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Friday, 11 July 2025

Swaziland Newsletter No. 885 – 11 July 2025

 

Swaziland Newsletter No. 885 – 11 July 2025

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. The newsletter and past editions are also available online on the Swazi Media Commentary blogsite.

 

Calls for urgent reforms as prisons overflow

United Nations Development Programme, 8 July 2025

SOURCE 

Eswatini is grappling with severe overcrowding in its correctional facilities, with nine out of the country’s 11 prisons holding inmates who have been detained for more than 12 months without trial. This was revealed in a recent assessment conducted by the Commission on Human Rights, Public Administration and Integrity.

The assessment report launched on 04 July at the UN House in Mbabane, shows that the nine facilities accommodating pre-trial detainees have exceeded their combined capacity of 3,090 by nearly 50 percent. The Commission’s report highlights that while pre-trial detention is intended to ensure the attendance of accused individuals in court, extended periods in detention – particularly without trial – raise significant human rights concerns. 

These impacts are especially severe for vulnerable groups such as the indigent, women, children, and juveniles, as prolonged detention exacerbates their hardships and undermines opportunities for rehabilitation.

According to the Assessment of Pre-Trial Detainees in Correctional Facilities in the Kingdom of Eswatini report, the primary cause of prison overcrowding is systemic delays in the judicial process. These delays are attributed to several factors, including:

Pending committals

Expired contracts for judicial officers

Delays in judgments and sentencing

Inefficiencies among legal representatives

Inability to afford bail

Lack of legal representation for accused persons

To address these challenges, the Commission has put forward several recommendations:

Grant full jurisdiction to Magistrates’ Courts for rape and robbery cases (although now Magistrates Courts have been given jurisdiction for these cases)

Implement the Integrated Electronic Case Management System.

Strengthen judicial oversight mechanisms.

Resuscitate the Criminal Justice Sector Forum.

Promote continuous professional development for justice sector actors.

Introduce alternatives to pre-trial detention.

Review the Criminal Procedure and Evidence Act to address the needs of offenders with psychosocial disabilities.

Develop reintegration guidelines for offenders.

Establish a systematic strategy to follow up on cases where co-accused individuals are out on bail

Create consistent processes for handling cases presided over by acting judicial officers

To read more of this report, click here

https://www.undp.org/eswatini/news/calls-urgent-reforms-prisons-overflow

 

50% of children in eSwatini living in poverty

By Nokwanda Mamba, Swaziland Democratic News, 9 July 2025

SOURCE 

MBABANE: More than half of children living in rural Eswatini are suffering from multidimensional poverty, with 51.8% deprived in at least three key areas such as nutrition, health, education, housing, child protection, sanitation, and access to information.

This alarming revelation is part of a Child Poverty Analysis Report released on Wednesday by the Ministry of Economic Planning and Development, with financial backing from the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF).

The report puts the national child poverty rate at 46.6%, with rural children disproportionately affected (51.8%) compared to their urban counterparts (23.1%). Regionally, Lubombo tops the list with 55.4% of children living in poverty, while Hhohho has the lowest rate at 39.5%.

Principal Secretary Thabsile Mlangeni launched the report at the Hilton Garden Inn on Wednesday.

“These are not just statistics, they represent the daily realities and struggles of our children. They also serve as a guiding light to refine policies and better allocate resources,” said Mlangeni, as quoted by Eswatini Positive News.

70% of the population in Eswatini lives below the poverty line, in stark contrast to the lavish lifestyle of the royal family.

 

AfDB approves $47.5m loan to support eSwatini reforms

APA News, 4 July 2025

SOURCE 

The African Development Bank (AfDB) has approved a $47.5 million loan to Eswatini to support urgent economic reforms and address soaring youth unemployment, the bank announced.

The funding will launch the Enhancing Economic Resilience and Competitiveness Programme (EERCP), a two-year initiative aligned with Eswatini’s National Development Plan (2023–2028).

The programme aims to strengthen fiscal sustainability, stimulate private sector-led growth and improve livelihoods in a country grappling with declining gross domestic product (GDP) and mounting fiscal pressures.

AfDB deputy director general for southern Africa Moono Mupotola said the programme was essential at a time Eswatini is navigating “challenging economic conditions while implementing ambitious reforms.”

“Our support will help the Kingdom build fiscal resilience while creating an enabling environment for private sector-led growth that can generate jobs for young people and women,” she said.

Eswatini’s economy faces significant headwinds, with GDP growth declining from five percent in 2023 to an estimated 3.6 percent in 2024, primarily due to the impact of extreme droughts on agricultural output.

The fiscal deficit has widened from 1.5 percent in 2023 to an estimated 1.7 percent in 2024, driven by underperformance in customs revenues and increased public spending pressures.

The EERCP focuses on two pillars: fiscal and public financial management reforms, and competitiveness enhancement to promote inclusive and green growth.

It builds on AfDB’s previous support for economic recovery and includes technical assistance in state-owned enterprise reform, procurement modernization, and gender policy implementation.

Expected outcomes include reduced domestic arrears, increased private sector contribution to GDP, expanded renewable energy share, and improved scores on the AfDB’s Country Policy and Institutional Assessment tool.

 

EU launches skills programme to tackle youth unemployment in eSwatini

By Press and Information team of the Delegation to eSwatini, 4 July 2025

SOURCE 

The European Union (EU) in Eswatini, in partnership with GIZ (German Cooperation Agency), has launched the Skills for Youth Employment and Entrepreneurship in Eswatini (S4YEEE) programme to help tackle youth unemployment in the Kingdom. 

Launched on 01 July 2025 in Mbabane, this EU-funded programme worth 14 million Euros (approx. SZL 300 million), aims to contribute to human capital development and social inclusion by strengthening TVET systems to align with labour market demands and national skills needs. The programme particularly focuses on economic development and the inclusion of youth, women, and other disadvantaged groups.

Government representatives present during the launch of the programme, applauded the initiative, noting its potential to position Eswatini among the region’s leaders in TVET excellence and reduce youth unemployment while fuelling entrepreneurship.

Speaking during the launch, EU Head of Cooperation Eva-Maria Engdahl, reaffirmed the EU’s commitment to ensuring that this programme benefits the youth of Eswatini and remains socially inclusive, in line with the EU–Eswatini Multi-Annual Indicative Programme (MIP) 2021–2027.

The programme is funded by the European Union and implemented by the German Cooperation Agency (GIZ) under the WE4D programme. GIZ experts were introduced and shared their extensive regional and international experience. They are in the country to conduct further field work.

 

The Nurse’s Orders: how a student nurse is turning social media into a lifesaving tool

By Nokukhanya Musi–Aimienoho, Vaccines Work, 4 July 2025

SOURCE 

Armed with evidence and a gift for simplifying medical jargon, Meluleki Ndwandwe is on a mission to empower Eswatini’s youth with facts, not fear.

 

As the sun rises over Eswatini, 21-year-old nursing student Meluleki Ndwandwe sits, hunched over his desk in his university dorm room, uploading posts to social media.

Numerous tabs are open on his screen – research papers and studies on cervical cancer, human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine info sites and health-related news. He has made it his business to post the latest and most accurate information, to catch the youth up on health issues that might affect them.

One recent development he’s broadcasting to his following is the news of the recent extension of the HPV vaccination programme to young women between 15 and 20 years of age. Hitherto, the jab was publicly available only to girls between 9 and 14 years of age.

I noticed that the youth do not listen to traditional radio health shows and are always on social media. Leveraging this newfound community that is literally in the palm of our hands became my first objective. 

His aim, he says, is to spread awareness of the importance of vaccination, to clear up misconceptions, and present people with well-substantiated information on which they can base the choices that might save their lives.

Ndwandwe’s social media crusade is responding to a very present threat. Cervical cancer accounts for a staggering 54.6% of all cancer cases among women in Eswatini, with a five-year prevalence of 185 cases per 100,000 women.


Meluleki Ndwandwe

Driven by a personal purpose after observing friends and relatives harmed by health misinformation, he formed an organisation called The Nurse’s Orders, an online consultation service, in 2024, to empower young people through the provision of accurate health information.

“I had the idea for a long time but it was officially implemented last year to disseminate health educational information to the young demographic. I noticed that the youth do not listen to traditional radio health shows and are always on social media. Leveraging this newfound community that is literally in the palm of our hands became my first objective. So I launched our Facebook and YouTube pages,” he shares.

To read more of this report, click here

https://www.gavi.org/vaccineswork/nurses-orders-how-student-nurse-turning-social-media-lifesaving-tool

 

King Mswati must stop shifting blame, Health Minister cannot address shortage of drugs while Monarch spends millions public funds on useless international trips

Opinion by Zweli Martin Dlamini, Swaziland News, 9 July, 2025

SOURCE 

King Mswati is fully aware that, this country is struggling with cash flow challenges and his lavish or extravagant lifestyle is contributing to this unfortunate situation.

Cash flow problems in this context, occur when Government spends more money than the generated revenue, leading to difficulty in paying bills or meeting financial obligations and this, is exactly what is helping in this country.

But in the midst of this unfortunate situation, King Mswati used millions of public funds to travel to Ghana in search for witches(batsakatsi) to be used in performing rituals during the Incwala ceremony at the end of the year.

