Under 3-month-old Eswatini Legal Aid makes huge impact on emaSwati
Since its official launch in August by then Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs and current Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the 12th Parliament, Pholile Shakantu, Eswatini Legal Aid has proven to be an invaluable resource for individuals seeking legal assistance in Eswatini. Also referred to as “Sisekela Sive
Kutemtsetfo”, the Legal Aid has been in existence for almost 2 and a half months since its launch. Director of Legal Aid Lungile Magagula has however noted that the office has been operating internally before the launch, since January 2023 to set up the office as well as develop its systems and procedures without interaction with the public.
Government Initiative
Magagula has expressed that Eswatini Legal Aid is a government initiative under the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs which seeks to help people with low or no income (indigent) receive legal education, advice and representation. Eswatini Legal Aid is established in terms of the National Legal Aid Policy of 2022 and is aligned with the country’s 2019-2023 Action Plan which carries a Road map under priority 5 which mandates the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs to ensure legal assistance for the indigent as part of its goal to ensure equal access to justice for every citizen in the country. According to Magagula, Legal Aid is a milestone which should be celebrated as the Ministry endeavours to ensure that Sustainable Development Goal 16; which seeks to promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels is realised.
Accessibility
The Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs highlights that Legal Aid is an accessible initiative that aims at providing qualitative and sustainable legal information and education, legal training, legal assistance, legal advice, alternative dispute resolution, legal representation and other related and incidental services to indigent and vulnerable persons, victims or witnesses in criminal, civil and other non -litigious matters by a Legal Aid provider, through the adoption of mixed methods which will tap into the wealth of knowledge and experience from other stakeholders.
Functions
Aid is living up to its vision which is ensuring equity in access to justice for the nation whilst its mission is to enhance access to justice through the provision of legal aid services to the least privileged. Its functions include the provision, administration, coordination, regulation and monitoring of the whole legal aid system in eSwatini, strengthening the provision of Legal Aid by Legal Aid providers for the benefit of the nation in particular the indigent and vulnerable people and ensuring the geographic coverage of the legal aid system by decentralizing Legal Aid services.
Magagula said that the interactions with emaSwati have been astonishingly positive. “Since the launch, the Legal Aid office has attended to 260 people from all four regions. Of the 260 people, the office interacted with 210 people at the Trade Fair in two days from 8th – 10th of September 2023.
“There have been 50 legal matters reported to the office since the launch.” Commented Magagula. Eswatini Legal Aid is focusing on four thematic areas for rolling out its services which are Legal information and awareness, advice and referrals, mediation, and legal assistance (which includes representation).
The Ministry says that to enhance public interactions, the office has reached out through radio programmes, and stakeholder engagement meetings and has collaborated with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and other stakeholders to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights through road shows, which is a build-up to the celebration on December, where the office outlines its mandate to the general public and stakeholders in the legal aid service value chain.
Magagula further advised emaSwati to visit the Legal Aid services which are available at Rhus Old MTN Park, Karl Grant Street, Lower office and people can call on their toll-free number which is (+268) 2404 4138. Additionally, the Director said that through the government’s decentralization policy, legal aid services will incrementally be made available in strategic places across the four regions of the country. The public will be informed in due course of when the offices will be fully functional.