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MEDIA

November 27th, 2019

11/27/2019

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​Mbabane: Civil society under the coordination of the Gender consortium, a gender-responsive structure under the Co-ordinating Assembly of Non-Governmental Organisations (CANGO), are all out to impact many lives of citizens against the ugly head of violence during the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence Campaign.

​The localised theme released by United Nations (UN) Women, is “Orange eSwatini: Generation Equality Stands with the Sexual Offenses and Domestic Violence Act”, in recognition of the landmark enactment of the SODV Act (2018) which comprehensively aims to address issues of gender-based violence.
 
Sixteen Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence is an international campaign beginning every year on the 25th November 2019 to 10 December. It is a call to action to increase awareness, galvanise advocacy, knowledge-sharing and the pursuit of innovative strategies for the elimination and prevention of all forms of violence.  
 
In order to decisively deal with high levels of gender-based violence, more actions are needed against rape, sexual violence, abuse. These in most instances are rooted in patriarchal beliefs, harmful practices of culture as well as power and control, amongst others. These breed the frequency of cases, both reported or unreported, impunity of perpetrators stigma attributed to survivors and silence.
 
Elimination strategies need to be put in place, prosecution, putting the victim first in ensuring they get assistance after traumatic experiences are needed with psychosocial support and therapy and awareness-raising are some of the actions needed for scale-up. In some instances, the consistent provision of these services is lacking because of inadequate finances. 
 
It’s incumbent on all of us that we need to each make a contribution but staying alert of our surrounding, reporting cases of violence to law enforcement agents, encourage speaking out against abuse and sympathy.
 
This campaign, pioneered by the Women’s Global Leadership Institute in 1991 marks the importance of collaborative efforts towards eliminating gender-based violence, especially against women and children.


Activities
Significant international dates
25/11/19 - International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women;
29/11/19 - International Women Human Rights Defenders Day;
01/12/19 - December 1 – World AIDS Day;
05/12/19 - International Volunteer Day for Economic and Social Development;
06/12/19 - Anniversary of the Montreal Massacre, which is observed as the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women in Canada, and;
10/12/19 - International Human Rights Day and the anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights
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26 November 2019
Commemoration of Street Vendors Day. Though commemorated every year on the 14 November, to give signifiance to incorporating Street vendors'issues, it will be commemorated during 16 days on the 26th November 2019. Contact Women and the Law eSwatini: 
Zanele Thabede
2505 6343
zanethab@gmail.com

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Cyber Dialogues on #VoiceandChoice.
27/11/19 | Safe and legal abortion dialogue
28/11/19 | Menstrual health discussion
29/11/19 | Maternal Health
30/11/19 | HIV and AIDS
03/12/19 | Comprehensive sexual education and services
04/12/19 | Child Marriages
05/12/19 | Media as part of the solution
06/12/19 | Sexual diversity
10/12/19 | Pledging our commitments for 2019
For more information, contact:
Ms Ncane Maziya
Eswatini Country Director
7624 0486
swdlocalgvt@genderlinks.org.za /ncanemaziya@gmail.com

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05/12/19
Evening Session on Sexual Health and Pleasure at Happy Valley Hotel: 6pm, at a cost E380/ticket. For more information, contact:
Maxwell Dlamini
7618 5770
maxwell@flas.org.sz 

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District/Regional Street Campaign organised by Women and the Law (WLSA) eSwatini:
Catch street campaigns at towns near you on these dates: 
Wednesday 27 November 2019: in Manzini. Convening at 11h30 at WLSA Offices, Manzini;
Thursday 28 November 2019: Matsapha. Convening at Amicaall;
Friday      29 November, Simunye Plaza
Monday     2 December, Piggs Peak

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Kwakha Indvodza to run a social media campaign for the duration of the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence. Social media pages to follow:
Twitter | @KwakhaIndvodza
Face Book: @KwakhaIndvodza

