GOVERNMENT OF THE KINGDOM OF ESWATINI

MINISTRY OF SPORTS, CULTURE AND YOUTH AFFAIRS

PRESS STATEMENT

Following the declaration of a National Emergency made by His Majesty King Mswati III and announced by Prime Minister Ambrose Mandvulo Dlamini last week as well as a partial lockdown effective 27 March 2020, the Ministry of Sports, Culture and Youth Affairs wishes to provide the following guidance:

On Sport:

1. The Ministry appreciates the understanding and cooperation of sponsors, associations, clubs, athletes, supporters and all stakeholders in ensuring that Government measures are adhered to. Similarly, the Ministry understands & regrets the losses that have been incurred by organisations as a result of these measures.

2. All international travel for sporting purposes remains banned until such a time that the Ministry advises otherwise.

3. All forms of sport gathering, formal and informal (including social sport & traditional games) is suspended until the Ministry advises otherwise. This also includes sport at grassroots levels such as ‘stokvel’’ tournaments. This will be enforced in collaboration with the Ministry of Tinkhundla Administration and Development & community leaders.

4. Bookings for the usage of the Somhlolo National Stadium are hereby suspended until further notice.

5. Sporting associations are directed to ensure that all affiliates and clubs suspend group training sessions with immediate effect. Instead, coaches and clubs are encouraged to develop individual training programs which athletes will follow from their individual places of abode.

6. Similarly, Gyms are encouraged to suspend gatherings that attract many people such as aerobics sessions. Gym fanatics are encouraged to follow training programs from their homes.

7. The Ministry, through the Eswatini Sport & Recreation Council (ESRC) has also suspended Sports Association’s annual review meetings until further notice. As a result, associations which were already recognised by the Ministry will continue to enjoy that recognition until the review meetings can resume.

8. Sporting associations are further directed to instruct their members to postpone and/or suspend meetings including AGMs until such a time that the Ministry advises otherwise. Face to face meetings of any sort are strongly discouraged and instead, these bodies are encouraged to make use of technological means to discuss issues (e.g. WhatsApp).

9. The country was set to host the African Union Regional Sports Awards on May 24, 2020. The Ministry has since written to the organisation informing them of the new measures put in place by Government to fight COVID-19 including limiting gatherings and the ban on all non-essential travel in and out of Eswatini.

10. Sporting and arts bodies that have offices are strongly encouraged to allow as many employees as possible to work from home until the situation subsides. The Ministry’s Public Enterprises namely: (ESRC), Eswatini National Council of Arts and Culture (ENCAC), Eswatini National Youth Council (ENYC) and Youth Enterprise Revolving Fund (YERF) have started limiting the number of staff physically going to their respective offices.

11. Similarly, as per a directive issued by the Ministry of Public Service, starting from next week, the Ministry will have half of staff working from home on a rotational basis.

On Arts & Culture:

12. The ministry recognises & appreciates the collective efforts and endeavors from managers, artists, stables, culture institutions and practitioners in supporting Government’s call to suspend all gatherings and activities that will compromise the health of our people. The ministry stands together with all stakeholders in recognising the extreme losses incurred by the sector as a result of these measures.
13. The ministry advises our artists, festival and events organisers, affiliates and associations to utilise this time through diversification of their art conception, designing, consumption and distribution to stay within the armpit of the global creative space and enhance accessibility and sales.
14. Artists are discouraged from hosting and/or attending any shows with a potential to draw crowds.

15. The Ministry has already started engaging the relevant sporting and arts and culture bodies for collaborations with sports stars, officials and artists who will also help in the spreading of correct COVID-19 messaging.

On Youth:

16. Young people are encouraged to avoid physically travelling to the Youth Enterprise Revolving Fund offices for enquiries. Instead, the youth is encouraged to make use of technological means including calling: 2404 8369 and/or contacting the office via social media (‘Youth Enterprise Revolving Fund- YERF’ on Facebook). The Fund has already suspended trainings, site visits and physical mentorship. The latter will now be conducted through technological means.

17. With over 70% of the country’s population under the age of 35, the Ministry recognises the huge role young people have to play in the fight against COVID-19 in Eswatini. We therefore appeal to all young people to stay at home and limit any sort of travelling. The Ministry further encourages young people to be responsible citizens in the sharing and disseminating of correct and truthful information particularly via social media platforms.

