Latest news with #Eswatini
Zawya
5 hours ago
- Business
- Zawya
Eswatini: How cash and voucher assistance is empowering women to rebuild after calamity
In the southern African nation of Eswatini, cash and voucher assistance is making a real difference in people's lives, particularly those most vulnerable after crisis. 'It's not just about fairness—it's about effectiveness.' Even before the floods, life for Banele Mamba was hard enough. But then the floodwaters came and the 31-year-old mother of five had to cope with extensive damage to her family's home. ' Water would seep in through the house,' she says. 'I was so worried—especially because I live with chronic illness. I didn't want the children to get sick from flu, cholera or other diseases.' Banele Mamba was able to fix some of those leaks, make other critical repairs and restock her pantry with support that came in the form of cash and voucher assistance provided by the Baphalali Eswatini Red Cross Society. The Red Cross here has been working in partnership with the IFRC Pretoria Delegation, as part of the EU-funded Pilot Programmatic Partnership (ECHO PPP), to deliver cash and vouchers to people impacted by recent floods. Unlike other forms of relief aid such as food or household supplies, cash transfer and vouchers give people such as Banele the power to decide what her families need most following times of crisis. Delivered through mobile money transfers, both the cash and voucher components are redeemed in cash form. This approach empowers families while also supporting the local economy through increased purchasing at community shops and markets. For Banele Mamba, the flexibility of cash support made a world of difference. She used part of the funds to seal parts of the leaking roof and reinforce the walls to prevent water from seeping in during heavy rains. She also used the cash to buy essential food items and toiletries—products that she previously struggled to afford consistently. In months when the household budget was tight, she was therefore able to avoid borrowing from local money lenders. 'We believe that people affected by crises are the best placed to decide their needs,' says Tebukhosi Dlamini, Safe and Inclusive Programming Officer at Baphalali Eswatini Red Cross Society. While the EU provided funding, the IFRC contributed technical guidance and policy review support to the Eswatini National Society during the planning and implementation of the programme. In doing so, the IFRC Pretoria delegation applied a protection- and gender-sensitive lens across all stages of the programmatic partnership. 'By applying protection and gender-sensitive principles, we ensure that women like Banele are not only included but prioritized in the selection processes,' Dlamini added. Putting inclusion into practice Women-headed households, survivors of gender-based violence, caregivers of orphaned children, and other at-risk groups were given high priority, recognizing people in these situations often face greater risks and barriers to recovery. "Focusing on women and other vulnerable groups is not just about fairness—it's about effectiveness,' says Boitumelo Phihlela, who works as focal person for protection, gender and inclusion, as well as community engagement and accountability, for the IFRC's Pretoria Delegation. 'When we prioritize those most at risk, we strengthen the entire community's resilience. Women, in particular, play a vital role in family and community wellbeing, so supporting them directly creates a ripple effect of positive change. 'This approach also ensures that protection and dignity are central to our response, which is key to building trust and long-term recovery." The process is guided by inclusive criteria co-developed with the communities, which then participates in applying these standards to all aspects of the initiative. Continued learning and improvement: Key lessons learned The cash and voucher assistance programme in Eswatini fits in with larger efforts to continually improve the way the IFRC works with, supports and accompanies communities following crisis. The IFRC Pretoria Delegation and its partners, for example, also use this inclusive mindset – along with cash and voucher assistance – to strengthen long-term resilience local farmers in four other countries in southern Africa (Lesotho, Botswana, South Africa and Namibia). The support also comes in the form of seeds and other agricultural inputs—ensuring communities are not only surviving today but are better prepared for the future. Here are a few of the key takeaways from the IFRC Pretoria delegation's three-year Programmatic Partnership collaboration. Embed protection, gender and inclusion principles throughout all stages of programme design and implementation —ensuring that the unique needs, risks, and capacities of different groups, particularly women, children, people with disabilities, and other vulnerable populations, are considered and addressed. Prioritize proactive, inclusive community engagement where feedback mechanisms are not only established but also trusted and accessible to all segments of the population. Strengthen the feedback loop by ensuring community input is used to inform and adjust programming. The use of community feedback is needed to shape programming decisions which helps build trust and ensures greater accountability to target populations. In one farming community, for example, people noted that the seeds initially provided were not suited to their local soil and climate conditions, which affected crop growth. Upon hearing this, the Red Cross programme adapted by sourcing and distributing more appropriate seed varieties, improving harvest outcomes and reinforcing the community's trust that their feedback leads to real changes. ' It's not enough to have feedback systems—we must make them visible, trusted, and use them to shape decisions,' said the IFRC's Phihlela. ' That's how we build real accountability.' Read more about cash and voucher assistance at the IFRC Learn more about the Programmatic Partnership Distributed by APO Group on behalf of International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC).