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For the duration of the 16 Days of Activism Campaign on Gender-based Violence, catch updates on issues that affect young people on choice and decision-making, HIV/AIDS, gender-based violence and more run by the CANGO social media programme, IGNITE. 
About IGNITE
IGNITE is a social media program that targets adolescents and young people through various social media networks including Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Our initiative is to create platforms where the youth is empowered to access HIV prevention information and services, and make informed decisions about their lives. IGNITE is part of the Global Fund project, granted through CANGO, which aims to halt the spread of HIV and reverse its impact on the Swazi society by targeting youth aged 15–24 years who are out of school or in college. For more information, visit this link; https://igniteyoungpeople.home.blog/ 
​Social media platforms to follow:
Twitter | @Ignite_Cango
Facebook | @IgniteYoungPeopleSWD
Instagram | @_ignite_cango
​For more information, contact Ms Kideo Nhlabatsi at 2404 4721 | media@cango.org.sz 


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Annual Joshua Mzizi Memorial Lecture on Human Rights. 
In commemoration of the International Human Rights Day, CANGO in collaboration with the Council of Churches Eswatini to host the Annual Joshua Mzizi Memorial Lecture and the 71st anniversary of the UNDHR after last year’s milestone anniversary under the theme; Stand Up For Human Rights. The event will be held at Hlatikhulu, Mtsambama sports ground. For more information, contact CANGO at 2404 4721: cango@cango.org.sz 


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Country in Leadership Crisis

11/15/2019

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PRESS STATEMENT: ​

To: All Media
13th November 2019, Mbabane, Kingdom of Eswatini: The Coordinating Assembly of Non-Governmental Organisations (CANGO) is seriously concerned by the government’s luxurious spending in a crumbling economy and the high level of poverty.

CANGO is an independent Non-Governmental Organisations umbrella organisation who’s over 70 members address development, humanitarian and environmental issues.
Its membership is based on shared principles of democratic governance, transparency and members’ participation and human right-based programming. Its mandate is to coordinate, build capacity of its members, advocate for pro-poor policies and grants management. The Non-Governmental sector remains an extended arm of government in delivering lifesaving services as well as raising concerns of the poor and vulnerable groups.

As a collective of the Non-Governmental Organisations sector, we observed the following:
 
1.       Along-side the whole nation, the NGO sector welcomed the new administration with confidence in resuscitating the ailing economy after the national elections in 2018. This was particularly because we noted that it was guided by the national Vision 2022;
2.       We welcomed how the government was alive to the dire economic situation of the country and appreciated  how it timeously came up with confidence-restoring  strategic framework  in the form of the Eswatini Strategic Roadmap 2019-2022 whose five priority areas were: harmonising ease of doing business; fiscal consolidation; Infrastructure, Innovation and Investment; Culture of excellence, and; Social safety nets;
3.      His Excellency the Prime Minister Ambrose Mandvulo led Administration introduced the “Interim financial controls to enhance financial prudence and fiscal management so as to contain expenditure which was spiralling out of control”. These austerity measures: to freeze air travelling through flying first class for economy; freezing the procurement of new fleet and or hiring of cars for Cabinet ministers; suspending utility tariffs increment and the suspension of tendering within government while harmonising the procurement system, were to curb government spending;
4.      Government also implemented the zero increase for the Cost of Living Adjustment (CoLA) insisting there was no money.
 
We are alarmed and concerned about the following developments in the country:
a.         That the government proposed taxes and tariff hikes to boost the economy has put  strain on  tax payers  as the 85 cent per litre petrol levy; proposed 15% per unit electricity VAT; income tax (PAYE) increase from 33% to 36% for E250 000.00 and above earners and the reduction of corporate tax is too much sacrifice asked from the taxpayer. Yet in contrast reckless spending continues to be the norm.  
Though we have not been totally opposed to tax, we stand by our initial position that over taxation is a burden to the working class who supports many dependents with their salary and sympathise with civil servants whose Cost of Living Adjustment remains frozen while commodity prices, taxes and levies skyrocket;
b.         The recent acquisition of vehicles   has shocked the   nation and the development partners.  As NGOs depend on grants from external partners this will affect our resource mobilisation;
c.      It is becoming clear to us that the government is actually not aligned to its own policy of economic recovery but that of plunging the economy to a grinding halt with serious consequences   to the general  populace such as deepening poverty,  regress on  gains made on HIV/AIDS,  weakening of service deliver such as  social protection,  health, education to mention a few.
 
Our assessment of the current situation is that unless government spending is human developmental-centred and projects accountability, the needless purchasing of luxury cars and spending on external trips, among other mismanagement of taxpayers’ money, is self-defeating and must be addressed immediately;
 
d.      It is contradictory for the government to be calling for tax compliance from taxpayers when the government itself is out on a shopping spree. This is against the Prime Minister’s statement of November 2018 when coming into office, whereby he assured the country of government exercising fiscal prudence.
 
The government has failed to deliver but operates on secrecy policy and in total disregard of the rights of the tax payer and its responsibility on spending taxes. We find this not only diminish confidence on not only the tax payer but also of investors and donors as well as the international community at large;
 
e.      This situation is further aggravated by corruption and nepotism undermining the principles of good governance and transparency;
 
f.  Government’s spending behaviour may prompt international development partners to withdraw financial assistance whose grants contribute about 3% of towards the country’s budget and are responsible for saving thousands of lives. It is therefore very much concerning to show a contrasting picture to the outside world to appeal for assistance while spending lavishly, in spite of the health crisis and shortage of medicine, delayed tertiary tuition fees sparking class boycotts and protests as well as the continued freezing of CoLa for civil servants.
 
Therefore, we call for:
 
a.      The Government to facilitate an open budget system where allocations of all institutions are well documented and subjected to scrutiny by Parliament.  The culture of secrecy cannot be sustained as it is the taxpayers’ money that is wasted in luxurious commodities. Every institution should use its allocated budget because the current situation where other institution force government to reallocate funds away from life saving measures like essential drugs, social grants is untenable;
 
b.      Parliament oversight strengthening and Portfolio Committees to implement stiff penalties to offenders;
 
c.       Government, like in 2010 financial crisis, to ring-fence health, education and social protection and social services so that these are not subjected to budget cuts and to freeze hiring more non-critical staff.  
 
d.      With the high suicide rate there is an urgent need for rehabilitation services to curb many people going through tough times reaching the point of taking decisions to end their own lives.
 
###
 
Nkosingiphile Myeni
Communications
+268 2404 4721
+268 7817 9868

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Take 40 seconds of your time to save a life lost through suicide

10/10/2019

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Credit: https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/
10 October 2019
The 10th of October every year marks the World Mental Health Day, a day to raise awareness and show support for better mental health. This year’s theme is on suicide prevention.
 
Suicides have claimed many lives worldwide and the Kingdom of Eswatini is no exception. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), every 40 seconds someone dies through suicide - about 800 000 lives lost each year. They do not only have devastating effects on close family members and close friends of one who commits suicide but also leave socio-economic impacts to communities, countries and the world.
 
We need new ways of thinking to deal with causes, deaths and effects of suicides by mobilising resources and financing for mental health. Currently non-communicable diseases (NCDs), including mental illness attract less interest over transmittable and infectious diseases.
 
Of these mental health disorders, including mood, anxiety, personality, substance abuse, trauma-related disorders and schizophrenia, our way of thinking, feeling and or action is affected. And a person could, for a number of reasons, feel less of a human as they reciprocate social judgments. That is why mental illness should be taken as a disease and treated as such.
 
As we raise advocacy through the designated World Mental Health Day, we must remember not to make our efforts count for a day’s event but an everyday living. Therefore, we call for a comprehensive multidisciplinary strategy and action plan that focuses on stigma elimination, prevention, proper treatment and care as well as the promotion of mental health. Government must spearhead the creation and strengthening mental health policies and laws. Other stakeholders, including the private and civil society sectors must create awareness and education programmes for the workplace and at home. Most importantly, a person affected or those close to them need to take the first step. Seek help.
 
The Coordinating Assembly of Non-Governmental Organisations (CANGO) whose objectives are: coordinating, advocacy, capacity-building and grants management of NGOs also has a role to play. Working with and through NCD NGOs implementing various programmes on the ground, we can link these organisations and people. If help is needed, our hands are open to anyone. One suicide is one too many.
 
People can reach us at:
Physical and postal Addresses:
Plot No 419 JSM Matsebula Street
P.O Box A67 Swazi Plaza, Mbabane
Tel: (+268) 2404 4721/9283
Website: www.cango.org.sz
Email: communications@cango.org.sz
​
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Press statement: ‘Xenophobia harms the economy and kills people’

9/3/2019

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03 September 2019
To: all media
For immediate release
 
Mbabane: The Coordinating Assembly of Non-Governmental Organisations (CANGO) and the Human Rights and Governance consortium have learnt with shock mounting violence against migrant foreign nationals in the neighbouring country, South Africa.
 
It is such a shame that the violence which has gotten out of hand has received less intervention from the South African administration, despite warnings to stage blockades on trucks over border gates coming to South Africa by some of its citizens.
 
These deadly attacks have reached places in major cities’ Central Business District (CBD), suburbs and other places within South Africa with destructions to property and looting.
 
We see these attacks as xenophobic. This is because victims are burnt alive, beaten to death and trucks torched to the ground suspected of taking South African jobs but none are of colour other than black and African immigrants from other countries in Africa. Eswatini are also not spared.
 
Blockades targeting truck drivers mean people will not put food on the table and their dependants, including children, suffer. We urge our government to reach out to the South African counterparts and resolve this impasse to avert negative effects of economic loss, loss of lives and harmed relations with other countries.
 
This is not the South Africa we know and does not show the spirit of Ubuntu. How quick are we to forget that Africa was in support during the time of apartheid for its people’s liberation? It goes against the African Union and the SADC Protocols on free movement of persons which talk of removing obstacles to free movement of capital and labour, goods and services and of the people.
 
We condemn these attacks and call on SADC member states to unequivocally do the same. The South African Government and all SADC Member States must guarantee the safety and respect for human rights of all foreign nationals present within their borders.
 
We therefore call upon the South African government to stop this madness by putting immediate interventions, including but not limited to deploying security forces to protect lives and property in places where these attacks are taking place, as a matter of principle to the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights. The African Charter should compel State parties to provide the necessary environment within their borders for peaceful, secure and cohesive existence for both citizens and migrants.
 
About CANGO.
The Coordinating Assembly of Non-Governmental Organization (CANGO) is a coordinating body for affiliated Non-Governmental Organizations (NGO’s) in Eswatini. CANGO was established initially as a network for NGOs working in Primary Health Care in 1983 and its mandate was broadened in 1987 to assume the national umbrella status in coordination of Civil Society Organizations (CSO) in the country.
 
CANGO facilitates coordination of the NGO sector, builds capacity of civil society, influence policy through advocacy, manages grants from multiple funding partners and maintains strategic partnerships with development partners and government.
As part of coordination, CANGO manages seven (7) Consortia, namely HIV/AIDS, Governance and Human Rights, Children, Gender, the Sexual Reproductive Health Task Team, Food Security and the Swaziland Elections Network through which specific program implementation and advocacy issues are addressed at regional and national levels.
 
CANGO structure includes: The Annual General Meeting which is the highest making policy body. It has a 11-member Governing Board; 9 elected and two appointed outside the sector, based on expertise. The Board is responsible for CANGO policy, strategy and oversight. The CANGO Secretariat has a 13-member team.
 
About the Human Rights and Governance Consortium
The Human Rights and Governance Consortium is an advocacy group of organisations and a substructure of CANGO which is its Secretariat focusing on a broad-spectrum of human rights and governance issues which have dominated the human rights agenda since it was established in 2000.
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Statement by
Nkosingiphile Myeni
Communications Officer
CANGO
2404 4721
7817 9868
communications@cango.org.sz
​

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Press Release: CANGO Sings Praise on Victory between Husband and Wife’s Equality To Administer Marital Property

8/31/2019

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​Mbabane: The Coordinating Assembly of Non-Governmental Organisations (CANGO) would like to appreciate justice being served by the High Court’s judgment to give effect to equality of husband and wife married in civil rights, community of property delivered on the 30th August in the case of Makhosazane Eunice Sacolo (nee Dlamini) and Another vs. Jukhi Sacolo and two others (1403/16: 2019).
 
Indeed, this is a landmark case because the Court neutralised marital power which has always been afforded men only in marriage, according to the Marriage Act 1964. But now because the wife in marriage is authorised, both spouses have the same entitlements which are “equal capacity and authority to administer marital property.” Also, the section 24 and 25 of the Act were struck down, declared unconstitutional an invalid.
 
We would like to wish the applicants, first applicant Makhosazane Eunice Sacolo (nee Dlamini) and second applicant, Women and Law Southern Africa-Swaziland, well for the victory and standing up for women’s rights the legal way. Because of their courage, women’s rights to dignity prevailed.
 
To this end, Women and Law Southern Africa-Swaziland to be a true advocate and having the interest of women at centre of its existence in not only supporting the first applicant’s rights but the landscape for all women married through civil rights in community of property.
 
As the common law doctrine of marital power, has been declared unconstitutional, discriminatory and inconsistent with Sections 18, 20 and 28 of the Constitution (2005), we can from this stage, therefore, encourage the Legislature to play its role too and amend the Marriage Act of 1964 to align it with the Constitution.
 
 
#####
 
Statement by
Nkosingiphile Myeni
Communications Officer
CANGO
Tel: +268 2404 4721
Mobile: +268 7817 9868
Twitter: @CANGO3
Facebook: Coordinating Assembly of NGOs Eswatini

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Let's form a youth movement

8/21/2019

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Are you are youth-implementing organisation? Are you registered as an NGO/CSO and operational in the Kingdom of Eswatini? If you are, reach-out to CANGO for the orientation of the Youth Consortium whose objectives are: coordinating the youth civil society space; magnifying the advocacy issues for youth issues to receive government attention; capacity building and training opportunities; and raise resources to implement youth-focused issues. Tell us more about your organisation. Reach-out to CANGO at 2404 4721. Send your email to cango@cango.org.sz and copy communications@cango.org.sz. If your organisation is still unregistered, reachout to us as well and let's form a movement; the Youth Consortium: Freedom. Equality.
Email to: cango@cango.org.sz copy communications@cango.org.sz
For more details, call: 2404 4721 

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Vacancy: CO-ORDINATION AND ADVOCACY PROGRAMME OFFICER

8/20/2019

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CANGO invites suitably qualified candidates to join its dynamic team for the vacant Coordination and Advocacy Programme Officer’s position. 
 
The position entails delivering on the following:
  1. Facilitate and manage CANGO Consortia including planning,  coordination meetings,  preparing minutes and reports; 
  2. Organize advocacy platforms, roundtables organised by Consortia to influence policies and legal environment;
  3. Organize CANGO Open Days to showcase NGOs work in the country;
  4. Assist in mobilizing resources for coordination activities;
  5. Manage coordination projects;
  6. Facilitate collaboration with partners to advance the  advocacy, resource mobilization  and coordination agenda of CANGO;
  7. Represent CANGO in national and regional bodies that enhance CANGO's advocacy and coordination agenda.

Qualifications

  • Bachelor’s Degree in Social Science  or equivalent;
  • Five (5) years experience in similar or related position;
  • Understanding of the NGO and Civil Society sector within Eswatini and the region

Competencies
  • Experience in programme management; 
  • Experience in proposal writing;
  • Team-player;
  • Good interpersonal skills;
  • Networking and facilitation skills
 
If you are interested, send your application with letter, CV, references, certified copies of academic certificates to director@cango.org.sz and copy administration@cango.org.sz or; hand deliver at CANGO Offices at
Plot 419 JSM Matsebula Street.

