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Foreigners Pay R300 to Loot Swazi Gold

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The historic Pigg’s Peak Gold Mine, established 140 years ago in Swaziland, has been closed for over two decades. Today, however, it has been brought back to life, not by legitimate operations, but by illegal miners, known as zama zamas. These miners, hailing from Lesotho, South Africa, Botswana, and Eswatini, have taken advantage of the easy access to the mine, working side by side in their quest for gold. Located at Old Pigg’s Peak, about five kilometers from the current town of Pigg’s Peak, the mine was once bustling with activity in the late 1800s. It was here that William Pigg founded the town, which later moved to its present location. After nearly a century of operation, the mine was closed in the early 1970s. Despite its current desolation, groups of zama zamas, usually 20 at a time, venture underground, risking their lives for gold. These miners spend about three days underground without proper mining gear, lighting, or oxygen, making their endeavor perilous. One of the illega...
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Transparent Governance Needed in Swaziland | OPINION

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In Swaziland, our people’s love for this nation runs deep, and the desire for a brighter, united future is a powerful undercurrent in every conversation I have with fellow emaSwati. Across the board, the sentiment is clear: Swaziland belongs to all of us, not just a select few. This shared sense of belonging, rooted in our history and our identity, is a birthright that must be respected. Yet many emaSwati feel that this pride and belonging are being overshadowed by a governance model that does not fully serve or include them. The people of Swaziland are calling for a system that upholds transparency, accountability, and inclusion—values that would strengthen our nation and honor our shared heritage. As citizens of Swaziland, we want to see a nation that operates with unity and purpose, where everyone’s voice is valued and everyone feels empowered. However, our dual governance system often feels unbalanced, benefiting only a privileged few while leaving many feeling alienated in their o...
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Dear Sun El, Don't Come to Swaziland | OPINION

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South African musician Sun El will be in Swaziland for the Farmer's Market on September the 3rd. We want to urge the artist to take into consideration how Makhadzi has been treated in the country before. This is especially in light of the recent and current political unrest. Dear Sun El, don't come to Swaziland or you'll regret, says this publication.  Don't you Dare It seems like a relaxed atmosphere to be in. You wouldn't expect any violence to take place at a farmer's market. Surely you don't want bottles thrown around at the Farmer's Market on the 3rd of September? Don't underestimate us as pro-democracy emaSwati, we will show you who we are and what we stand for.  The event is about promoting agriculture in the country. Lifestyle, fashion, and craft beer are just some of the elements that will be used to achieve that. It's set to be quite a trendy affair, even though agriculture will be at the heart of it all. Sun El has expressed his excite...
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Zwemart Isn't a Terrorist, He's a Freedom Fighter | OPINION

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King Mswati's government has labelled independent journalist Zweli Martin Dlamini a terrorist. It is claimed that he and his publication, Swaziland News, are responsible for inciting violence in the kingdom. Zwemart, as his popularly known, is nothing more than freedom fighter; thus says this publication. We want the nation to see him as such, and honour him justly. Wrong Label Zwemart may not be on the battlefield throwing petrol bombs and facing teargas attacks from the police. He may not be physically fighting, but his contribution to the struggle can't be denied. He ought to be decorated as a hero, not labelled as a terrorist. Perhaps when Swaziland achieves democracy, he'll be honoured in the way he deserves to be. Zweli is taking part in a revolutionary struggle to achieve a political goal in order to overthrow the government. To us, this is a noble cause. To the government, it's a terrorist act. Perhaps one day the narrative will change, perhaps one day we'll...
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Swaziland Far From Reaching First World Status, Joke's On Who?

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King Mswati's goal was for his country to reach First World Status by 2022, and now it seems that the likelihood of that happening is very low.   Since everything he says is considered right and true, being   umlomo longacambi manga   or the mouth that never lies, it's almost funny to see the country as developed as he said it would be. With that in mind, is the joke on King Mswati or on the people of Swaziland at this point? Blurry It’s one thing having an objective and keeping it to yourself. It’s another thing telling the world your goals and then failing to live up to them. Here we are in a situation where the king seems to have been less than accurate concerning the destiny of his nation. Whether we are to say he was mistaken or whether he was in fact misleading the people, that’s a discussion on its own. The fact remains, Swaziland is not even close to becoming a first-world nation. It’s not enough to talk about your goals. It’s necessary for one to take the necessa...
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Open Letter To Swaziland's Royal Family

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Your Majesties, I know the current regime in the Kingdom of Swaziland puts food on your plate. I know you get money from the government and you enjoy privileges beyond the reach of the average liSwati. Be that as it may, I implore you to look at the situation in the country right now. Do you want to have a place in the new, free, and democratic Swaziland? Then I urge you to conspire against the head of your house, the one you call Mswati. P ick a Side We want to applaud Princess Dlalisile for ignoring the usual script given to members of the royal family. Y ou have done well for expressing your concern over the people that were killed during the two-day protests. I hope comrades recognize your contribution. As for you Prince Sihlangusempi, we urge you to make use of your position in the army for the sake of a mutiny. It is the national security forces that are the king’s last line of defence and we know that if you can convince them to take him down, they just might. Many emaSwati ...
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Overworked And Underpaid: A Kellogg Tolaram Exposé

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Imagine being paid 50 cents to load a 50kg bag of flour. Imagine working on weekends, doing the heavy lifting, moving up and down a massive factory the whole day; only to get less than R2000. The Kellogg’s factory was stripped down in South Africa and reassembled in Swaziland, all in the name of cheap labour. Is this exploitation in opportunity’s clothing? Bemanti News compiled a report.   The Taste of Justice Middle management gets paid less than R10 000 after taxes. Factory floor workers are known to make just over R1000, despite having to bend over backward for this highly profitable company. In some cases, employees will find themselves working Sunday to Sunday, just to make ends meet. Have they no conscience? Did the company choose to set up shop in the kingdom because of how docile emaSwati are known to be?   The Asians at the top of the Kellogg Tolaram food chain live very comfortable lives. Our sources indicate that the company spends close to E30 00...
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