The King subsequently travelled to Spain to attend the International Conference on Financing Development and upon return, he informed the Nation that,he named a cow “Mbabane” saying that would market the country as the cow travels across Europe”.

It was very disappointing to note that, while emaSwati were expecting leadership or direction amid a serious health crisis threatening the existence of this Nation, the King was thrilled to name a Spanish cow-Mbabane.

Personally, I cannot entirely blame Cabinet regarding the health crisis because I’m fully aware that, Mswati is addicted to money, looting and witchcraft, traveling to Ghana and spending millions of public funds just to ‘interview’ witches for his own ritual beliefs while this country is in such crisis, was literally a demonstration that, he doesn’t care or is out of touch with reality.

Billions were stolen in the public coffers by Mswati and his alleged corrupt friend SwaziPharm Director Kareem Ashraff and, if the money was stolen, it means it’s no longer there.

Indeed, there’s a huge possibility that some of the billions are kept within the King’s ‘pockets’ because there was no way this Indonesian alleged corrupt thief could have stolen such huge amounts of money in this country without being arrested if, he was not receiving support, backing or protection from King Mswati who is above the law.

It is therefore unjust, for the King to put pressure on Cabinet or Health Minister Mduduzi Matsebula, where is the money to buy or supply the drugs in public hospitals?.

King Mswati must remember that we are not fools, we know exactly what is happening in this country, the King is rich but emaSwati are poor with no access to medical care.

As a Head of State, he cannot divorce himself from this health crisis, a Health Minister is too junior for this national crisis and it’s the King who must demonstrate leadership and allocate money for the supply of drugs in public hospitals and if need be, he must transfer all the billions he has been stealing, back to public coffers.

It is important to state that, we must provide Health Minister Mduduzi Matsebula all the necessary resources particularly, the money to buy drugs and then demand accountability or criticize him, what is happening now is a fallacy.

We can’t have a King who use millions of public funds to ‘interview’ witches in Ghana while emaSwati die in public hospitals but, he expects us to blame Health Minister Mduduzi Matsebula, the Member of Parliament (MP) from Siphocosini was not even in Cabinet at the time of the looting that triggered the health crisis.

Mduduzi Matsebula must only be blamed for uttering outright lies while emaSwati die in public hospitals, at some point, he was seen off-loading a few boxes saying drugs have been delivered, maybe he was under pressure.

But lies are just lies, whether you lie under oath, pressure or duress, lies must be discouraged and truth must be told so that, emaSwati “can make informed decisions in the midst of the health crisis”.

But what is of paramount importance now and, pending the arrest of SwaziPharm Director Kareem Ashraff and the other alleged multibillion drugs shortage thieves, is the allocation of a sufficient budget for the supply of drugs in public hospitals.

 

See also

Prime Minister Russell Mmiso Dlamini confirms situation in hospitals worsening amid shortage of drugs, appeals to Parliament to fully support efforts to address health crisis

https://swazilandnews.co.za/fundza.php?nguyiphi=9466

 

SWAZI MEDIA COMMENTARY

Find us:

Blog: https://swazimedia.blogspot.com/

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Friday, 4 July 2025

Swaziland Newsletter No. 884 – 4 July 2025

 

Swaziland Newsletter No. 884 – 4 July 2025

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. The newsletter and past editions are also available online on the Swazi Media Commentary blogsite.

 

eSwatini grapples with escalating GBV crisis

By Mandisa Mdluli, Times of eSwatini, print edition (edited), 1 July 2025 

MBABANE – An infant aged four was raped by her 86-year-old grandfather at Mankayane.

The infant was reportedly sexually violated by the grandfather behind a shack while at Deda, Mankayane, on Thursday. The perpetrator of the sexual violence has since been arrested. The minor was one of the 13 people sexually violated in the past week.

In the wee hours of Friday, a woman aged 23 of KaLanga, Mpaka, was said to have been sexually violated inside a car, without protection and by someone known to her. In a community within Mpaka, on the same day, a teenager (16) of Dvokodvweni was reportedly forced into sexual intercourse without a condom by an unknown person while she was inside a house at Mpaka.

Meanwhile, on Thursday, a teenager (14) was said to have been raped by her step-father, who is 42 years while at Mahlabatsini, Matsapha. Also, two women, aged 22 and 20 respectively, both from Phumlamcashi, reported being forced into sexual intercourse at knifepoint inside a house.

Two suspects have since been arrested and charged in connection with this case, while between May and June 2025, a 22-year-old was arrested for statutory rape of a 17-year-old..

A woman aged 21 from Nkhaba was said to have reported being raped once, without a condom, by a known individual inside a house at Nkhaba.

At Logoba, a teenager, aged 15, was reportedly raped once without the use of a condom by her step-parent inside a house. The suspect in this case has not yet been arrested, while in the same area, another girl aged 14 was said to have been raped once without the use of a condom inside a house by a known individual. The suspect has not yet been apprehended.

These sexual violations are against the backdrop of a gender-based violence (GBV) crisis which this publication reported that there were five children murdered, 312 raped, 20 sexually assaulted, 67 domestically abused since the beginning of the year.

This horrid reality, compounded by an increase in intimate partner violence, signals a deep societal breakdown that demands urgent and collective intervention, according to a press statement released by the Deputy Prime Minister (DPM), Thulisile Dladla.

In the communiqué, Dladla said the Royal Eswatini Police Service (REPS) reports that between January and May this year, a total of 540 cases of GBV against children have been recorded.

She said these include 89 cases against children below the age of five, 103 cases against children aged 6-11 years old and a distressing 384 cases affecting adolescents aged 1217 years old.

Dladla condemned the senseless killings and highlighted the broader severity of the situation with blunt statistics. She said the National Surveillance Report of 2024, alongside data from the REPS (DCS Unit), reveals an overwhelming 14 308 reported cases of GBV in 2024 alone.

Of these, 3 336 cases targeted children under 18 years old, while a vast majority, 9 690, were perpetrated against women. Dladla said this data emphasises the growing severity of GBV in the country and it was further confirmed by daily media headlines reporting on these gruesome acts of violence.

One of the most alarming aspects of these reports is the revelation that several survivors were allegedly raped by individuals familiar to them. At Lomahasha, a 19-year-old woman reported on May 20, 2025 that she was forced into sexual intercourse by her own cousin. This incident, occurring within a residential setting, raised serious questions about safety within perceived secure environments and the betrayal of trust.

Siphofaneni also recorded two deeply troubling cases that highlighted the pervasive nature of this crime and the vulnerability of young girls. In one instance, reported on May 20, 2025, a 12-year-old was allegedly subjected to repeated sexual intercourse by a known person over an extended period, from February 2024 to May 2025.

This timeline of abuse, spanning over a year, indicates a horrific, prolonged ordeal for the young survivor. Another report from Siphofaneni, also on May 20, 2025 detailed an 11-year-old girl being raped by an unknown individual in January 2025 within a house. While the perpetrator is unknown in this instance, the setting again points to a violation occurring in what should be a safe space.

In Gege, a 13-year-old girl was reportedly raped by a known person in a wattle forest on May 19, 2025. Fortunately, a suspect was arrested in this case on the subsequent day.

 

Authorities fail to make progress in addressing dismal state of the independence of judges and lawyers

International Commission of Jurists, 30 June 2025

SOURCE 

Four months on from the publication of the ICJ’s report on attacks on the legal profession, and after multiple expressions of concern relating to the state of judicial and legal independence by the UN Special Rapporteur on judges and lawyers, Eswatini has failed to take concrete measures to address the crumbling state of rule of law in the country.

The ICJ’s report, No Situation is Permanent” – Repression, Intimidation, Harassment and Killing of Lawyers in Eswatini, underscored that lawyers, particular those taking human rights cases and cases in public interest, face immense obstacles in operating independently in the country.

The UN Special Rapporteur has conveyed similar concerns to the Eswatini authorities, most recently in a communication issued on 7 April, pointing to reports she had received of regular and targeted attacks on lawyers, including killings and attempted killings.  Prominent among these is the extrajudicial killing of human rights lawyer Thulani Maseko, regarding which there has so far not been an effective investigation, nor have those responsible been held to account.

According to Eswatini human rights lawyer Mzwandile Masuku: “the UN Special Rapporteur’s communication raises pertinent issues that we as Eswatini lawyers have repeatedly raised with the authorities to no avail. The government’s apparent lack of response to the communication is disappointing”.

The ICJ is also concerned at the relative passivity of the Law Society of Eswatini in performing its statutory mandate to protect the rule of law and secure the independence of lawyers.

“The Law Society of Eswatini must play a bigger role in ensuring that lawyers are able to perform their mandate. Disappointingly, the Law Society has generally not responded adequately to complaints of its members about harassment and intimidation and has failed to put pressure on authorities to investigate the extra-judicial killing of Mr Thulani Maseko”, said Kaajal Ramjathan-Keogh, ICJ’s Africa Director.

The failure of the State authorities to ensure the rights of lawyers, coupled with the inadequacy of the Law Society to in discharging its protective function, have left the legal profession with little recourse.

“It is critical that lawyers are permitted to undertake their work without any fear of reprisal and that authorities endeavour to secure the independence of the judiciary. Unfortunately, it is often the case that the authorities have taken steps to endanger the independence of the judiciary instead of guarding it as required by the Constitution”, said Mzwandile Masuku.