Deadline for submission is the 28th of August 2019. Only shortlisted individuals shall be informed.  
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CANGO calls for investigating the police for extra judicial killings

7/1/2019

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The Human Rights and Governance consortium under the Coordinating Assembly (CANGO) is alarmed by the extra judicial execution of inmates said to have escaped from the Big Bend Correctional Facility.
   The Consortium’s Chairperson Zelda Nhlabatsi in a press release by CANGO called for independent investigations on who authorised what is suspected as overboard extra judicial execution.
      She explained that they understood that the escapees had committed a serious crime and might have been armed, however, there was still need for an explanation on whether there could have been an alternative such as rounding up the suspects and returning them to jail alive than the sting operation carried out by a joint task team of security officers which led to their death. This explanation she said, would strengthen the country’s accountability to upholding human rights.
         “Because the police cannot investigate themselves, we call for transparent and independent investigation in the shooting and killing scene which is said to have happened around Mpaka, the Lubombo region,” Nhlabatsi said. 
      Nhlabatsi noted that the country has not aimed at eliminating extra judicial killings as it has not yet implemented recommendations by UN member countries including France, Slovenia and Brazil raised through the Universal Periodic Review to sign and ratify the Rome Statute of International Criminal Court (ICC). 
          The Rome Statute system ICC aims to promote a universal culture of upholding the Rule of Law, human rights and human dignity, by contributing to put an end to impunity for the most serious crimes of concern to the international community. It does so by advancing access to justice for victims through the universal ratification and effective implementation of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal.
            The Constitution provides that a person shall not be regarded as having been unlawfully deprived of life if the death results from use of force to such extent that is reasonably justifiable and proportionate in the circumstances of the case –  
Protection of right to life 
"15.   (1)  A  person  shall  not  be  deprived  of  life  intentionally  save  in  the  execution  of  the sentence of a court in respect of a criminal offence under the law of Swaziland of which that person has been convicted. 
(2)   The death penalty shall not be mandatory. 
(3)   A sentence of life imprisonment shall not be less than twenty five years. 
(4)  Without prejudice to any liability for a contravention of any other law with respect to the  use  of  force  in  such  cases as  are  mentioned  in  this  subsection,  a  person  shall  not  be regarded as having been deprived of life in contravention of this section if death results from use of force to such extent as is reasonably justifiable and proportionate in the circumstances of the case ­
(a)   for the defence of any person from violence or for the defence of property; 
(b)   in order to effect a lawful arrest or to prevent the escape of a person lawfully detained; 
(c)   for the purpose of suppressing a riot, insurrection or mutiny; or 
(d)   in  order  to  prevent  the  commission  by  that  person  of  a  serious  criminal offence." 
         According to the ALIGNMENT OF ESWATINI’S DOMESTIC LAWS WITH RECOMMENDATIONS OF UNITED NATIONS HUMAN RIGHTS MECHANISMS 2018 report, these provisions are concerning because they are overly broad and they allow impunity for extrajudicial killings.

For more information,
Nkosingiphile Myeni
Communications Officer
CANGO
2404 4721
communications@cango.org.sz 

