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Swaziland: First Person – a Diabetes Fighter in Eswatini Pours All Her Efforts Into Beating Covid-19

Dumsile Mavuso, the founder and head of Eswatini’s first national association for people with diabetes, is now bringing her knowledge and experience to fight the COVID-19 pandemic, in collaboration with the Government and the UN. “Our association trained over 300 caregivers, who can empower other community leaders, and ensure that their support groups are effective. […]

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Swaziland: Confusion As Swaziland Schools Try to Reopen After Coronavirus Shutdown

There was confusion across Swaziland (eSwatini) as schools attempted to reopen after an almost one-year closure because of the coronavirus pandemic. The Ministry of Health and Training had issued a staggered timetable for reopening but many pupils turned up when they were not scheduled. There was also confusion about whether school fees needed to be […]

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Swaziland: Stigma Against Women With HIV in Swaziland Rife, Human Rights Review Told

The stigma faced by people with HIV in Swaziland (eSwatini) continues to be widespread with a particularly damning effect upon women and girls, according to a submission to a United Nations group’s investigation into human rights in the kingdom. ‘It can affect the number of women and girls seeking treatment,’ the Birmingham City University, School […]

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Swaziland: ‘Drastic Deterioration’ in Swaziland Human Rights, United Nations’ Investigation Told

There has been a ‘drastic deterioration’ in human rights in Swaziland (eSwatini), a United Nations group investigating the kingdom, ruled by absolute monarch King Mswati III, was told. Human Rights Watch said since the 1973 Royal Decree, ‘political parties are banned, the judiciary is severely compromised, and repressive laws have been used to target independent […]

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Swaziland: Nearly 60,000 People in Swaziland Face Looming Starvation and Death – Save the Children

Nearly 60,000 people in Swaziland (eSwatini) face starvation or death without immediate action, Save The Children reported. They are among more than 347,000 people in the kingdom who face acute food shortage and need urgent humanitarian assistance. This includes about 180,000 children. The population of Swaziland is about 1.2 million people. Save The Children said […]

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Swaziland Still ‘Not Free,’ Human Rights Group Freedom House Reports

Freedom House, the global group that works to defend human rights and promote democratic change, has once again declared that Swaziland (eSwatini) is ‘not free’. In its annual report on human rights in the kingdom ruled by absolute monarch King Mswati III, Freedom House scored Swaziland 19 out of 100 points. This was the same […]

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Swaziland Top Dogs Get Their Coronavirus Vaccines Ahead of Frontline Health Staff

The Swaziland (eSwatini) Acting Prime Minister, cabinet ministers, the chief of police, and top judiciary have been first to receive coronavirus vaccines although there are only enough doses in the kingdom to fully protect 16,000 people. The Swazi Government had announced front-line health workers would be first in line to receive jabs. About 32,000 doses […]

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Swaziland: Teachers’ Leaders Fear Swaziland Schools Not Ready to Reopen As Govt. Eases Coronavirus Lockdown

The Swaziland National Association of Teachers wants at least 5,000 permanent new teacher posts to be created before schools can reopen safely following the coronavirus crisis. The Swaziland (eSwatini) Minister of Education and Training Lady Howard Mabuza has ordered schools to reopen on 29 March 2021. Sikelela Dlamini, SNAT Secretary General, said the Swazi Government […]

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Swaziland Absolute Monarch Sets Lawyers On Critical Online Newspaper

King Mswati III, the absolute monarch of Swaziland (eSwatini) has engaged lawyers in an attempt to get an online newspaper to stop publishing critical articles about him. The Swaziland News, is published on a website hosted in South Africa. In the past the King has simply ordered the closure of newspapers and the arrest of […]

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Swaziland People Face Forced Eviction From Homes in Middle of Coronavirus Pandemic

More than 100 people in Swaziland (eSwatini) face forced eviction from their homes with nowhere to go in the middle of the coronavirus pandemic, Amnesty International reported. In Madonsa town more than 100 people have been living under the threat of forced eviction for years, to make way for the eSwatini National Provident Fund, a […]

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Swaziland: Govt Extends Coronavirus Lockdown and Prepares for Third Wave to Strike

The Swaziland (eSwatini) Government has extended the partial lockdown of the kingdom as the coronavirus crisis reaches its first anniversary and the kingdom is no closer to getting life-saving vaccines. The 17,000 people testing positive and the 652 deaths in that time were ‘nothing short of alarming’, Acting Prime Minister Themba Masuku said in a […]

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Swaziland King Was Secretly Hospitalised With Coronavirus

King Mswati III, the absolute monarch of Swaziland (eSwatini), has revealed that he was hospitalised for more than 10 days in January after testing positive for coronavirus. This was not made public at the time. In December and January the King took part in the annual Incwala ceremony involving hundreds of people from across Swaziland. […]

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Swaziland King Admits Kingdom Fails to Be a First World Nation

King Mswati III, the absolute monarch of Swaziland (eSwatini), has admitted his poverty-stricken kingdom will not attain ‘First World’ status by 2022. He had been claiming this was possible for many years. The King in a speech opening the Swazi Parliament on Friday (19 February 2021) blamed the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic for the failure. He […]

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Swaziland: Slow Roll Out of Coronavirus Vaccines in Swaziland, Health Workers to Get Priority

Only 3 percent of the Swaziland (eSwatini) population are likely to get coronavirus vaccines in the first phase of inoculations, according to the kingdom’s Minister of Health Lizzie Nkosi. In a statement she said no firm date for the arrival of the first vaccines had been given but she hoped it would be before the […]

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Swaziland Tightens Coronavirus Restrictions As Daily Deaths Hit Record High

Swaziland extended coronavirus restrictions as deaths reached a record daily total. Alcohol sales will be banned for thirty days, including the sale of traditional homebrew. In a statement on Wednesday (20 January 2021) Acting Prime Minister Themba Masuku said there was a ‘galloping spread’ of new coronavirus (COVID-19) infections averaging 205 a day with recorded […]

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Swaziland: RIP – the Right Revd Ellinah Wamukoya

It is with profound sorrow that I have to announce the devastating news that the Bishop of Swaziland in eSwatini, the Right Revd Ellinah Wamukoya, died today. Bishop Ellinah was admitted to hospital late last week and was put on oxygen therapy for Covid-19. We express our deepest condolences to her husband, Okwaro Henry Wamukoya, […]

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Africa Surpasses Three Million Covid-19 Cases, Most in South Africa

The Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says more than three million cases have been logged on the continent since the start of the pandemic, with South Africa accounting for more than 30 percent. South Africa has recorded some 1.2 million Covid-19 cases, with a recent spike in infections due to a new variant […]

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Swaziland: Police Halt Democracy March, ‘Torture’ Leader

Police in Swaziland (eSwatini) blocked a march for democracy and arrested leaders, torturing at least one of them, according to reports. A group called The New Parliament tried to hold a march in Manzini, the kingdom’s main commercial city, but two leaders Phila Fakudze and Sibongile Mazibuko, President of the Ngwane National Liberatory Congress (NNLC), […]