BY MBONO MDLULI
MBABANE – Eswatini Legal Aid has been able to reach over 738 people, teaching them about services it renders to Emaswati, in a space of three months.
Eswatini Legal Aid, which was established to give all Emaswati access to justice, has been able to do that from July to September 2024, according to the Second Quarter Performance Report of the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs. According to the report, the 576 people included were reached during the Eswatini International Trade Fair, which was held from August to September 2024.
The 576 people included 309 males and 267 females respectively. Classification by region stood at; Hhhohho – 120, Manzini – 349, Lubombo – 58 and lastly Shiselweni with 32 individuals enlightened on the services of Eswatini Legal Aid.
Eswatini Legal Aid also sensitized police officers about its work during the second quarter. The police officers sensitised included Manzini Regional Police Headquarters (50 officers), Lobamba Police Station (57 officers) and Piggs’ Peak Police Station (55 officers), all of whom were taken through the mandate of the office, possible areas of collaboration and flagging out of possible challenges.
During the second quarter, the office attended sensitisation of various stakeholders on the Legal Aid and Legal Practitioners (Amendment) Bills. The people sensitised included the Ministry of Justice Portfolio Committee in the House of Assembly, Senate, Government Departments, Parastatals, Emabandla, Lutsango and Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs).
The office, in a bid to enhance partnerships and collaboration with other institutions joined various stakeholders in celebration of the United Nations Volunteer day (Green Day) as celebrated by promoting environmental wellness activities (picking up litter & gardening) at Mahlanya Inkhundla. The office was also engaged in an enlightening session by Eswatini Communications Commission (ESCCOM) on the communications regulatory framework and more relevant for the office being the Data Protection component as the office deal with sensitive clientele information.
The office joined the The Deputy Prime Minister’s Office in collaboration with other partners in sensitizing the public on GBV issues and services provided by various partners to mitigate the pandemic. The office was only able to attend the Manzini and Pigg’s Peak sessions.
