Community

LOBAMBA – Deputy Prime Minister (DPM) Thulisile Dladla has registered concern about the existence of drug lords in Eswatini who are selling their merchandise to children.

Dladla raised this concern yesterday while presenting her office’s portfolio committee’s first-quarter performance report for the financial year 2025/26 in Parliament. She highlighted the growing number of children consuming hard drugs like cocaine and dagga.

During her preamble to the Senate Portfolio Committee, Dladla suggested that the country is actively experiencing drug lords supplying hard drugs, which are consumed not only by adults but also children. She remarked: “umtfwana longawatsatsi ema-drugs kulamalanga ngumkacoco,” meaning, “drugs have become the in-thing and fashionable to consume among children.”

The issue of drug lords operating in the country is not new, having been raised by Senator Lindiwe Ngwenya in Parliament earlier this year. This publication previously reported that a high-stakes investigation was launched into the activities of two prominent drug lords operating within Manzini, following serious allegations of police complicity and widespread community concern.

The investigation was initiated after Senator Ngwenya raised the alarm over Manzini’s burgeoning status as a drug hub, accusing certain individuals of operating with impunity. Notably, she highlighted a foreign national and a well-known local woman, both alleged to have been deeply involved in drug trafficking for an extended period, seemingly untouchable to law enforcement.

 “Manzini seems to be becoming a drug hub,” Senator Ngwenya stated during a Senate committee session in March this year. “What is particularly concerning is the apparent lack of concern from the police, because when reports are made, no arrests are carried out. There are drug lords in Manzini who have been operating for years.”

Concerns are particularly heightened regarding foreign nationals’ alleged residence near Manzini Central schools, raising fears that pupils may be among their clientele. Investigations suggest these drug lords are suspected of dealing in cocaine, brown sugar and rock. Additionally, woman drug lord is said to operate from Fairview.

Meanwhile, while presenting her preamble to the senators in Parliament yesterday, Dladla highlighted that the National Children Services Department focused intently on safeguarding children’s rights.

She said the office initiated the establishment of 10 Community Child Justice Committees and actively contributed to Eswatini’s second State Party Report on the African Charter.

She revealed that a crucial interfaith leadership meeting was convened to integrate spiritual capital into efforts to end violence against children, alongside the development of VACS 2022 data info-graphics.

“The department distributed school uniforms and food parcels to vulnerable children and coordinated the Children’s Month and Day of the African Child commemorations, advocating for improved child financing,” she said.

Full article available in our paper.

Deputy Prime Minister Thulisile Dladla has registered concern about the existence of drug lords in Eswatini. (Pic: Sourced)