To read the full report, click here

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/eswatini-authorities-fail-make-progress-mr6ye


 eSwatini Government wants to delay salary increment for civil servants

By Bongiwe Dlamini, Swaziland News, 2 July 2025

SOURCE 

MBABANE: The Public Sector Unions (PSUs) have collectively rejected a request by Government to delay the release of the highly anticipated salary review report, the Ministry of Public Service wanted a four (4) months extension to allow the Consultant to conclude the review process.

Worth-noting, the four months was expiring in November during the commencement of Incwala ritual ceremony and this means, Government was systematic seeking to delay the salary review at least until the 2026/27 financial year.

But Mbongwa Dlamini, the President of the Swaziland National Association of Teachers (SNAT) told workers outside the Ministry of Public Service on Wednesday that, as PSUs they granted Government only six (6) weeks to conclude the salary review process.

“We granted Government only six weeks not months the four months,” he said.

Eswatini Government workers including security forces, are financially struggling amid the delayed implementation of a salary increase.

 

A decade of deception: uncovering eSwatini’s multibillion accounting scandal

By Zwelethu Dlamini, Inhlase Centre for Investigative Journalism, 27 June 2025

SOURCE 

Eswatini’s government finances are trapped in a cycle of systemic failure, marked by recurring material misstatements in bank balances, fictitious assets and liabilities, widespread unauthorised expenditure, and a glaring lack of adherence to financial regulations, year after year. 

From the most recent 2024 audit pinpointing over E1.6 billion in understated expenditure and nearly E1 billion in unauthorised spending, to historical reports showing multi-billion Emalangeni discrepancies, the Auditor General’s consistent “qualified opinions” underscore a deep-rooted crisis of public financial mismanagement that demands urgent and decisive reform.

Part One: Eswatini’s multibillion Emalangeni accounting scandal

For nearly a decade, the public accounts of Eswatini have been shrouded in a fog of financial irregularities, material misstatements, undisclosed liabilities, a pervasive lack of accountability and unauthorised expenditures, as revealed by a relentless stream of “qualified” audit reports from the Auditor General and the parliamentary Public Accounts Committee (PAC) reports.

Billions of Emalangeni remain unaccounted for, with total misstatements reaching E8.44 billion in 2016 and E2.56 billion in 2024. This includes E155 million in fictitious assets and E645 million in undisclosed liabilities in 2024 alone.

A qualified opinion means that the Auditor General, while concluding that the government’s financial statements were fairly presented, there were areas that prevented the auditors from giving an ‘unqualified’/clean opinion. In simple terms, the consistent qualified auditors’ opinion means that the country’s financial records are unreliable. 

Coordinating Assembly for NGOs (CANGO) Director Thembinkosi Dlamini said this crisis is evident in the government’s over-reliance on supplementary budgets. “What is approved in February may be totally unrelated to the reported budget outcomes in the next budget. In short, the usual Auditor General’s report then PAC appearance by accounting officers is no longer enough; rather than a conversation about this crisis should be held with all stakeholders in the room,” he said.

In 2024, government ministries and departments incurred unappropriated expenditures amounting to E155.9 million, including foreign payments and unbudgeted accruals. According to Auditor General Timothy Matsebula, this unlawful spending “translated to fictitious assets” on the government’s books as of 31st March 2024. He further warned that “unauthorised expenditures and unappropriated budgets are not only unlawful but also provide room for misappropriation of public funds and result in serious repercussions in the entire fiscal budget.”

A significant portion of the fictitious assets (E70,465,085.94) resulted from “Unappropriated Expenditure on Accounts Payable – Foreign Payments”, with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation contributing 50 per cent of this amount.

This practice is not an accounting error but a calculated act of financial deception. Funds were spent without the legal authorisation from Parliament, and then, instead of being accurately recorded as unauthorised expenditures, they were disguised as “assets” to artificially balance the books. This mechanism effectively conceals illicit spending, allowing ministries to bypass critical parliamentary oversight and potentially divert public funds without transparent accountability.  

To read more of this report, click here

https://inhlase.com/a-decade-of-deception-uncovering-eswatinis-multibillion-accounting-scandal/?fbclid=IwY2xjawLMbdhleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBicmlkETFRZzlIdWVsUENUaG9VZ2pDAR6KAvuTkZj8D13V3uMxFxFFOmawqvFu6cBXmqAymcJUo_FnLAHx3-J8SneHQA_aem_YQ4RYxCyhfwBZtTEDtJ-gQ

 

Nomcebo Zuma abandoned by King Mswati after honeymoon period ended

By Rorisang Modiba, Scrolla.Africa, 2 July 2025

SOURCE

New details have emerged about why Nomcebo LaZuma walked out on King Mswati III – and it’s all about being ignored by her royal husband.

