note as all those present
observed a moment of silence and lit candles in memory of those who lost their
lives during the unrest.
The relatives and friends of all those who passed away during the unrest
also wrote their names on a canvas in honour of their lives. The
survivors and the family members of those who could not be present during the
event shared their testimony on the difficulties they have faced as a result of
the various injuries they sustained during the unrest. Some of the victims
mentioned that before the unrest, they lived better lives and had jobs, but
that was no longer the cased as they could no longer provide for themselves and
their families. A majority of the survivors put the blame on government for
failing them, while others advocated for the truth to be told on what happened
during the unrest.
To read more of this report, click here
http://www.times.co.sz/news/145845-june-29-2021-victims-survivors-commemorate-peacefully.html
Cops, warders, soldiers raid LaZwide, Ngoma’s homes
By Sabelo Ndzinisa, eSwatini News, 29 June 2024
SIPHOFANENI: Drama unfolded yesterday morning when the country’s law
enforcers raided homes of Siphofaneni Member of Parliament (MP) Nomalungelo
LaZwide Simelane and former Senate Deputy President Ngomuyayona Gamedze, under
unclear reasons.
The raids, according to information gathered by the Eswatini News,
happened in the early hours of yesterday morning, where armed police officers
accompanied by soldiers and warders are said to have invaded the homes of the
two mentioned politicians unannounced and without any search warrants.
They are alleged to have not only failed to produce search warrants when
asked to do so, but are accused of allegedly forcefully snatching away
MP LaZwide’s cellphone from her hand when she tried to record the
incident. According to the MP, the officers were not happy that the
Siphofaneni legislator was taking pictures, as they were conducting the search
and are said to have deleted the pictures after forcefully taking the cellphone
from her. It has further been established that over 20 officers were part
of the raids, while a helicopter was also spotted patrolling the Siphofaneni
area during that period.
The invasion by the officers at the MP’s homestead is said to have caused terror among the children that were allegedly rudely forced to wake up from their beds, as early as 4am.
Upon seeing the officers armed with guns, some of the children are said to have
taken to their heels before finding refuge in another house inside the
compound, in fear of the unknown.
Interesting to note, is that soon after the raid, which is said to have
lasted for over an hour, a heavy road-block was mounted along the route leading
to the MP’s homestead, where cars passing by were searched. Noteworthy, is
that officers from the three security forces conducted the
roadblock. However, Acting Chief Police Information and Communications
Officer Nosipho Mnguni made it clear that the raids in Siphofaneni were not
targeted at the two mentioned politicians.“People should not be misled to believe
that the raids were only conducted on the two (LaZwide and Ngomuyayona) because
other homesteads were searched as well.“There is nothing sinister about the
raids because we never announce them to the public anyway,” Mnguni stated
briefly. The police communications officers could not comment on the
concerns that the raids were conducted without search warrants, which is
contrary to what was required by law.
The Station Commander at the Siphofaneni Police Station was also asked
to comment on the raids, but he referred such inquiries to Mnguni. Some of
the residents at KaMkhweli, where LaZwide resides, registered their
disappointment at the raid, pointing out that it was deliberately staged to
instil fear. “The children were made to go through the trauma of seeing
soldiers carrying guns inside their home. “It is also disappointing to
note that the officers could not produce search warrants when asked to do so, yet
they continued to turn things upside down in the houses they entered. “I
feel pity for the family,” one resident, who asked to remain anonymous said.
See also
https://swazilandnews.co.za/fundza.php?nguyiphi=6842
King Mswati’s security
forces abducting pro-democracy activists ahead of June 29 massacre
commemoration, helicopter deployed to conduct surveillance on MP Magawugawu
Simelane’s home
https://swazilandnews.co.za/fundza.php?nguyiphi=6834
Opinion by Zweli Martin
Dlamini, Swaziland News, 30
June, 2024
On the day of the June 29 [2021] massacre,
the internet was switched-off, the Times and Eswatini Observer
were ordered not to print newspapers as the army, the police and foreign
mercenaries were busy killing innocent civilians.
We haven’t seen the journalists or editors
filing complaints with international human rights organizations or explaining
why the two (2) daily newspapers were ordered not to publish.
I remember receiving a call from a senior
Manager of the MTN Group informing me that, as the mobile company, they wanted
to release a press statement and clarify that, it was the Government through
the Ministry of Information, Communication and Technology (ICT) that ordered
the internet shutdown.
This was after Themba Masuku, the then
Acting Prime Minister and outright liar who is currently languishing in the
political dustbin, lied that the internet shutdown was caused by the damage of
national infrastructure including the mobile company’s network infrastructure.
Indeed MTN Group, through its South
African Office sent the press statement to this Swaziland News clarifying the
matter, that’s what a reputable company does to protect its brand or
reputation.
But, there was no clarification from the Times
and Observer why the newspapers did not print or were not in circulation
on the day of the massacre and the Times has been trying to convince the people
to take it seriously and regard it as an independent publication.
This should be an eye opener that, the
Tinkhundla cruel and undemocratic regime has enablers even within the media and
it’s very unfortunate, journalism is not about being in the good books of a
dictatorship regime.
I am not in the good books of the
Tinkhundla cruel regime that kills innocent and I don’t need a political
romance from this regime, in fact I want to see it overthrown as a matter of
urgency.
Journalists who are expected to be the
voice of the people were told to shut-up while soldiers, the police and Defense
Principal Secretary Prince Sicalo’s alleged foreign mercenaries were killing
innocent civilians like chickens in a butchery and with impunity.
I am particularly concerned with the
conduct of the journalists and eager to know; what level of capture that allows
a journalist to keep quiet while innocent civilians are being killed?.
Well, I remember when I started exposing
SwaziPharm Director Kareem Ashraff regarding the health crisis.
One former Cabinet Minister who is a
member of the royal family told me that; “Ashraff might bribe you to keep
quiet” and I said “keeping quiet while patients die in public hospitals would
mean I must just resign and leave journalism”.
Indeed and in my opinion, a journalist
must be driven by a desire to be the voice of those powerless citizens who
can’t speak for themselves and hold those in power accountable.
Clearly, we need an independent probe to
ascertain why the Times and Observer were not in circulation on
the day of the massacre, these newspapers were complicit in the killing of
civilians and they owe the public an explanation.
To read more of this report, click
here
https://swazilandnews.co.za/fundza.php?nguyiphi=6844
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