We congratulate the leadership of the MTN Bushfire Festival for its evolution into a premier international music event that significantly contributes to Eswatini's economy. Bushfire not only puts Eswatini on the global map but also exemplifies superior and unparalleled organization. As a nation, we should take immense pride in this event. A more detailed analysis will be published by The Bridge on Sunday 9 June 2024.
#SAElections Update: Former Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta Expresses Confidence in South Africa's Electoral Commission
Former President Uhuru Kenyatta of Kenya, recently appointed by the African Union Commission (AUC) to lead the African Union Election Observation Mission (AUEOM) for South Africa's General Elections, has expressed confidence in the country's Electoral Commission.
As of the latest update, with 31.12% of the votes counted nationally, the ruling African National Congress (ANC) leads with 42.31% of the vote. The main opposition party, the Democratic Alliance (DA), follows with 25.05%, while the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), the third largest party, has secured 9.00%. Former President Jacob Zuma's newly formed MK Party has garnered 8.77%.
Stay tuned to The Bridge for the latest updates from the Elections Centre.
#SAElections: ANC National Chairperson Gwede Mantashe says he's not scared of anything.
The Swazi Bridge is already at the elections centre. It is very tense and equally exciting for some political parties as the elections results start trickling in. It is still too early to tell but the ANC is still ppredominatly a majority party in most provinces and nationally.
However, the surprise players is the uMkhonto Wesizwe Party (MKP) and Patriotic Alliance (PA). The MKP are leading in KwaZulu-Natal Natal while the PA is making a surprise top five entry nationally with only just 10 percent votes counted.
The Bridge has been invited to watch, learn and observe how the media reports and engages with the electoral process.
EIGHT MONTHS INTO OFFICE FOR THE NEW TINKHUNDLA ADMINISTRATION; HOW FAR ARE WE AS A COUNTRY TOWARDS NATIONAL COHESION AND RECONCILIATION?
It has been almost a year since the people of eSwatini went on record numbers to vote in the country´s national elections. This marked the end of a very polarised electoral process between three groups; those who wanted the public to boycott the elections as a form of protest, those who wanted the public to vote for party affiliated members in order to change the Tinkhundla system from within and then those who wanted the public to vote for those who support the current political status quo.
The Elections Boundaries Commission reported that the 2023 elections were seismic because for the first time since the establishment of the Tinkhundla system of governance in 1978, record number of people not just registered but also came out to vote on the day of elections. This election also saw a marginal growth of women representatives in parliament and a continued trend of peaceful and orderly electoral process.
However, eight months into power, the Tinkhundla system continues to be a polarising topic. The legitimacy of the government is still questioned in some quarters owing largely to the manner our politicians are appointed and their limited power in office. The recent fiasco at the May Day celebrations at Prince of Wales in Mbabane is a testament to a road still laced with thorns.
We bring this elections episode again to evaluate if the country, the government and the state have taken us any step closer to the goal of a united, developed and prosperous nation.
NB: We apologise for sound quality.
LET US TALK ABOUT WASTE MANAGEMENT!!
.....People in Manzini and surrounding areas are drowning in waste and litter.
The sudden surge in urban migration has overpopulated areas like Mhlaleni, Logoba, Makholweni, Ticantfwini, Kakhoza, Mpholi, Sicelwini etc as more people seek economic opportunities in town. Most end up living in cheap accommodation mostly in one-room flats that sadly offer no proper ablution or waste disposal facilities.
Low-income earners working in the Manzini--Matsapha corridor find staying in these peri-urban areas convenient as they get to be closer to work. But as people settle in the Manzini--Mbabane corridors they begin to have families and children thereby growing the population. Over the last 25 years the population of people living in these peri- urban areas has grown exponentially.
The unintended consequence of this growth is the problem of waste and litter. Not many landlords provide environmentally friendly ways of disposing garbage and there is no service delivery for those who live in Swazi nation land. There are no waste pickup trucks in these places.
People end up disposing litter in crevices, streams and forests. This is not environmentally friendly and bad for the community as well.
The question is, how can we deal with the problem of waste in our communities?
SWAZI LEAKS JOURNALIST PODCAST
This week as we talk to the journalists who exposed the over 890 000 records of the eSwatini Financial Intelligence Unit. The documents tell a story of political influence, manipulation and high level criminality. More than anything the stories expose the vulnerability of our financial system and economy to gold smugglers, money launderers and other illicit activities in the country. In this episode the journalists reveal the behind the scenes investigation that led to the leaks and the stories.
Watch the full podcast here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0beWsepasCk&ab_channel=SwaziBridge
SWAZI LEAKS INVESTIGATIVE JOURNALISTS: MORE EXPLOSIVE STORIES YET TO COME!!
Catch our podcast this week as we talk to the journalists who exposed the over 89 000 records of the eSwatini Financial Intelligence Unit. The documents tell a story of political influence, manipulation and criminality.
More than anything the stories expose the vulnerability of our financial system and economy to gold smugglers, money launderers and other illicit activities in the country.
In this episode the journalists reveal the behind the scenes investigation that led to the leaks and the stories.
Catch it all on our YouTube Channel on https://www.youtube.com/@SwaziBridgeNews at 20:00hrs.
FORMER CANGO DIRECTOR AND MSF TREASURE EMMANUEL NDLANGAMANDLA TAKES NO PRISONERS
--Our Members of Parliament are not politicians but community leaders
--I resisted all invitations to join the Tinkhundla parliament because it is useless
--AS CANGO Director I had to play a delicate balancing role between government and civil society and both never understood me
--My life was transformed when I went on a listening campaign and heard Swazis speak their mind on poverty, under development and unemployment
--The Progressives have no choice but to mature on time and unite across the ideological divide
--Yes, the struggle needs a new Shaka Zulu moment where we engage in a new paradigm shift on organising and mobilising
--NGO´s rise and fall is maladministration and corruption
--Donors do not want to fund the struggle so we must accept we are on our own
Catch it all on Sunday, April 21 at 20:00hrs on https://www.youtube.com/@SwaziBridgeNews
Don't forget to like, subscribe and share.
MINISTER OF EDUCATION OWEN NXUMALO AND TSC PODCAST
This week we bring the officials at the Ministry of Education to discuss all issues that affect students, teachers, and the country´s education system.
Do not forget to subscribe to our Youtube channel and to spread the good news of The Bridge podcasts.
Click here to watch the full episode: https://youtu.be/d9maH3ANkS8?si=OixzzUNpro7O3qDF
This week we bring the officials at the Ministry of Education to discuss all issues that affect students, teachers, and the country´s education system
THE BRIDGE SUNDAY PODCAST
Dear reader, teacher, student, parent and concerned citizen; you gave us your questions to ask the Minister of education but we did one better and brought you the Acting Principal Secretary in the Ministry and Executive Secretary of the Teaching Service Commission (TSC) to respond to all your concerns.
True to The Bridge's fearlessness, we asked our education officials all the difficult questions. Catch their responses on The Bridge podcast this coming Sunday at 20:00hrs
Watch on our YouTube Channel here: https://youtube.com/@SwaziBridgeNews?si=LoLgkUz5Zj3Vx2rU
A SPECIAL EASTER PODCAST WITH THE PEOPLE'S APOSTLE JUSTICE DLAMINI: TANELE MASEKO IS RIGHT ON THE FAILURES OF THE CHURCH
Join us on an enlightening journey as Manqoba Nxumalo engages in a candid conversation with Apostle Justice Dlamini, the visionary behind Worship Centre Church International. From their impactful outreach programs to tackling socio-political issues head-on, discover how Apostle Dlamini's mission extends far beyond the walls of his church.
Tune in as he shares insights on fostering ethical leadership in the community, advocating for social justice, and the imperative lessons learned from recent unrest. Don't miss this empowering episode filled with wisdom and hope for a brighter future.
Do not forget to subscribe to our Youtube channel and to spread the good news of The Bridge podcasts.
Click here to watch the full episode: https://youtu.be/pu1g2XP-W9w?si=e1GdasYR7pcDbykh
A SPECIAL EASTER PODCAST WITH THE PEOPLE'S APOSTLE JUSTICE DLAMINI: TANELE MASEKO IS RIGHT ON THE FAILURES OF THE CHURCH
By Staff reporter
Join us on an enlightening journey as Manqoba Nxumalo engages in a candid conversation with Apostle Justice Dlamini, the visionary behind Worship Centre Church International. From their impactful outreach programs to tackling socio-political issues head-on, discover how Apostle Dlamini's mission extends far beyond the walls of his church.