As Scrolla.Africa reported earlier, the 22-year-old daughter of former president Jacob Zuma left the Eswatini palace and returned to South Africa after just three months of marriage.

Swaziland News reports that the king spent time with Nomcebo at first, but soon stopped paying attention to her and focused on his other wives.

A source said the king usually spends more time with a new wife until she becomes pregnant, but that didn’t happen with Nomcebo.

The young bride became very upset about the neglect. She was sad, angry, and once even wrongly accused her bodyguards of stealing her jewellery.

The jewellery was later found, but it showed how unhappy she was in royal life.

The king’s spokesperson Percy Simelane said he doesn’t get involved in the king’s private life, only his public work.

Nomcebo’s friend said she may speak about her painful experience once she feels better.

Meanwhile, royal officials went to Nkandla to speak to Jacob Zuma, but he refused to meet them. He had not agreed with the marriage at first, but gave in after his daughter insisted.

King Mswati has more than 14 wives and over 50 children. The 56-year-old monarch is known for his polygamous lifestyle and lavish spending, while most of his people live in poverty.

The marriage was intended to be a cultural alliance between the Zuma family and Eswatini’s monarchy.

While her mother supported the union, Jacob Zuma opposed it and didn’t attend the engagement or wedding. King Mswati paid R2-million and 100 cattle in lobola.

Despite public appearances, such as a Vatican visit in October 2024, the marriage reportedly had problems from the start.

Nomcebo had paused her university studies for royal duties, but it seems the sacrifice wasn’t worth it.

Neither family has officially commented on the separation, but the failed marriage has exposed the reality of being one of many wives to an African king.

King Mswati and Nomcebo LaZuma.

See also

Lonely Jacob Zuma’s daughter dumps playboy Swazi King  

https://sundayworld.co.za/news/lonely-jacob-zumas-daughter-dumps-playboy-swazi-king/

Former President Jacob Zuma’s daughter Inkhosikati Nomcebo LaZuma received over R3million gift from husband King Mswati before fleeing Palace

https://swazilandnews.co.za/fundza.php?nguyiphi=9407

 

SWAZI MEDIA COMMENTARY

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Friday, 27 June 2025

Swaziland Newsletter No. 883 – 27 June 2025

 

Swaziland Newsletter No. 883 – 27 June 2025

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. The newsletter and past editions are also available online on the Swazi Media Commentary blogsite

Human rights advocates call for reforms

By Sifiso Nhlabatsi, eSwatini Observer (print edition), 26 June 2025 

Human rights and gender equality advocates as well as some traditionalists are calling for urgent reforms following widowed Mtsambama Member of Parliament (MP) Sibongile Mamba’s prolonged absence from parliamentary duties.

They argue that while culture is an important part of national identity, it should not be weaponised to silence or marginalise women. This follows a concern raised by Umhluma Women and Youth Foundation Executive Director Lungelo Zulu about the absence of Mamba from Parliament after the loss of her husband.

Africa Regional Coordinator for One Billion Rising Colani Hlatjwako said Mamba’s prolonged absence was not merely a personal matter, but a broad issue of structural inequality.

“As a country, it is time we move beyond cultural practices and traditions that continue to discriminate against and marginalise women. True equality means both access and the ability to lead without fear, limitation or prejudice. When we speak of equal participation, we are not only referring to numbers or representation, but also to creating a working environment that enables women to be effective and impactful.”

She stressed that systemic cultural barriers were still deeply embedded and prevented women from fully participating in leadership roles. “What has happened to MP Sibongile is not just a family matter, it affects the progress and well-being of the entire constituency she represents,” Hlatjwako added.

Meanwhile, traditionalists Elliot Mkhatshwa said women in leadership should not be forced to withdraw from public duties under the guise of tradition.

“A person of Mamba’s stature must not be subjected to such restrictions. If we want women to take part in leadership, we must stop tying them down with customs,” he said.

He argued that cultural practices should be adapted to suit modern-day realities, especially when they intersect with national governance.

Mkhatshwa suggested that a twomonth mourning period should suffice for women in leadership roles, and anything beyond that becomes an unfair constraint.

Attempts to get official comment from the House of Assembly leadership yielded no results. Speaker Jabulani Mabuza and Deputy Speaker Madala Mhlanga were both contacted, but neither responded to calls or messages by the time of publication.

 

Jacob Zuma’s daughter flees husband King Mswati citing polygamy woes

By Chris Matambanadzo, iHarare, 25 June 2025

SOURCE 


Former [South Africa] President Jacob Zuma’s daughter, Nomcebo Zuma, has reportedly left her royal marriage to King Mswati III of eSwatini, causing quiet ripples across the region’s political and traditional circles.