The Guardian
a day ago
- Politics
- The Guardian
Eswatini opposition attacks US deal as ‘human trafficking disguised as deportation'
Civil society and opposition groups in Eswatini have expressed outrage after the US deported five men to the country, with the largest opposition party calling it 'human trafficking disguised as a deportation deal'. The men, from Vietnam, Jamaica, Laos, Yemen and Cuba, were flown to the small southern African country, an absolute monarchy, last week as the US stepped up deportations to 'third countries' after the supreme court cleared them last month. Eswatini, formerly Swaziland, is landlocked by South Africa and Mozambique and has a population of about 1.2 million. It is Africa's last absolute monarchy and has been ruled by King Mswati III since 1986. The government estimated the five men would be held for about 12 months, a spokesperson, Thabile Mdluli, said, adding: 'It could be slightly less or slightly more.' She said Eswatini was ready to receive more deportees, depending on the availability of facilities and negotiations with the US, which has also deported eight people to South Sudan after holding them for weeks in a shipping container in Djibouti, and more than 200 Venezuelans to El Salvador. Officials have said the men, who were put in solitary confinement, were safely imprisoned in Eswatini. However, they have refused to disclose the terms of the deal, other than to say the US was footing the costs of keeping the men locked up and that they would work with international organisations to deport them to their home countries. Many civil society organisations and politicians were not convinced. 'This action, carried out without public consultation, adequate preparation, or community engagement, raises urgent questions about legality, transparency, and the safety of both the deported individuals and the people of Eswatini, especially women and girls,' said a coalition of seven women's groups. The organisations delivered a petition to the US embassy on Monday calling for the US to take back the deportees, for the deportees' human rights to be respected, and for Eswatini not to become a 'dumping ground for unresolved problems from elsewhere'. The groups' leaders held a protest outside the US embassy on Friday, where they sang, danced and held up signs with messages including: 'Whose taxpayers?', 'Eswatini is not a prison for US rejects' and 'Take the five criminals back to the US!!' Eswatini's largest opposition party, the People's United Democratic Movement (Pudemo), said in a statement: 'Pudemo vehemently condemns the treacherous and reckless decision by King Mswati III's regime to allow the United States of America to dump its most dangerous criminals on Swazi soil. 'This is not diplomacy but human trafficking disguised as a deportation deal. It is an insult to all Emaswati who value peace, security, and the sanctity of our homeland.' The coordinating assembly of NGOs, an umbrella group, said the situation was 'deeply alarming' and condemned the 'stigmatising and dehumanising language used by US officials'. It called for the Eswatini-US agreement to be made public and to be suspended pending 'genuine public consultation and transparent national dialogue'. Tricia McLaughlin, the assistant secretary at the US Department of Homeland Security, said in a post on X on 16 July that the men, who she said had been convicted of crimes including child rape, murder and burglary, were 'so uniquely barbaric that their home countries refused to take them back'. She added: 'These depraved monsters have been terrorising American communities but … they are off of American soil.' Eswatini's prime minister, Russell Dlamini, told local media on Friday that the government was confident it would safely manage the prisoners. 'Eswatini is currently holding inmates who have committed more dangerous crimes than those attributed to the five deportees,' he said. A prison service spokesperson, Baphelele Kunene, said the country's citizens should not be afraid. 'We can confirm that the five inmates in question have been admitted to one of our high-security centres where they are responding very well to the new environment,' he said. 