Tune in as he shares insights on fostering ethical leadership in the community, advocating for social justice, and the imperative lessons learned from recent unrest. Don't miss this empowering episode filled with wisdom and hope for a brighter future.
The Apostle speak on the following topics:
●Servant leadership in our families, communities and country
●Morality and ethics in the church and society
●Why the worship Center spends and is invested in guiding the youth
●"We spend over E200K paying to minister the word of God in various broadcasters in South Africa and eSwatini."
● Tanele Maseko is right about the (absent) role of the church in fighting for justice
●"The King needs good advisers and if invited in those Lozitha services I can speak truth to power"
●Why is health and education in such a mess?
● We need to dialogue as a country not rule by intimidation
●We pay for vulnerable children tuition, food, give pocket money and provide extra classes to our beneficiaries. Why can't government do the same?
Catch us for this profoundly illuminating conversation with the People's Apostle, Justice Dlamini of the Worship Center on Sunday, 31 March 2024 on all our social media platforms.
Remember to like and subscribe on our YouTube account here: https://youtube.com/@SwaziBridgeNews?si=LoLgkUz5Zj3Vx2rU
Happy Easter services to our readers!!
AFRICA RISING: UNDERSTANDING THE POLITICS OF SENEGALESE PRESIDENTIAL ELECT DIOMAYE FAYE
Who is Bassirou Diomaye Faye?
Faye has been thrust into the centre of Senegalese politics more than a week after he was released from prison along with his firebrand mentor Ousmane Sonko, who was disqualified from standing in the election because of a defamation conviction.
The 44-year-old leader contested the elections as an independent due to the dissolution of his Patriots of Senegal (PASTEF) party last July for causing unrest. The PASTEF party, which was founded by Sonko in 2014, endorsed Faye.
The left-wing populist has been organising protests against President Macky Sall accusing his government of corruption and failing to address chronic poverty. Sall’s decision to extend the elections originally scheduled for February triggered the latest round of political crisis.
The elections were held after the intervention of the Constitutional Court.
Faye was born in 1980 in west-central Senegal’s Ndiaganiao. He met Sonko while working as a tax inspector in the government’s taxes and estates department, where they were instrumental in the formation of a labour union.
Why was Faye in prison?
In April 2023, Faye was arrested on charges including spreading false news, contempt of court and defamation of a constituted body, for a social media post.
Sonko was arrested on multiple charges in July 2023 including provoking insurrection, conspiring with “terrorist” groups, endangering state security and immoral behaviour towards individuals younger than 21.
Faye, alongside Sonko, was released late on March 14, days before the vote, after an amnesty law was passed this month.
What are his policies?
Faye, a former tax inspector, has pledged to weed out corruption, restore stability and prioritise economic sovereignty, appealing to the urban youth frustrated by unemployment in the West African country where 60 percent of the population is aged under 25.
He wants to rid S
GOVERNMENT SPOKESPERSON ALPHEOUS NXUMALO TALKS TO THE BRIDGE.
GOVERNMENT SPOKESPERSON ALPHEOUS NXUMALO TALKS TO THE BRIDGE.
Join us, as we speak to government spokesperson Alpheous Nxumalo on our social media platforms. Do not forget to subscribe to our Youtube channel and to spread the good news of The Bridge podcasts.
Click here to watch the full episode: https://youtu.be/mBpihDCw2TE?si=S74zpVa
GOVERNMENT SPOKESPERSON ALPHEOUS NXUMALO TALKS TO THE BRIDGE.
Join us this Sunday as we speak to government spokesperson Alpheous Nxumalo on our social media platforms. Do not forget to subscribe to our Youtube channel and to spread the good news of The Bridge podcasts.
Click here to watch our previous podcasts https://www.youtube.com/@SwaziBridgeNews
THE CHURCH AGREES; THE BRIDGE IS NOW THE ONLY CREDIBLE, IMPARTIAL AND INFORMATIVE SOURCE OF NEWS AND A FEARLESS PLATFORM FOR THE NATION TO SPEAK TO ITSELF.
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