The 22-year-old junior wife, known as Inkhosikati LaZuma in the kingdom, is said to have walked away from palace life, complaining that she could no longer bear being in a polygamous setup where she “goes for months without seeing her husband.”

In line with Swazi tradition, when a wife disappears — a practice known as kwemuka — the husband sends a delegation to her family to plead for her return. In this case, a royal team was allegedly dispatched to Zuma’s homestead in Nkandla, KwaZulu-Natal, to try to resolve the matter.

Nomcebo’s marriage to King Mswati wasn’t officially announced by the palace but was exclusively reported by Swaziland News in 2024, when she was introduced as the King’s Liphovela (girlfriend) during the annual uMhlanga Reed Dance ceremony. Shortly after, she joined the royal household.

Now, her sudden departure has left both families in a tense standoff.

When contacted for comment by Swaziland News, King Mswati’s spokesperson Percy Simelane said he hadn’t been informed of the incident. He explained that his office only handles the King’s public matters, not private family issues.

“I am not aware, by design and principle, my Office portfolio does not stretch into the King’s private life, only his public life is my area of interest,” said the King’s Spokesperson.

Behind the scenes, sources claim that the royal delegation has been camped in Nkandla for days, trying to meet with Jacob Zuma — but the former president allegedly refused to even greet them.

According to insiders, Zuma told the envoys that he had never supported the marriage from the start, but only went along with it because his daughter was insistent. His silence now may be a sign that he’s standing by her decision to leave.

King Mswati, who is known for his lavish lifestyle and absolute power, has more than 14 wives and over 50 children, a fact that reportedly became overwhelming for Nomcebo.

Efforts to reach members of the Zuma family for direct comment were unsuccessful at the time of publication.

See also

“I haven’t seen my husband in months!” Jacob Zuma’s daughter walks out of polygamous marriage with King Mswati over marital struggles

https://www.tv47.digital/a-royal-delegation-from-eswatini-has-been-sent-to-nkandla-kwazulu-natal-south-africa-to-negotiate-the-return-of-king-mswati-iiis-youngest-wife-106846/

 

Don’t shut down hos­pit­als – Ministry of Health

By Timothy Simelane, Times of eSwatini (print edition), 25 June 2025 

MBABANE: The Min­istry of Health has issued a stern warn­ing to health pro­fes­sion­als against shut­ting down oper­a­tions in pub­lic health facil­it­ies, labelling such actions as illegal.

Prin­cipal Sec­ret­ary (PS) in the Min­istry of Health, Khan­yak­wezwe Mabuza, stated the min­istry has received reports of health pro­fes­sion­als leav­ing patients stran­ded. “No one has the right to close down a hos­pital,” he asser­ted.

Prin­cipal Sec­ret­ary (PS) in the Min­istry of Health, Khan­yak­wezwe Mabuza, stated the min­istry has received reports of health pro­fes­sion­als leav­ing patients stran­ded. “No one has the right to close down a hos­pital,” he asser­ted.

Address­ing con­cerns about a lack of medi­cines and drug sup­plies, Mabuza cla­ri­fied: “That does not war­rant a shut­down of the facil­ity, because the doc­tor can still make a pre­scrip­tion for the patient to get the drug else­where.”

He fur­ther explained that even if one spe­cific drug is out of stock, other neces­sary med­ic­a­tions may still be avail­able to assist the patient.

When ques­tioned about lengthy meet­ings held by nurses, doc­tors and sup­port staff while patients wait unat­ten­ded, Mabuza emphas­ised that all meet­ings must be sanc­tioned by hos­pital man­age­ment and con­duc­ted in a man­ner that does not affect patients.

“If these meet­ings go on and on and are not sanc­tioned by the man­age­ment, we will con­sider such to be a go-slow strike,” Mabuza warned.

The min­istry’s Com­mu­nic­a­tions Officer Nsindiso Tsabedze, under­scored the illeg­al­ity of oper­a­tional shut­downs. He said some patients could find relief psy­cho­lo­gic­ally after meet­ing the doc­tor.

“To some patients, just meet­ing the doc­tor and hav­ing him inspect you, could be enough ther­apy,” he remarked.

The min­istry engaged the media fol­low­ing a series of meet­ings by pro­fes­sional staff at Mbabane Gov­ern­ment Hos­pital (MGH), where they sought solu­tions to short­ages of drugs, med­ical sup­plies, staff, secur­ity and other essen­tials. Dur­ing these MGH meet­ings, patients were observed wait­ing exhaust­ively, with some even­tu­ally return­ing home, and entire blocks of treat­ment and exam­in­a­tion rooms in the Out­pa­tient Depart­ment were locked. Only patients in wards reportedly received assist­ance from a lim­ited num­ber of nurses.