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CANGO DAC 2019 STATEMENT

6/21/2019

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​ As we celebrate the month of June in remembrance of the Day of the African Child (DAC) which falls on the 16th day of the month, we are celebrating achievements of the children’s rights in Africa as pinned by the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child under the theme, ‘Humanitarian Action in Africa: Children’s Rights First’ as commissioned by the African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child.
     The events of 1976 Soweto student’s uprising in South Africa in the apartheid era, whereby students marched in protest of the poor education demanding to be taught in their own languages serves as a reminder that children’s rights continue to be trampled upon. Nevertheless, the children in South Africa sacrificed their lives for the freedom of everyone.
     Sadly, such situations continue unabated nowadays. The Sudanese uprising could be reminiscent of that South African era whereby hundreds of protesters including students have been engaged in peaceful demonstrations since April with turn of events being the rising death toll by the day as hundreds have been slain by the Army and thrown into the Nile.
    We at CANGO applaud the decision of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the then OAU who in 1991 declared June 16 as Day of an African Child, an event to be commemorated by all AU member states.
As Africa, we must stand together with and for children affected by life threatening situations of continued sectarian wars and the presence of terrorist organisations pushing children to find themselves armed with weapons and turned into child soldiers against their will. 
     The child who witnesses the killing of the parents, and on daily basis wishes  that s/he could seek their mother’s counsel or hear their father’s laughter one more time; the child armed with weapons and turned into a soldier, itself a crime against humanity, according to international laws; over and above, children and women who are sexually abused during these conflicts are the one who have to live with the psychological scars and effects as they find themselves in such situations.
     These conflicts, no matter their nature, have an impact on children’s rights which include but are not limited to the right to life; the right to live in a family environment; the right to health; the right to education; and the right to survival and development.
   As we commemorate as a continent, we must draw it closer to home. We acknowledge that while the Kingdom of Eswatini is not ravaged by civil wars or armed conflict, the country has its fair share of crises affecting children either socially, politically or economically.
   At policy level, the country has taken positive strides by enacting the Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Act (2018) and the Child Protection and Welfare Act (2012) which both guarantee and safeguard the rights of all eMaSwati, especially children.
     While having made this commendable progress, the war is half won as a lot still needs to be done in the implementation of regulations guiding these laws.
Children continue to be affected by high levels of poverty, gender-based violence, neglect, lack of access to basic services such as water, education, health and social protection, impacted by HIV/AIDS and many more social ills.
Parents relations and wellbeing of children and failure to make proper decisions to promote the welfare and rights of children have potential dangers undermining the rights and welfare of our children. We are cognisant with the conflicts at family level that have negative ramifications on children’s rights.
     Children raised by violent parents and guardians are prone to emotional abuse and neglect. These leave deep-seething and lasting scars. Child abuse is not limited to bruises and broken bones, it goes further than that to ignoring their needs lack of supervision and other dangerous situations, making them feel worthless which result in serious emotional harm. This is the Eswatini’s child’s conflict.
     The conflict is not only limited between individuals. Couples engulfed by their personal conflict and strive also account for high rates of child abuse. relationships also. Some of these parents may be physically or mentally unable to support and care for their children. At other times, the economic and domestic violence caused by alcohol and drug abuse impair the parent’s ability to safeguard children.  
     While there is an array of issues affecting children at family level, the country’s financial situation leaves the state of health and wellbeing of the child worse-off, and further exposes children to opportunistic preying others who violate children in exchange for a meal a day.
     Therefore, we still hope for the provision of resourced institutions, personnel and programmes to support the comprehensive implementation of these legislations.
     The attempts by government and development partners is well acknowledged. It gives us hope that the country will cover all communities across the four regions with access to justice for children, the rehabilitation of victims of abuse and the protection from harm.
     As stakeholders, let us take a pledge to join hands towards expanding services and institutions for the African child.
 
Follow and support our commemoration activities on the CANGO website, facebook and twitter pages.

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PROVIDE JOBS - CANGO URGES GOVT

5/16/2019

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21 February 2019
The Minister of Finance Neal Rijkenberg is urged by the Coordinating Assembly of Non-Governmental Organisations (CANGO) to deliver a pro-poor budget in his first budget speech. 
   “CANGO would like to see a budget which is responsive to the needs of the population especially as it addresses poverty, vulnerability of certain groups of the country and of course resources allocated to stimulate the ailing economy. 
In this regards resources to address social services to cater for the needs of the vulnerable is critical,” its Communications Officer Nkosingiphile Myeni said. 

   Myeni said CANGO as an umbrella noted that the budget is an important instrument government use to allocate national resources and have a role as NGOs to engage governments on national budgets and offer an alternative in order to amplify needs of communities in the grassroots they represent. 

   A pro-poor budget, he said, must be related to the extent to which expenditure is aligned to public policy with focus on the high levels of poverty alleviation aligned to the ‘leaving no one behind’ agenda. It is further characterised by significant allocation of resources to sectors which directly reach the poor and vulneurable groups. He said such policies in turn enable the poor to have access to economic, financial and social opportunities to reduce inequality gaps. 

   “It is therefore our hope that there will be significant allocations towards education through provision FPE, scholarships and OVCs, health and agriculture, job-creation as well as social protection to ensure an inclusive growth, we implore government to also allocate resources to institutions such as the Anticorruption Commission in order to fight the corruption.” he said.

   Government should ensure that revenue sources are diversified from the SACU pool to reduce dependency for its revenue as the pool is volatile, Myeni averred. However, increasing taxes in such as a state of the economy might be suicidal for the government. 

