IT’S NOT ALL DOOM AND GLOOM

It has not been a very good week for the nation of Eswatini.

We are among many countries affected by United States President Donald Trump’s executive order that places various health programmes at risk of a total blackout. Who would have ever thought that a directive issued by the president of a country located thousands of kilometres from us would affect emaSwati directly, not only as a nation, but as individuals and families as well?

As experts say, the now waived ‘90-day stop work’ order would result in drugs such as antiretroviral medication being sparsely available, which would lead to some people currently on medication deciding to stop treatment altogether or sharing available pills with others. This would make the HIV  more resistant because it replicates if treatment is stopped or not taken for a certain period.

Resources

As you read this, the nation does not know what the permanent solution to this challenge will be. Will government step in to provide the necessary financial resources to take over, in the event the USA ultimately confirms the decision to stop funding to Eswatini and other countries benefitting from the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR)?

The option mentioned by Government Spokesperson Alpheous Nxumalo, of engaging the US Government through diplomatic channels, might not bring the desired results because it is not only Eswatini that is affected.
It would be a miracle if the US made special arrangements only for us as a nation, where donor funding is concerned.

Sadly, Minister for Health Mduduzi Matsebula could only express hope that organisations supporting his ministry would continue to receive funding. Their closure, he said, would be a `tremendous loss’ for both the ministry and the country, as they have played an important role in helping to make crucial advances in HIV and tuberculosis (TB) responses. The uncertainty around PEPFAR programmes adds more jitters for a nation already battling with a collapsed health system that saw medication for many ailments running out of stock.

That said, crime and corruption are also out of control in our country. The Times of Eswatini front page on Friday shone a light on the reality of where we were as citizens in terms of safety and security. Crime has become a way of life. It would not be an exaggeration that the Royal Eswatini Police Service (REPS) has so far failed to ensure that emaSwati from all walks of life, regardless of geographical location, enjoy peace and safety.

The Times front page highlighted the tragic story of a woman who was shot, doused with petrol and burnt by two unknown men last Tuesday - in the comfort of her own home at Ntandweni, under Malindza in the Lubombo Region. During this harrowing ordeal, Nonhlanhla Mhlanga was robbed of E1 200 cash.

Motivation

She suspects that this was not a mere robbery but the criminals were sent by someone to kill her. Whatever the motivation behind this heinous act, it remains a fact that she and many other emaSwati are not safe, even in their own homes. A money-lender was also attacked by four men believed to be illegal miners at Malanda in Pigg’s Peak last Wednesday.

This crime was committed in broad daylight - at around 9am – further confirming that criminals are no longer afraid of the Eswatini police. One of these thugs was later apprehended and killed by a mob. This, again, points to the fact that communities no longer have faith in the country’s police and courts, hence the recurring decision to mete justice on the spot.

Crimes of this nature, where criminals barge into someone’s home, terrorise the occupants and steal valuables, are on the rise. The reason is simple; thugs know that the police response in Eswatini is slow at best, otherwise, it is non-existent. Police visibility is a myth. Also, the rate at which such attackers are apprehended does not serve as a deterrent to others from committing similar acts.

The rising number of criminals arrested for involvement in the infamous ‘facata’ scams is also an indication that law enforcement is not winning the fight against cybercrime. Lastly, the with schools having opened for the first term of the 2025 calendar last week, the Swaziland National Association of Teachers (SNAT) has successfully shone a light on the shortcomings of the Ministry of Education and Training.

In an unprecedented move, members of the teachers’ union national executive committee visited various schools, taking pictures and videos of dilapidated infrastructure and other sad details. The Ministry of Education, on the other hand, has tried to paint a picture of a situation under control, with purported plans to correct all the wrongs like teacher shortages, lack of furniture in many schools and the provision of adequate food and stationery. One could take the whole day highlighting the tribulations an ordinary, taxpaying liSwati experiences on a daily basis.

Appreciate

However, it is not all doom and gloom. His Majesty the King officially opened the Second Session of the 12th Parliament on Friday. His speech highlighted some of the positives that as a nation, we should recognise and appreciate, like the fact that that government has now connected 88 per cent of households to the national electricity grid, with the goal being to reach 100 countrywide.

The main one had to be the declaration that social grants paid to elderly men and women would be increased; now we just hope it will be substantial. The excited shouts of ‘Bayethe’ in Parliament when the King made this announcement were proof that this is a matter every liSwati is concerned about.

The ball is now in the court of the executive arm of government. They should ensure that the amount to be added is not so negligible that it cancels the excitement. It should be a significant amount that will add more grocery items onto the shopping baskets of beneficiaries. His Majesty did say this was a year of transformation to the Promised Land.

“It is also the year in which we need to improve our critical areas such as healthcare, education, job creation, science and technology, taking care of the elderly and the youth,” he emphasised. The elderly should be among the first to experience this transformation.

Post your comment

Your name:

Your e-mail address:

Add your comments:

Please enter the code you see in the image:

Image:

Code: