The Ministry of Home Affairs wishes to notify importers and exporters of essential goods that Ngwenya Border post will now close at 2200hrs every Wednesday beginning tomorrow 2 September 2020.

This is done to make time for a routine deep cleaning and fumigation exercise as a measure to prevent the spread of the coronavirus and will continue until further notice.

All cargo that is within BPCCA will be cleared before closure. The Border will continue to operate normally on other days of the week (Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday), opening at 0700hrs and closing at 0000hrs

The nation is requested to take note of these developments while we keep the workplace safe for all stakeholders.

RELEASED BY: Nhlanhla R. Nxumalo

                         Principal Secretary

Date: 1 September 2020

Media Enquires: Mlandvo A. Dlamini – Ministerial Communications Officer                          

Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.  Cell: +268 7606 3938/ 78051895

The Ministry of Home Affairs today held training workshop at the Mountain Inn Hotel in Mbabane with different religious stakeholders on increasing religious gathering during the Kingdom of Eswatini COVID-19 partial lockdown .

The workshop came following the issuance of new Covid_19 guidelines for religious gatherings by Hounarable Prime Minister Ambrose Mandvulo Dlamini on Friday the 3^rd of July 2020. The Prime Minister announced that places of worship will need to obtain a compliance permit from the Ministry of Home Affairs in order to operate. Assessment will be made for each applicant to determine readiness.  “The full observance of two meter (2m) distance between individuals will determine the numbers allowed indoors” said Dlamini.

Some 40 religious leaders, National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA) volunteers and officials from the Ministry of Home Affairs took part in the workshop. The workshop focused on the new covid-19 regulations and the application process to obtain authority to increase religious gatherings. The workshop also aimed at enabling Home Affairs officials and NDMA Volunteers on integral elements to consider when assessing religious institutions before authorization. Besides the workshop focused on informing religious leaders on the application forms collection points.

The Application Forms are accessible in the following collection points:  

                     i.            Ministry of Home Affairs Offices Headquarters (communications unit and all regional Immigration Departments)

                   ii.            Regional Administration Offices (Regional Secretary)

                  iii.            Faith Based Institutions Mother Bodies

                 iv.            Government  and NDMA websites

Applicants to complete Forms and completed Forms to be returned to the Ministry of Home Affairs Offices and Regional Administration Offices.

The places of worship readiness inspection to be conducted by designated officers who will then make recommendations.  Once inspection has been concluded, the Forms will be submitted to the Ministry of Home Affairs Headquarters and Regional Offices for Approval. furthermore, Officials from the Ministry of Home Affairs will issue Authority Document stating the maximum number of people allowed per service in a room.

Nonetheless, designated compliance teams will conduct constant monitoring and evaluation of all approved areas and report to the Chiefdom faith based organisations and defaulters to be charged in accordance with the provisions of Covid-19 Regulations.

For media queries contact:

·         Principal Secretary

·         National civil registrar

·         Members of the media

I extend my greetings to all of you.

We did not anticipate this day last year. The whole world has been turned upside down by the coronavirus pandemic. However, the resilience of humanity will overcome this challenge.  In order for Eswatini and the world to win this battle, it is important to observe all health protocols as provided by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the Ministry of Health.

Today, August 10 marks the day that the African continent commemorates the Third Africa Civil Registration and Vital Statistics Day under the theme “Civil Registration and Vital Statistics: An Essential Service for Monitoring and Mitigating the Impact of Emergencies”. It is unfortunate that this year the day is commemorated in the midst of the crippling coronavirus pandemic that has claimed hundreds of thousands of lives and affected millions across the globe.

Civil registration is defined by United Nations as the universal, compulsory, continuous, permanent and confidential recording of the occurrence of all vital events. It is an invaluable source for comprehensive, regular and detailed vital statistics.

Functioning civil registration systems provide people with legal identity documents, starting with a birth certificate that proves their legal status and help to safeguard their rights throughout their lives.

The Government of the Kingdom of Eswatini recognizes Civil Registration as an essential service hence we have ensured its continuity even during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.  Service Centers are operational registering only current Births, Deaths and recently Marriages.

However, some services remain disrupted or completely unavailable. Arrangements are being made for a smooth resumption of services and appropriate management of the backlog when normality returns. The Civil registration department shall prepare contingency plans to meet post-pandemic demand for registration services. Other interventions to deal with the backlog will be strategized accordingly to ensure excellence of service delivery.

LEGAL IDENTITY AS A HUMAN RIGHTS ISSUE

Civil Registration is a fundamental legal right enshrined in Article 6 of the Universal Declaration on Human Rights that provide individuals with legal identity documents starting with a birth certificate that prove their legal status and help to safeguard their rights throughout their lives. This right can never be restricted nor be suspended, even in an emergency.

However, emergencies such as the current COVID-19 pandemic and other natural disasters have left people without proof of legal identity and hence the affected people may not be able to acquire a nationality and become stateless.

LESSONS LEARNT FROM THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC.

Indeed, Emergencies like the current COVID-19 pandemic are disruptive for the provision of civil registration services. The current pandemic has shown the vulnerabilities of the civil registration system when actually the services are required the most.

Evidence shows that social distancing, restricted movement, and general apathy by the populace to go to registration centres as a result of the country’s partial lockdown hindered civil registration. However, it pleases government that the Ministry was able to provide real-time data needed to manage the crisis including its socio-economic effects.

The fact that civil registration services are obtained under one roof in this Kingdom puts us as a shining example within the SADC region. This is evidenced by the number of countries who choose to benchmark with our system.  However, the demand for registration services remains weak not only in Eswatini but in the entire continent because many people have no adequate awareness about the importance of civil registration for them and their families, and the implications it has for improving access to core government services. African CRVS Day observed every year is meant to help improve public awareness on the importance of making everyone visible in Africa through universal birth registration and certification.

Despite the challenges posed by COVID-19, the Ministry of Home Affairs shall continue to provide excellent civil registration services while ensuring safety of the public and the workforce at all times. The planned mopping exercise which is expected to be rolled out before long will ensure that all qualifying Emaswati are registered. We are confident that this exercise will be a resounding success and speed up the registration of all citizens.

With these words I wish the Eswatini nation and the entire African continent a wonderful Africa Civil Registration and Vital Statistics Day!!!

I thank you!!!

RELEASED BY: HRH Princess Lindiwe

                        Minister for Home Affairs

DATE: 10^th August 2020

PRESS STATEMENT

MINISTERIAL GUIDELINES FOLLOWING MINISTRY OF PUBLIC SERVICE CIRCULAR NO.3 OF 2020

Following the Ministry of Public Service Circular No.3 of 2020 to effect a suspension of non-essential government services from the 6^th April to the 15^th of April 2020, the Ministry of Home Affairs herein further scales down operations to continue with only most critical operations in a drive to reduce the spread of coronavirus as follows:

• To process only current registration of vital events – birth and death certificates
• All other services related to Civil Registration are forthwith suspended.
• The Government of the Republic of Mozambique has closed Goba Border. This has a consequential closure effect on Mhlumeni Border on Eswatini side as of Friday the 3^rd of April 2020. All travel for essential goods and services between Eswatini and Mozambique should be directed to Lomahasha Border which remains operational. Nonetheless, the country’s other six (6) land ports of entry (i.e. Ngwenya, Matsamo, Mananga, Lavumisa, Mahamba, and Lomahasha) remain operational.
• All suspended services considered as emergencies shall be directed to the Headquarters in Mbabane.

This statement complements the statement that the Ministry issued in the previous week on Tuesday 31^st March 2020. Over and above, the Ministry wishes to encourage Emaswati to take all necessary precautions as advised by the Ministry of Health during this period of COVID-19 pandemic.

Released by: Minister for Home Affairs HRH Princess Lindiwe

Date: 06 April 2020