'Even though they come from the US, there is no preferential treatment for them as they are guided by the same prison regulations, eat the same food as others and are also expected to exhibit the same and equal amount of respect for prison protocols.' The US state department's most recent human rights report on Eswatini, in 2023, said there were 'credible reports of: arbitrary or unlawful killings, including extrajudicial killings; torture and cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment by the government; serious problems with the independence of the judiciary; [and] political prisoners or detainees'. Political parties are banned from taking part in elections, which the system's advocates argue makes MPs more representative of their constituents. In September, Pudemo's leader, Mlungisi Makhanya, was allegedly poisoned in South Africa. The party said it was an assassination attempt, which Eswatini's government has denied. The Department of Homeland Security has been contacted for comment. The best public interest journalism relies on first-hand accounts from people in the know. If you have something to share on this subject you can contact us confidentially using the following methods. Secure Messaging in the Guardian app The Guardian app has a tool to send tips about stories. Messages are end to end encrypted and concealed within the routine activity that every Guardian mobile app performs. This prevents an observer from knowing that you are communicating with us at all, let alone what is being said. If you don't already have the Guardian app, download it (iOS/Android) and go to the menu. Select 'Secure Messaging'. SecureDrop, instant messengers, email, telephone and post See our guide at for alternative methods and the pros and cons of each.
The Guardian
a day ago
- Politics
- The Guardian
Eswatini opposition attacks US deal as ‘human trafficking disguised as deportation'
Civil society and opposition groups in Eswatini have expressed outrage after the US deported five men to the country, with the largest opposition party calling it 'human trafficking disguised as a deportation deal'. The men, from Vietnam, Jamaica, Laos, Yemen and Cuba, were flown to the small southern African country, an absolute monarchy, last week as the US stepped up deportations to 'third countries' after the supreme court cleared them last month. Eswatini, formerly Swaziland, is landlocked by South Africa and Mozambique and has a population of about 1.2 million. It is Africa's last absolute monarchy and has been ruled by King Mswati III since 1986. The government estimated the five men would be held for about 12 months, a spokesperson, Thabile Mdluli, said, adding: 'It could be slightly less or slightly more.' She said Eswatini was ready to receive more deportees, depending on the availability of facilities and negotiations with the US, which has also deported eight people to South Sudan after holding them for weeks in a shipping container in Djibouti, and more than 200 Venezuelans to El Salvador. Officials have said the men, who were put in solitary confinement, were safely imprisoned in Eswatini. However, they have refused to disclose the terms of the deal, other than to say the US was footing the costs of keeping the men locked up and that they would work with international organisations to deport them to their home countries. Many civil society organisations and politicians were not convinced. 'This action, carried out without public consultation, adequate preparation, or community engagement, raises urgent questions about legality, transparency, and the safety of both the deported individuals and the people of Eswatini, especially women and girls,' said a coalition of seven women's groups. The organisations delivered a petition to the US embassy on Monday calling for the US to take back the deportees, for the deportees' human rights to be respected, and for Eswatini not to become a 'dumping ground for unresolved problems from elsewhere'. The groups' leaders held a protest outside the US embassy on Friday, where they sang, danced and held up signs with messages including: 'Whose taxpayers?', 'Eswatini is not a prison for US rejects' and 'Take the five criminals back to the US!!' Eswatini's largest opposition party, the People's United Democratic Movement (Pudemo), said in a statement: 'Pudemo vehemently condemns the treacherous and reckless decision by King Mswati III's regime to allow the United States of America to dump its most dangerous criminals on Swazi soil. 'This is not diplomacy but human trafficking disguised as a deportation deal. It is an insult to all Emaswati who value peace, security, and the sanctity of our homeland.' The coordinating assembly of NGOs, an umbrella group, said the situation was 'deeply alarming' and condemned the 'stigmatising and dehumanising language used by US officials'. It called for the Eswatini-US agreement to be made public and to be suspended pending 'genuine public consultation and transparent national dialogue'. Tricia McLaughlin, the assistant secretary at the US Department of Homeland Security, said in a post on X on 16 July that the men, who she said had been convicted of crimes including child rape, murder and burglary, were 'so uniquely barbaric that their home countries refused to take them back'. She added: 'These depraved monsters have been terrorising American communities but … they are off of American soil.' Eswatini's prime minister, Russell Dlamini, told local media on Friday that the government was confident it would safely manage the prisoners. 'Eswatini is currently holding inmates who have committed more dangerous crimes than those attributed to the five deportees,' he said. A prison service spokesperson, Baphelele Kunene, said the country's citizens should not be afraid. 'We can confirm that the five inmates in question have been admitted to one of our high-security centres where they are responding very well to the new environment,' he said. 'Even though they come from the US, there is no preferential treatment for them as they are guided by the same prison regulations, eat the same food as others and are also expected to exhibit the same and equal amount of respect for prison protocols.' The US state department's most recent human rights report on Eswatini, in 2023, said there were 'credible reports of: arbitrary or unlawful killings, including extrajudicial killings; torture and cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment by the government; serious problems with the independence of the judiciary; [and] political prisoners or detainees'. Political parties are banned from taking part in elections, which the system's advocates argue makes MPs more representative of their constituents. In September, Pudemo's leader, Mlungisi Makhanya, was allegedly poisoned in South Africa. The party said it was an assassination attempt, which Eswatini's government has denied. The Department of Homeland Security has been contacted for comment.
Arab News
4 days ago
- Politics
- Arab News
King Salman receives written message from Eswatini monarch
RIYADH: King Salman received a written message from Eswatini's King Mswati III regarding relations between their countries, Saudi Press Agency reported on Sunday. The message was received by the Kingdom's Deputy Foreign Minister Waleed Al-Khuraiji in Riyadh during a meeting with Prince Lindani, son of King Mswati and Member of Eswatini's Parliament. Relations between the two countries and ways to develop joint cooperation in various fields were reviewed during the meeting.
News18
4 days ago
- News18
‘Depraved Monsters': Who Are The 5 Men Deported By Trump's US To African Nation Eswatini?
Last Updated: The Eswatini government confirmed that five foreign nationals deported from the US are being held in solitary confinement in undisclosed prisons The arrival of five deportees from the United States to Eswatini has sparked public outrage and concern across Africa, with critics accusing the US of using the small nation as a ' dumping ground". The Eswatini government confirmed that five foreign nationals deported from the US are being held in solitary confinement in undisclosed prisons. Acting government spokesperson Thabile Mdluli said on Friday that the men pose 'no threat to the country or its citizens" and that 'critical engagements between stakeholders are still ongoing". The deportation is the result of 'months of robust high-level engagements" between Eswatini and the US, Mdluli said. However, she did not specify how long the individuals would remain in the country or when they would be repatriated, noting that 'there are no timelines at present". Department of Homeland Security spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin described them as 'depraved monsters" whose home countries refused to take them back. 1. Vietnamese national: Convicted of child rape— sentenced to 20 years confinement. 2. Citizen of Jamaica: Convicted of murder; sentenced to 25 years confinement; convicted of robbery; sentenced to 6 years confinement; convicted of possession of weapon; sentenced to 6 months confinement. 3. Citizen of Laos: Convicted of second-degree murder and burglary (forced entry); sentenced to 20 years confinement; convicted of operating a motor vehicle under influence of controlled substance; charged with aggravated assault with deadly weapon and possession of methamphetamine. 4. Citizen of Cuba: Convicted of first-degree murder and aggravated battery; convicted of aggravated battery of a police officer, grand theft-vehicle, aggravated flight-eluding law enforcement reckless driving; sentenced to 3 years confinement; confirmed Latin king street gang member. 5. Citizen of Yemen: Convicted of second-degree homicide; convicted of assault and battery; convicted of resist and obstruct officer; sentenced to 17 days confinement; convicted of cruelty to dependent adult; convicted of assault with the intent to do great bodily harm less than murder or by strangulation; sentenced to 60 months confinement. NEW: a safe third country deportation flight to Eswatini in Southern Africa has landed— This flight took individuals so uniquely barbaric that their home countries refused to take them depraved monsters have been terrorizing American communities but thanks to @POTUS … — Tricia McLaughlin (@TriciaOhio) July 16, 2025 Where is Eswatini? Is it a poor country? Eswatini is a small, landlocked country in southern Africa, bordered by South Africa on three sides and Mozambique to the northeast. Formerly known as Swaziland, it changed its name to Eswatini in 2018. Despite its small size, it has two capitals: Mbabane (administrative) and Lobamba (royal and legislative). It lies near the southeastern coast of Africa but has no coastline itself. Eswatini, with a population of about 1.23 million (2023), is classified by the World Bank as a lower-middle-income country, but it faces widespread poverty, high unemployment, and deep inequality. Over 58% of its population lives below the national poverty line, and about 36% live on less than $2.15 per day (PPP). Youth unemployment exceeds 48%, and the country has a high GINI index (~0.55), indicating major income inequality. It has one of the world's highest HIV/AIDS prevalence rates. In April, the country was included in a list of US tariffs announced by President Donald Trump, with Eswatini exports facing a 10% rate starting August 1. Are US deportations legal? On June 23, 2025, the U.S. Supreme Court lifted a lower-court injunction that had previously blocked the government from deporting noncitizens to countries other than their own unless those destinations were explicitly listed on removal orders. This effectively allowed the Trump administration to resume so‑called third-country deportations without offering deportees a chance to raise Convention Against Torture protections—meaning the government could send people to countries where they had no prior ties. Why Eswatini is worried PUDEMO, an opposition party, warned that accepting foreign deportees 'poses a serious risk to our already vulnerable communities" that are battling high crime rates. The Swaziland Solidarity Network also criticised the move as an example of 'clear racism" and said Swazi prisons are already overcrowded. Will they be sent back to home countries Mdluli said Eswatini is working with the US and the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) to facilitate the eventual transit of the deportees to their countries of origin, although the terms of the agreement remain classified. Why Eswatini? This is part of the Trump administration's broader effort to negotiate deportations with third-party countries such as South Sudan, Libya, Rwanda, Benin, Mongolia, and others—especially in cases where deportees' home nations refuse to accept them. Critics say some of these partner countries have poor human rights records, raising ethical and legal questions . top videos View all Observers have speculated that Eswatini agreed to the deal in exchange for political or economic incentives, given U.S. cuts in foreign aid and initiatives to influence governance in smaller countries. With Agency, ANI, CNN Inputs About the Author Manjiri Joshi At the news desk for 17 years, the story of her life has revolved around finding pun, facts while reporting, on radio, heading a daily newspaper desk, teaching mass media students to now editing special copies ...Read More Get Latest Updates on Movies, Breaking News On India, World, Live Cricket Scores, And Stock Market Updates. Also Download the News18 App to stay updated! tags : donald trump news18 specials United states view comments Location : New Delhi, India, India First Published: July 20, 2025, 16:29 IST News explainers 'Depraved Monsters': Who Are The 5 Men Deported By Trump's US To African Nation Eswatini? Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
