LOBAMBA – Host nation Eswatini has seized control of the athletics medal table after the opening day of the National Youth Games. The inaugural Games kicked off today, Saturday August 15, 2026 and will wrap up tomorrow, Sunday August 16. Action is spread across three venues being Somhlolo National Stadium and OlympAfrica Centre in Lobamba, as well as Enjabulweni Independent Schools in Moneni. Athletics took centre stage at Somhlolo, where sprinters from Lesotho and Seychelles tested their speed against Eswatini’s four regional teams. The host nation has divided itself into four:  Hhohho, Lubombo, Manzini and Shiselweni. Races were contested over 100m, 200m, 400m, 800m and 1 500m for both boys and girls, alongside Special Olympics events. According to the Local Organising Committee’s Day-one medal count, Eswatini’s four regions combine for 20 medals. Manzini Region lead the charge with three golds and two silvers for a total of five medals. Lubombo...

KWALUSENI— It is all systems go following the official opening of the inaugural Eswatini National Games. The launch took place on Friday, August 14, 2026, as the Minister for Sports, Culture and Youth Affairs, Bongani Nzima, officially inaugurated the tournament during a colourful opening ceremony. Hosted at the University of Eswatini’s Sports Emporium at Kwaluseni Campus, the ceremony marked the start of a three-nation showcase. A glittering guest list turned out for the occasion, featuring top officials from the Ministry of Sports, Eswatini Sport and Recreation Council Board Chairman Celucolo ‘Dino’ Dlamini, and Eswatini Olympic and Commonwealth Games Association President Adam ‘Bomber’ Mthethwa. They were joined by esteemed regional dignitaries, including Lesotho National Olympic Committee President Letsatsi Ntsibolane and Seychelles National Olympic Committee President Alain Alcindor, among other dignitaries, alongside 325 athletes and 101 officials representing the participating nations. Addressing the gathering, Minister Nzima said the presence of visiting delegations...

EZULWINI – Government spent an average of E147 million in June to keep fuel costs low for emaSwati after the Strait of Hormuz was closed due to war. This was revealed by the Minister for Natural Resources and Energy, Prince Lonkhokhela, during a workshop for Senate on the Blending of Bio-Ethanol with Unleaded Petrol Regulations, 2025. The E147 million was spent in June. Should the fund completely run out, emaSwati could pay more for fuel. The minister revealed that only about E860 million remained in the reserve to subsidise fuel. This translates to just under six months of funding, considering that government is spending about E147 million monthly, as the minister revealed. Also in attendance were senators, including Senate President Lindiwe Dlamini, Deputy Senate President Ndumiso Mduli, representatives from the Eswatini Energy Regulatory Authority (ESERA) and the Eswatini National Petroleum Company (ENPC). Further, the minister revealed that, in the past...

MBABANE – Eswatini will use the inaugural National Youth Games as a key preparation platform for the Region V Youth Games to be held later this year. The African Union Sports Council Southern Africa multi-sport event is scheduled to take place in Mozambique, in December. With four months remaining, the Eswatini Olympic and Commonwealth Games Association (EOCGA) believe this weekend’s three-nation national showpiece will help shape the eventual Team Eswatini. The National Olympic Committee Chief Executive Officer Maxwell Jele said the Games offer a valuable opportunity to assess athletes across some sporting codes which stand a chance to represent the country in Mozambique. According to Eswatini Sport and Recreation Council, eight disciplines are on the list for the Region V Games and among them: •             Athletics •             Basketball •             Boxing •             Tennis •             Taekwondo •             Swimming •             Volleyball •           Football They are also featured for Eswatini National Youth Games. On...

LOBAMBA – The Prime Minister (PM) Russell Mmiso Dlamini has been called to investigate if there are politicians who are housing foreign nationals involved in illegal online gambling, who are wanted in their home countries. Senate Deputy President Ndumiso Mdluli said he is happy that Parliament is working on the Immigration Bill. The Bill, he said, can help address illegal gambling activities involving foreign nationals. “We thank the Immigration Bill that has reached Parliament. We commend government,” Mdluli said. He added that the legislation could help strengthen measures against illegal gambling. He said some foreign nationals are coming to Eswatini because penalties for illegal gambling are relatively low, making it easier for offenders to pay fines and continue operating. Mdluli also sought clarity on the legal process governing foreign nationals arrested for illegal online gambling, particularly those who are granted bail before police seek to repatriate them. He asked the...