Mabuza announced that the min­istry would intro­duce a cus­tomer care point in hos­pit­als for patients to lodge com­plaints about a lack of atten­tion. The PS acknow­ledged that the min­istry had received two or three peti­tions from health­care pro­fes­sion­als and affirmed that efforts were under­way to resolve the repor­ted short­ages.

“We acknow­ledged the issues on these peti­tions. Some of them may not be true, but we appre­ci­ate that the staff reached out to the min­istry to have these issues resolved,” he said.

Mean­while, Tsabedze noted that des­pite Monday’s meet­ings at MGH, the min­istry had been aler­ted to another meet­ing planned for yes­ter­day. He said that was a cause for con­cern because patients were being affected.

“We gathered from the media that the con­cern is that there are no med­ical sup­plies and decided to address this issue,” he con­cluded.

 

King Mswati says eSwatini to establish Council of Chiefs to complete the country’s constitutional governance structure

By Musa Mdluli, Swaziland News, 25 June, 2025

SOURCE 

MBABANE: King Mswati says eSwatini will soon establish the Council of Chiefs to complete the country’s constitutional governance structure.

Addressing the Ghana’s National House of Chiefs in Kumasi on Wednesday, the King said establishing the Council of Chiefs would place eSwatini as one of the African countries will formalized traditional leadership, Government online platforms reported.

“Having a Council of Chiefs would place Eswatini as one of several African nations with formalised Houses of Chiefs or similar traditional leadership structures. This new Council will serve as a platform for chiefs to advise the state on matters of tradition, custom, and cultural preservation, reinforcing their pivotal role in Eswatini’s monarchical democracy. The King said the country’s commitment to this structure underscores a political will to harmonising tradition with modernity, ensuring that the wisdom of chiefs continues to shape national policies in a rapidly evolving world. Provision for such a structure is contained in Chapter 14 of the national Constitution and is said to align with a broader African trend of recognising traditional leadership within governance frameworks. The King emphasised that Eswatini’s chiefs, under the Tinkhundla system, are central to the Nation’s identity, administering communities, resolving disputes, and upholding the values of ubuntu- unity, respect, and progress. The new Council of Chiefs will amplify their role, ensuring their centuries-honed wisdom informs national laws and policies,” reads the Government online report.

On another note, the King who applauded Ghana traditional leadership for preserving culture, paid tribute to Ghana’s first President, Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, and Eswatini’s King Sobhuza II for their visionary leadership in securing independence for their Nations while safeguarding traditional governance structures.

 

Mswati’s Council of Chiefs plan signals deeper entrenchment of monarchy, not democratic reform

By Anele Dlamini, Swaziland Democratic News, 26 June 2025

SOURCE

In a recent address to Ghana’s National House of Chiefs in Kumasi, King Mswati III announced Eswatini’s plan to formally establish a Council of Chiefs a move presented as a step toward preserving cultural heritage and enhancing traditional governance. This, however is a calculated effort to deepen the monarchy’s control and further entrench the undemocratic Tinkhundla system, rather than pave the way for genuine political reform.

The King claimed the Council of Chiefs would advise the state on matters of tradition and culture, ensuring the “wisdom of chiefs” continues to shape national policy. While similar structures exist in other African countries, Eswatini’s unique political context where political parties are banned and the king holds absolute power means this council will likely serve to reinforce royal authority rather than balance it. Under the Tinkhundla system, chiefs already play a central role in local governance, community dispute resolution and enforcing allegiance to the monarchy. Formalising their role into a national council only strengthens the regime’s grip on the grassroots.

The King further claims that this step demonstrates political will to “harmonise tradition with modernity.” Yet in reality, it signals a refusal to engage in the kind of democratic restructuring that citizens and civil society have long demanded. Instead of opening pathways to inclusive governance, Mswati is doubling down on traditional authority conveniently controlled and aligned with royal interests.

Adding to growing concerns is the King’s continued practice of including his children in structures of governance and international trips, as was seen again in Ghana. These appearances go beyond symbolic family representation; they suggest a deliberate strategy to groom and position the next generation of royals within state and diplomatic spaces. This pattern reinforces dynastic rule and signals the monarchy’s intention to maintain a firm hold on power for generations to come.

Ultimately, while the Council of Chiefs is being promoted as a tool for cultural preservation, it appears to be part of a broader strategy to solidify the monarchy’s control, suppress democratic aspirations and close the door on political reform in Eswatini.

 

SWAZI MEDIA COMMENTARY

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