By Phesheya Ian Kunene
EZULWINI – The Eswatini Health and Human Research Review Board (EHHRRB) has fired a strong warning to unethical researchers operating without the consent of participants, declaring that the days of backdoor experimentation are over.
This bold message came during a media breakfast meeting hosted by the Ministry of Health on Thursday at SibaneSami Hotel.
The event, aimed at sensitising editors and journalists, spotlighted Eswatini’s strengthened regulatory framework on clinical trials and ethical health research.
EHHRRB Chairperson Rudolph Maziya made it clear: “People must give informed consent. No research should happen without agreement.” He lamented the growing number of unethical research activities in the region, warning that studies done without proper procedures do more harm than good.
“We are here to protect human dignity and ensure justice is done in all research,” he added, stressing that some researchers and organisations had already faced suspensions for unethical conduct.
From the Medicines Regulatory Unit (MRU), Sibongile Magongo didn’t mince her words either. She underscored the importance of regulating medical products, noting, “We regulate to ensure safety, quality, and effectiveness.” Magongo walked participants through the long and often complex drug development process, which can take up to 25 years, and stressed that clinical trials are vital in discovering life-saving medical treatments.
Magongo also introduced the SEARCH II Project, a regional initiative backed by the European Union aimed at strengthening clinical trial oversight across Southern Africa.
“Eswatini has already conducted eight clinical trials,” she revealed. “Through SEARCH, we’re aligning with global best practices, streamlining application processes, and reducing turnaround times.”
The workshop didn’t shy away from hard truths. Maziya explained the legal and ethical framework surrounding research, highlighting core principles like autonomy, justice, and the obligation to do no harm.
He cited past global scandals, like the Thalidomide tragedy and unethical syphilis experiments, as cautionary tales that shaped today’s strict codes such as the Nuremberg Code, Declaration of Helsinki, and Belmont Report.
The EHHRRB and MRU have been mandated by the Ministry of Health to ensure that no research in Eswatini slips through the cracks. This includes ensuring that all proposals go through thorough review processes, and that institutional review boards are in place and registered, as per the Health Act of 2023.
Media professionals were urged to help raise awareness of these standards, with the Ministry hoping that better public understanding will lead to increased trust in scientific research and healthcare innovation.
“This is not just about paperwork or protocols,” Maziya said. “It’s about people’s lives. Research must protect the vulnerable, not exploit them.”
As the country positions itself as a regional player in ethical medical research, this workshop marked an important step in bridging the gap between policy, science, and public understanding.
The message was loud and clear: in Eswatini, no consent means no research, and the EHHRRB is watching.
