Eswatini - The African Mirror

Dec

15

2023

Salon to soil: The former hairdresser now styling avocado farming in Eswatini

NEWS

WHEN Fezile Hlophe fell pregnant and dropped out of school, her immediate plans had to be put on hold - but her dream of being a successful businesswoman was not. At only 17 years old, Hlophe had to find a way to provide for her child as a single parent, so she started braiding people’s hair in her neighbourhood. “I didn’t earn much but I had aspirations of being a better person one day,” she said. Several years later, when Hlophe went to braid the hair of a new customer located around 20 kilometres from where the young woman lived,…

Sep

30

2023

By ESA ALEXANDER and LUNGA MASUKU

Eswatini holds parliamentary elections under monarch’s control

NEWS

VOTERS in Eswatini queued under the hot sun on Friday morning to cast their ballots in parliamentary elections whose outcome will make little difference to the politics of a country controlled by Africa's last absolute monarch. King Mswati III has ruled the southern African kingdom of about 1.2 million people since 1986 when he inherited the crown from his father, Sobhuza II. Political parties are banned, but individual candidates can run for seats in the House of Assembly every five years. The power of the politicians elected in these polls consists mainly of being able to make suggestions to the…

Jun

27

2023

By NOKUKHANYA MUSI - AIMIENOHO, BIRD STORY AGENCY

Eswatini brings the world to its doorstep at the Annual MTN Bushfire

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT, MULTIMEDIA

THE road to Malkerns Valley in Eswatini is packed with cars, causing a massive traffic jam. Despite this, the atmosphere is jolly and lively, and no one seems bothered by the delay. That's because the road leads to Eswatini's annual MTN Bushfire Festival of the Arts. People are already starting to party and as the cars start moving again, Malkerns comes into view, a tranquil pineapple-growing town known for its picturesque farmland and mountains. In the distance, the pulsating beats of Amapiano music can already be heard. The entrance is crowded the food stalls offering a variety of quick bites,…

Apr

29

2023

By NOKUKHANYA MUSI – AIMIENOHO, BIRD STORY AGENCY

Solar backpack transforming school children’s lives in Eswatini

NEWS

14-YEAR-OLD Xolile Masango from Macetjeni in eastern Lubombo in the kingdom of Eswatini wants to be a doctor when she grows up to treat her sickly father. She also wants to be able to provide healthcare to her community. Born into a family of three children, her parents make a living from ploughing and weeding the local fields, but their combined wages aren't enough to put food on the table, let alone buy electricity. Masango is one of many Swati girls who can't study after dusk and are therefore less likely to graduate and get jobs that can help pull…

Jan

31

2023

By The African Mirror

Regina Twala was a towering intellectual and activist in Eswatini – but she was erased from history

THOUGHT LEADERSHIP

BORN in South Africa and exiled to neighbouring Eswatini, Regina Twala was one of southern Africa’s most important intellectuals: a pioneering writer, academic, political activist and feminist. Why, then, has she been all but forgotten? That’s the question a new book sets out to answer. In the process Written Out: The Silencing of Regina Gelana Twala restores Twala to her rightful place in history. We spoke with the book’s author, historian Joel Cabrita. Author JOEL CABRITA, Associate Professor of History, Director of the Center for African Studies, Stanford University Who is Regina Twala and why is she important? Regina Gelana…

Jan

25

2023

By The African Mirror

Farewell Thulani Maseko, the People’s Lawyer: Sharp Bro, Best!

THOUGHT LEADERSHIP

TSHIAMO RANTAO ON 21 October 2019 at 2258hrs Thulani Maseko sent me the following WhatsApp message: “My Boet, I hope you are well. I am in your country, Botswana, in Gaborone until Friday to oversee your elections! If you have time at some point to catch up.” At the time he sent the message, I had already retired to bed, and so I only saw it and responded the following morning, asking him where he was based in Gaborone. He responded: “At an Airbnb called City Mews by Independent Street Dear Cde”. Unfortunately, I could not meet with him since…

Dec

14

2022

By The African Mirror

Meet Carole Lubelo, the young Liswati fashion designer on the rise

BEAUTY AND FASHION

NOKUKHANYA MUSI, BIRD STORY AGENCY IN 2015, Carole Mngometulu took a bold, risky step. With no formal training, no money, and no mentor, she started on a new journey, determined to become a fashion designer. 'I only had God and my sewing machine," she explained. Closed off from most of the world during her boarding school days, it wasn't until her final year at high school that she learned of the fashion scene in Eswatini. Then, fresh out of high school, she landed her first job at Woolworth's retail clothing store, where she sketched and sewed, during her lunch break.…

Feb

08

2022

By The African Mirror

Eswatini: how social pressures and poverty affect the ability of children to navigate school

EDUCATION

THE population of Eswatini (previously called Swaziland) is slightly below 1.2 million people, and about 58.9% of the people live below the nationally defined poverty line – living on less than US$1.9 a day. For years Eswatini has also had the highest prevalence of HIV and AIDS in the world. In 2019, about 27% of the country’s population was HIV positive. Author NCAMSILE MOTSA, Post Doctoral Researcher, School of Education, University of KwaZulu-Natal One of the devastating effects of HIV and AIDS, coupled with poverty, has been the escalating numbers of vulnerable children in the country. For example, in 2012,…

Jan

05

2021

By The African Mirror

eSwatini aims to vaccinate entire population against COVID-19

COVID-19

eSWATINI aims to vaccinate all its 1.3 million people against COVID-19 and will set aside at least 200 million emalangeni ($14 million) to do so, senior officials in the southern African kingdom has said. eSwatini, formerly known as Swaziland, is participating in the COVAX global vaccine distribution scheme co-led by the World Health Organization and hopes to receive enough vaccines for 20% of its population via the facility free of charge. It wants to buy vaccines for the remaining 80% via COVAX but recognises it may have to source doses elsewhere. "We are still trying to explore other sources for…

Dec

14

2020

By The African Mirror

African Union chair pays tribute to the Prime Minister of eSwatini

COVID-19

CYRIL Ramaphosa, the Chair of the African Union and President of South Africa, has paid a warm tribute to Ambrose Dlamini, the Prime Minister of eSwatini who has become the first sitting head of state or government to succumb to COVID-19. Ramaphosa expressed his deep condolences to the government and people of the Kingdom of eSwatini. Dlamini (52) passed away on Sunday, during treatment for COVID-19 in a South African hospital.. Ramaphosa said: “Today, all South Africans and compatriots across our continent bow our heads in sadness at the passing of a leader who took pride in leading and representing…