LOBAMBA- “There is no smoke without fire.” The statement was made by Prime Minister Russell Mmiso Dlamini when responding to a submission that was made by Senate President Pastor Lindiwe Dlamini who revealed some serious allegations against some officers from the Royal Eswatini Police Service (REPS). This happened yesterday during the Senate Portfolio Committee debate of the Cabinet and Private Office first quarter performance report for the financial year 2026/2027. The Senate president began her submission by seeking clarity from the PM on the action being taken against police officers whose alleged unprofessional conduct and unlawful actions had resulted in government paying E15 million in civil suits. She asked to know whether criminal or disciplinary action was being taken against officers whose conduct had allegedly resulted in the lawsuits and financial losses to government. She then raised a number of allegations that she said had been brought to her office...

MBABANE – Eswatini champions Nsingizini Hotspurs Ladies have received a E40 000 Orchard Insurance boost to fuel their CAF Women’s Champions League campaign. The reigning Eswatini Women Football League (EWFL) champions have been drawn in Group B of the regional qualifiers alongside two-time continental champions Mamelodi Sundowns from South Africa, experienced campaigners Costa do Sol from Mozambique and fellow debutants Silver Strikers from Malawi. The regional showpiece will take centre stage from August 20–29, 2026 in Gaborone. The presentation took place yesterday at the insurance company’s premises at the New Mall in Mbabane. The event was attended by Orchard Insurance Managing Director (MD) Joseph Museva, Operations and Client Services Manager Phephisa Dlamini and Nsingizini Hotspurs Marketing Chairperson Nozipho Shabangu. Also present were team Public Relations Officer Sibusiso ‘Mnotfo’ Dlamini, Head Coach Tobias Ntuli, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Sonnyboy Mabuza, Captain Nomfundo Bhembe and supporters from the Nhlangano Branch. When presenting...

LOBAMBA – The performance of government, through the various ministries, improved from 22 per cent in the first quarter of the 2025/2026 financial year to 48 per cent. However, the score remains below what would be expected from the performance of the various ministries to meet the ambitious Nkwe Programme of Action targets. This was revealed by the Prime Minister (PM), Russell Mmiso Dlamini, when he presented the first-ever Government Performance Report of 2025 during a press conference held at Cabinet yesterday. The report, which assesses government’s implementation of the Nkwe Programme of Action during the 2025/26 financial year, shows that while performance improved steadily throughout the year, government, through the various ministries, still fell short of delivering more than half of its targeted programmes. The annual performance score of 48 per cent represents a significant improvement from the 22 per cent recorded in the first quarter. However, the figure...

MANZINI – University of Eswatini Vice Chancellor Professor Justice Mandla Thwala has challenged employees to start planning for life after formal employment long before retirement. Thwala warned that leaving the workplace without adequate preparation can undermine financial security, health, purpose and dignity in later life. Thwala was speaking yesterday at the Post Work Life Planning Conference held at Happy Valley Hotel in Zulwini, where he emphasised that retirement should no longer be regarded simply as the point at which an employee stops receiving a salary, but as the beginning of a new chapter that requires deliberate preparation. The two-day conference, held under the theme “Life After Work Starts Before Retirement,” was organised by Tive Leadership Centre in collaboration with UNESWA and brought together government officials, employers, employees, unions, financial practitioners, insurance companies, human resource professionals, wellness officers, entrepreneurs and retirees. Thwala said the country had invested considerably in educating and...

MBABANE – A total of 114 street children and vulnerable individuals have been relocated to safe facilities across Eswatini following the severe cold front that hit the country. Deputy Director of Social Welfare in the Deputy Prime Minister’s Office, Marcelia Dlamini, confirmed yesterday that social welfare officers have successfully placed 114 street children and vulnerable people into temporary shelters in towns nationwide. Dlamini stated that her office is organising resources in collaboration with municipal councils, which have assisted in identifying temporary shelters for those affected. She confirmed that the Deputy Prime Minister’s Office has supplied essential food and warm clothing to all individuals relocated so far. Dlamini noted that field assessments remain ongoing across the towns and explained that official figures may increase as social workers continue their operations. The mass relocation comes as Eswatini braces for extreme cold temperatures, persistent heavy rainfall, and strong winds. The Eswatini Meteorological Service...