SWAZILAND: Cabinet Has Approved the Following
Ratification of the protocol to the African Charter on Human Rights and People's Rights of Women in Africa, 2003
Cabinet has approved the Protocol to the African Charter on Human Rights and Peoples Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa.
This protocol was adopted by African States at the 2nd Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the African Union in Maputo on 2003. This protocol embodies the principle of non-discrimination against women and ensures that the rights of women are promoted, realised and protected in order to enable them to enjoy fully all their human rights.
The objectives of the Protocol are as follows:
To promote the protection of the rights of women in Africa as stipulated in international declarations and conventions by unpacking the human and women's rights in Africa for redress by the State Parties in the continent.
To supplement the provisions of the African Charter on Human and People's Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa.
To bring out possible actions for State Parties through appropriate legislative, institutional and other measures in ensuring that human and women's rights are respected in particular the right to participation and decision making, access to justice and equal protection before the law.
In ratifying this protocol the country's status will be elevated regionally and internationally with regard to the promotion of gender equity and social justice.
The country will also benefit through enhanced attainment of gender equity and social justice in the African continent as a step towards the implementation of the United Nation's Council's resolution. This ratification will also assist in enhancing the elimination of all forms of discrimination against women and to ensure the promotion and protection of the rights of women as stipulated in international declarations and conventions.
(b) Ratification of the SADC Protocol on Gender and Development of 2008
Cabinet has approved the ratification of the SADC Protocol on
Gender and Development of 2008.The protocol came into being as a result of the need to provide a conducive environment for mainstreaming gender issues into the SADC programme of action in order to achieve sustainable development. SADC member states agreed that gender equality and equity were fundamental human rights and were committed to gender equality and equity as embodied in the United Nations Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination Against Women.
The objectives of the Protocol amongst others are:
- The provision for the empowerment of women to eliminate discrimination and to achieve gender equality and equity through the development and implementation of gender responsive legislation, policies, programmes and projects;
- Harmonisation of the various instruments to which SADC member states have subscribed to at regional and international levels on gender equality and equity;
The country will benefit through best practices at the regional and international level made by States towards strengthening gender and development. Swaziland will, therefore, be in a position to put in place policies, strategies and programmes for ensuring gender equality and equity.
(c) Memorandum of Agreement between the Ministry of Health (MoH) and Ministry of Health Sub-vented organisations
Cabinet has approved the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the Ministry of Health (MoH) and Health sub-vented organisations, including hospitals. The Ministry of Health developed guidelines for these sub-vented organisations, which are in line with the non-governmental organisation's (NGO's) policy.
The MOU will include performance targets and standards to guide the relationship between the ministry of health and parties.
These guidelines amongst other things are aimed at clarifying partnerships, with regard to sub-venting organisations with public funds. This also includes application criteria, selection criteria and requirements for monitoring, evaluation and reporting.
Through this MOU the ministry of health will be able to monitor that organisations fulfill their mandates on the ground, whether or not funds are being used effectively and efficiently, and whether they are used to advance activities in the ministry's priority areas.
(d) Tinkhundla and Regional Administration Bill 2011, 2011
Cabinet has reviewed and approved the Tinkhundla and Regional Administration Bill, 2011. This Bill is a unified system of local Government as envisaged by section 218 of the Constitution.
The Bill articulates the organisation and administration of sub-nationals i.e. regions, tinkhundla authorities and imiphakatsi. Imiphakatsi are a subject of the Bill, in so far as they relate to facilitate community development.
The Bill, also, seeks to provide for the establishment and operation of the Regional Council, the regional council of chiefs, bucopho (tinkhundla councils, urban and rural), tinkhundla council of chiefs, and regional development committees. The Bill further articulates community-based planning and budgeting systems, principles of resources allocation to regions and tinkhundla, transfer of functions and powers to local governments and systems of control and accountability of the local governments to national government and citizens.
(e) Economic Recovery Strategy
Cabinet has approved the Economic Recovery Strategy (ERS), which is in response to the fiscal challenges faced by government. The ERS is a decisive reform, established to help in resuscitating the domestic economy by delivering accelerated, inclusive and sustainable economic growth to the country, which will provide a platform for achieving vision 2022 and first world status. The ERS exhibits a strong sense of urgency, and aims to achieve in three years from adoption by cabinet the following key targets among others:
- An annual economic growth rate of at least 5 percent,
- Creation of 30 000 new jobs.
The key drivers of the economic growth listed by the ERS are as follows:
- Foreign direct investment
- Domestic investment
- Trade
- Tourism
- The fiscal sector
- Agriculture
- Financial services
- Information Communication and Technology (ICT)
- Human capital development
- Infrastructure
(f) Extension of the term of office for the National Library Service Board
Cabinet has approved the extension of the term of office for the National Library Service Board. This board was appointed into office in July 2008, and was mandated amongst other things to:
- Draw a national library policy, and monitor its implementation in liaison with all libraries, and other documentation centres;
- Advise the minister on matters relating to the service whenever necessary;
- Stimulate, encourage and maintain public interest in the use of library facilities;
- Perform all other acts or things as are conducive or incidental to the attainment of its objectives under the act of the National Library Service Act.
The members are as follows:
Moroesi Khoza Chairperson
Nomsa Mkhwanazi Member
Faith Mkhonta Member
Makana Mavuso Member
Israel Simelane Member
Busisiwe Simelane Member
Kholekile Mthethwa Member
Percy Simelane Member
The board has successfully drawn a national library policy, which will be launched shortly.
(g) Investment of ethanol fuel in Lavumisa and surrounding areas
Cabinet has approved the availability of Government farms which will be leased for the Bioethanol Project. This investment requires a minimum irrigable land area of 12,000 ha, where a combination of sugar cane and sweet sorghum will be planted for the production of ethanol. A factory will be constructed in the area where the ethanol will be produced for external markets.
(h) Proposed Tariff Methodology
Cabinet has approved a proposed tariff methodology, which is a framework that will be used by the Swaziland Energy Regulatory Authority (SERA) to determine future electricity tariff levels in the country, as required by Section 32 of the Electricity Act, 2007.
In developing the methodology the regulator took into account a number of key principles, which are generally accepted and are used by most regulators both regionally and internationally. The principles cater for the customer, utility and Government. These principles are summarized as follows:
• Affordability – price should exclude inefficiencies;
• Non discriminatory – tariffs should be applicable to all customers, on an equal and fair basis;
• Predictable and stable – customers should be kept informed and real adjustments should be gradual;
• Transparent – easy to read and apply, and contains no hidden costs;
• Encourage efficient use – appropriate price signals that will stimulate efficient use of electricity;
• Shareholder expectations – appropriate taxation and dividends.
Macanjana Motsa
Government Press Secretary