MBABANE – The Minister of Education and Training, Owen Nxumalo, has announced that schools have finally received their grants and food supplies, following delays in distribution. Nxumalo said these setbacks should not be interpreted as government taking education lightly. He admitted that delays in fulfilling responsibilities had caused the distribution issues, but assured the nation that preparations for the next academic year are already underway. The tentative date for finishing is this Friday. The distribution commenced on September 12, 2024, two days after schools opened. Companies Two companies were selected, but the one for high schools declined at the last minute. Hence, one company had to supply the food to all the 830 schools. As of September 24, it was reported that a total of 199 schools received the free primary education (FPE) grants, with over E24 million paid to the schools. It was reported that over 250 public schools depend on...

Mozambique secured an emphatic 3-0 victory over Eswatini on Monday night to take the top spot in Group I of the 2025 TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers. The match, held at the Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit, saw Mozambique dominate their hosts with a clinical performance. The goals for Mozambique came from Domingues, Stanley Ratifo, and Geny Catamo, securing three vital points as they move closer to qualification for next year’s TotalEnergies CAF AFCON, which will be hosted in Morocco. Under the guidance of coach Chiquinho Conde, Mozambique now leads Group I with 8 points from four matches. Eswatini, meanwhile, remains at the bottom with just one point. Mali sits in second place with 7 points, while Guinea-Bissau is third with 3 points. Mali and Guinea-Bissau will face off on Tuesday, 15 October, in a match that could further impact the group standings. Mozambique started the match strongly, taking...

MBABANE – The move by former MP Mduduzi Bacede Mabuza to continue receiving food from outside prison, like KFC, Nando’s, Galito’s and pizza, as was the case, has been dismissed. The High Court yesterday dismissed the former Hosea Member of Parliament (MP) Mabuza’s application to be allowed to source his meals from outside prison at his own expense. Respondents in the matter were the Commissioner General of His Majesty’s Correctional Services, Phindile Dlamini, attorney general (AG) and the Commission on Human Rights and Public Administration/Integrity. Mabuza was represented by Mzwandile Masuku of Ben J Simelane and Associates, together with Mhlengi Mabuza. Crown Counsel Sibonginkhosi Dlamini appeared for the state. Charges Mabuza is serving a sentence of 25 years. He has been in custody since July 25, 2021, when he and former Ngwempisi MP Mthandeni Dube, who was sentenced to 18 years, were arrested for inciting violence, among other charges. Section...

EZULWINI- “Stand with us in prayer as we seek divine intervention to end GBV and suicide among other challenges.” This was a plea by the Royal Eswatini Police Service (REPS) to all churches across the country. The officers of the law made the plea at the All Nations Church in Zion headquarters in Ezulwini yesterday. Speaking on behalf of the police service, Hhohho Operations Officer Jabulani Madlopha said police officers are not spared from gender-based violence (GBV) and suicide. He said as the police service, they believe that God’s intervention could be the solution to the nationwide challenge. “We are here to ask the church to stand with us in prayer as we are faced with major challenges, such as gender-based violence and suicide. As a country, we are faced with many cases of gender-based violence and suicide. The worst thing is that some people continue to act violently even...

MBABANE – Over E80 million has been pledged for the transformation of the Central Medical Stores (CMS) and supply chain management system. This information was shared by the Minister of Health, Mduduzi Matsebula. The minister was explaining the processes that are in the pipeline to improve the availability of medical drugs and supplies in public health facilities. Currently, the CMS operates as a department of the Ministry of Health. In its transformation, the CMS would be a semi-autonomous entity. The transformation of the CMS is made to improve its efficiency.“This change will lead to increased efficiency, consequently positively impacting the buying of medical drugs and pharmaceutical products, strengthening security and management of stock and to do away with bureaucracy that affects service delivery, among others,” the minister said. “Partners have pledged over E80 million for CMS transformation and supply chain management,” he added. This comes after the minister, two weeks...