18. In conclusion, the Ministry calls upon all EmaSwati to ensure that they wash their hands with soap and running water frequently, cover mouths and noses when coughing and sneezing, stay at home and follow every other advice coming from Government and the WHO.

Hon. Harries Bulunga                                              27 March 2020

Hon. Minister of Sports, Culture & Youth Affairs

Minister Bulunga honours excelling Special Olympics team

06 February 2020

Minister of Sports, Culture and Youth Affairs Harries Bulunga has awarded the triumphant Eswatini Special Olympics team with a total of E29 000 in recognition of their outstanding performances at the 1^st Pan African Games in Egypt.

Bulunga made the announcement at a ceremony to officially welcome the team home held at the Royal Villas yesterday afternoon. The team collected a total of ten medals in Egypt, six of them gold, one silver and three bronze.

Making his remarks, Bulunga said the reward was meant to encourage the athletes.

“We wish to state here today just how proud we are of you. The significance of this victory goes beyond yourselves, our Ministry and even Government. This is a victory for the entire nation- a timely reminder of what we are capable of as EmaSwati. I wish to reiterate Government’s commitment to the Special Olympics movement. We further appeal to the entire nation to support these young stars of ours. They have proven time and time again that they are worth our attention and support, let us give it to them. It now gives me great pleasure to announce that, despite the prevailing economic challenges, our athletes will receive a total of E29 000 from Government in recognition of their brilliant performances in Egypt,” he said.

The Minister further lauded the team for showing consistency in their performances. At last year’s Special Olympics World Summer Games in Abu Dhabi, the team collected 3 medals.

Bulunga then expressed gratitude to Prince Bandzile’s Peaceful Warrior Foundation for making the team’s travel to Egypt possible.

“I should start first by thanking Umnftwanenkhosi through whose efforts and dedication to this cause, the team was able to make it to the 1st Pan African Games in Egypt. Nkhosi, we feel hugely indebted to you and the Peaceful Warrior Foundation for such a gesture. On behalf of Government, I take this moment Nkhosi, to extend our deepest gratitude to you for the huge role you have played in this triumph which has put our country’s name on the world map,” he said.

The team’s medal breakdown:

Lindelwa Mngometulu: 2 Gold medals (100m and long jump)

Sandiswa Shabangu: 2 Gold medals (100m and long jump)

Sambulo Xaba: 2 Gold medals (100m and 200m)

Fisokuhle Maseko: 1 Silver (100m) and 1 Bronze (long jump)

Neliswa Shabangu: 1 Bronze (25m)

Mphilo Thwala: 1 Bronze (50m)

Government committed to fostering youth participation- Hon. Minister Bulunga

20 June 2019

The Honourable Minister of Sports, Culture and Youth Affairs Harries Bulunga says Government is committed to involving young people in the search for sustainable solutions to the challenges that the youth face.

Bulunga was speaking yesterday during the official opening of the 2019 International Youth Fellowship (IYF) Youth Festival at the Southern Africa Nazarene University (SANU) in Manzini.

The two-day festival is aimed at empowering young people’s minds on a range of issues and will see them partake in a number of activities including mind educational lectures, leadership lectures and mind recreational games.

Making his remarks at the opening ceremony, Bulunga said Government would continue to strive to create an enabling environment for the responsible participation of young people in all sectors affecting their lives.

“As Government, we are cognizant of the challenges faced by our young people including high unemployment rates, HIV and AIDS as well as substance abuse among other challenges. As a Ministry, we have been tasked with finding sustainable solutions to these challenges with the assistance and support of fellow Government Ministries and departments as well as Non-Governmental Organisations. It is our sincere belief that we need to actively involve our youth in the search for solutions to the challenges they face. His Majesty’s Government remains committed to the endeavour of youth development by creating a conducive environment for responsible youth participation across all spheres,” he said.

IYF National Director (Eswatini) David Gang praised the partnership between the Ministry and the IYF.

“We appreciate the support we have received from His Majesty’s Government through the Ministry of Sports, Culture and Youth Affairs. We hope that this festival will be of great benefit to the young people of Eswatini,” he said.

A Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry and the IYF was signed in 2017. His Majesty King Mswati III gave the IYF 10 hectors of land in Two Sticks, Manzini, for the construction of a youth centre.