   He said the Minister of Finance who may consider increasing business licence fees, sin tax, fuel levy, set up tollgates, motor vehicle and driver’s licence fees and mobile telephone licence fees, to name a few must be done in a manner that don’t overburden tax payers who are already in financial difficulties. The Minister should also focus attention in productivity and human right centred delivery of services. 

   In contrast, he said, government must ensure that new jobs are created. He also said business activity must be encouraged through policies which enable business growth by prioritising SMEs and FDI as well as ensure that businesses which are already in the country stay and expand in order to see its tax-base increase.  

   “Government should also prioritise paying owed, review its tax regime to encourage the sector be of focus There is also a need for the country to focus on youth employment and entrepreneurship and expand accessibility to the youth fund as well as business incubators for youth. 

   He also said government must invest in agriculture in line with the Maputo Declaration where governments pledged to commit 10% of budgets be allocated to developing the agricultural sector to enable subsistent farmers who produce a surplus have access to markets.
   
   “It is time government delivered more with less resources by ensuring that accountability is high,” Myeni said. 

Some of the strategies to be considered

Implementation/Action Relevant Strategy 
1. Strengthen governance Uphold international human-rights based standards, as espoused in international instruments, Constitution. Respect for the Rule of Law and, separation of powers to strengthen accountability
2. Show commitment to eliminating corruption  Allocate resources for the Anti-Corruption Commission to effectively play its role 
3. Reduce the bloated civil service Introduce Early Retirement and freeze all non-essential posts in the civil service
4. Engagement of citizens in the budget-process to ensure relevant and cost-effective budget Implement the 2017/18 Open Budget Survey (OBS) resolutions by the International Budget Partnership (IBP) to improve previous score
5. Sustain social services, including elderly grants, VOCs, FPE and tertiary scholarships
6. Repeal all laws in conflict with the Constitution which have harmful customs and discriminate against women, depriving them of the right to equality before the law to ensure EQUALITY BEFORE THE LAW Institute a law review commission 
Codify Swazi Law 
Custom to eradicate inequality and better protect the rights of women
Act upon SDG 5 indicators: Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls 
7. Address the land issue to make land accessible to people in Swazi Nation Land and protect the dignity and human rights of farm-dwellers Implement the land policy in compliance with human rights standards and address Agenda 2030 land-related SDGs, 1, 2, 5, 11 and 15
Pass into law and implement the Farm Dwellers (Amendment) Bill
8. Reduce GBV through an integrated strategy Provide resources to the DPMO for the implementation of Gender policy 
allocate resources for duty bearers, including the police and courts to prosecute
9. Allocate resources to the DPMO to enable it to do civic education and campaigns on the Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Act (2018) in order to sensitise communities and citizens about the importance of the bill in order to reduce cases of domestic violence and gender-based violence. 
10. Commit to allocating at least 10% of the annual budget towards agriculture Commit to the Maputo Declaration
11. Commit to allocating 15% of the annual budget to improve the Health sector Commit to the Abuja Declaration 
12. Encourage climate smart agriculture Commit to the Paris Agreement
13. Address the issue of undocumented children and strengthen birth registration processes in order to reach out to children who have not been able to get access to FPE and other social services because of lack of Personal Identity Numbers (PIN)
14. Allocate and sustain FPE on age-base of 15 years than grade base (Grade 7) to enable children who have been out of school to still get education even if they start later than the normal age of entry
15. Create and implement a child-friendly campaign on the rights of children in order to make children’s rights be known to both children, parents and guardians.
16. Heed to the recommendations of election observers, local and external, on the recently held elections
17. Provide enough support and capacity towards women to empower them to participate in decision-making structures and remove barriers on women participation Allocate towards the mainstreaming of gender within government 
18. Review the quota on women in political participation from 30% to 50% SADC Protocol on Gender and Development; SDG 5
19. Ensure that EBC personnel are capacitated in equity-base principles from the time of nomination to give women, youth and disabled fare chances on being nominated, elected and represented Allocate resources towards the EBC
Institute a citizen’s budget.
​
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