MBABANE – The non-appointment of the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) is having a damaging effect on the country’s Judiciary. Already, some judicial officers who have been working on contract are frustrated as they have claimed to be living under uncertainty because they do not know if their contracts will be renewed or not. The affected judicial officers include those employed as magistrates, albeit on an acting basis, some of whom were appointed in the years 2018, 2019 and 2020.Some of them have confided to this publication that their contracts will soon elapse and they do not know if they will be renewed since there is no JSC in office. Others said they no longer know whether to report for duty or stay at home since their contracts have already elapsed. In particular, the concerned judicial officers said they are worried that in the event they continue working without renewed contracts,...

MBABANE –A contentious issue has risen in the Ministry of Education and Training, where a supplier delivered goods to government without following the established procurement process. The Acting Principal Secretary (PS) in the ministry, Nanikie Mnisi, has refused to make payment of over E5.4 million for two marquee tents supplied on August 16, 2024, until authorised by the Attorney General’s Office. This has led to a serious confrontation between Mnisi and the supplier, Lungile Ndzimandze of Mcex Investments. The two have had verbal confrontations publicly and the situation between them has taken a dramatic turn. Doors are being banged, and ministry security has even gotten involved. Demanded A dramatic scene unfolded in Mnisi’s office at the interministerial building last Tuesday, when  the supplier, Ndzimandze suddenly stormed in, disrupting a meeting and demanded her money. The tension escalated to a point where Mnisi had to call in security to have Ndzimandze...

MBABANE –A contentious issue has risen in the Ministry of Education and Training, where a supplier delivered goods to government without following the established procurement process. The Acting Principal Secretary (PS) in the ministry, Nanikie Mnisi, has refused to make payment of over E5.4 million for two marquee tents supplied on August 16, 2024, until authorised by the Attorney General’s Office.This has led to a serious confrontation between Mnisi and the supplier, Lungile Ndzimandze of Mcex Investments.  The two have had verbal confrontations publicly and the situation between them has taken a dramatic turn.  Doors are being banged, and ministry security has even gotten involved. Demanded A dramatic scene unfolded in Mnisi’s office at the interministerial building last Tuesday, when  the supplier, Ndzimandze suddenly stormed in, disrupting a meeting and demanded her money. The tension escalated to a point where Mnisi had to call in security to have Ndzimandze removed,...

MATSAPHA – Contractors are not happy that government allegedly considers local contractors incapable of carrying out certain projects – like the multibillion Emalangeni CBE Headquarters.The contractors raised this concern during a stakeholders engagement meeting, which was hosted by the Ministry of Public Works and Transport, in collaboration with the Construction Industry Council (CIC), at Esibayeni Lodge yesterday. They said they are concerned about government’s alleged conclusion that construction companies owned by emaSwati are incapable of doing certain jobs. Contractors Eswatini contractors Association (ECA) Chairman Reuben Msibi said one of the projects, where it was said that emaSwati contractors cannot design and build, is the Central Bank of Eswatini (CBE) multibillion Emalangeni Headquarters, which will be constructed in Ezulwini.   Msibi was represented by executive member Percy Mazibuko. The contractors’ concern is; how does government determine that emaSwati can or cannot be able to carry out certain projects?  Meanwhile, Msibi said given...

LOBAMBA – Members of Parliament (MPs) and public officers stand to lose their positions if they fail to declare their assets and liabilities.The Commission on Human Right and Public Administration/Integrity Deputy Commissioner, Duduzile Nhlengetfwa, said there will be no mercy on those who will deliberately not declare their assets and liabilities. The deputy commissioner, in an interview in Parliament during the declaration exercise, stated that in the past, they were lenient with public officers who are required by the law to declare their assets and liabilities. She stated that they will set a grace period by which all public officers are expected to have submitted the required documentation for their assets and liabilities. Nhlengetfwa said if the grace period passes without them honouring Section 241 of the Constitution, Section 242 will be applied. The section states that if an officer who contravenes the code may, after due process of law,...