Over 1 000 ex-soldiers meet acting army commander

M– The continuous downpours that have been christened ‘La Niña’ will have long tell-tale signs of hunger, infrastructure devastation and demolition of homes in its wake.

Rural communities that have taken the most devastating toll say the hostile weather has caused damage that would alter their usual way of life and further take toll on their food and financial reserves.

The heavy rains have been falling on a daily basis in the country since early December 2021, collapsing bridges, damaging roads and washing away crops.

EstimatEd

Government has estimated that repairing roads and bridges would cost at least E220 million. Meanwhile, humanitarian organisations have been on toes delivering tents and food aid to families whose houses were affected by the storm.

While the nation was enduring La Niña, the National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA) and the Eswatini Meteorological

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M– They may have retired from active service, but their military spirit was re-ignited and rekindled at the Matsapha Army Barracks yesterday.

These were over 1 000 army veterans who left the Umbutfo Eswatini Defence Force (UEDF) after serving for some years.

The ex-servicemen and women also comprised widows of veterans who registered their issues and expressed their utmost appreciation to the acting commander that all their matters would be duly addressed.

The reasons of their departure may vary, but all the ex-soldiers gathered to meet the Acting Army Commander, Lieutenant General Mashikilisana Fakudze for the first time.

REmindEd

During the meeting, Fakudze reminded the ex-servicemen and women that referring to them as retirees and pensioners was a misnomer in the military profession.

He stated that the correct and appropriate word to use was veterans; owing to the nature of the Oath of Allegiance they took

A Zwane family member standing next to a house that collapsed due to the heavy rains at Mahlangatsha. No one was injured when the house built from mud bricks collapsed. (RIGHT PIC) Mumcy Dlamini standing in front of a house that collapsed on her sick brother Bernard. He escaped unhurt at Mavovo.

Services (EMS) earlier this week, said the country must brace itself for a tropical cyclone, which may bring more headache for the nation. However, on Friday the EMS updated that the cyclone may have changed its course, but it was being closely monitored. Mahlangatsha MP Musa Ngcobo said several communities were struggling to cross the flooded river that connects Mahlangatsha and Bahwini.

Acting Army Commander Leiutenant General Mashikilisane Fakudze (R) addressing the more than 1 000 ex soldiers on Thursday.

when joining the Defence Forcecoupled with the selfless service which they had rendered to the country, which accorded them such status.

“Thank you so much for honouring the invitation I extended to you despite that it was made on short notice. My main intention is to meet you since we have not had the opportunity to meet ever since the commander-in-chief appointed me on acting

“Buses leave people on one side of the bridge and those brave enough cross over on foot to the other side.

The bridge was rendered extremely dangerous for cars, such that people who desperately need transport on the other side have to be carried shoulder high as they cross the rivers.

WashEd

“Three main bridges have been washed away. One connects the inkhundla with Ekuphakameni where buses cannot go through. Another is at Mahlabatsini and is used by the people of Mgomfelweni.

The other is at Emndziweni, where communities have also been adversely affected.

The MP said he had appealed to the Ministry of Public Works and Transport for assistance basis to command the UEDF until the substantive candidate is installed.”

ComponEnt

Fakudze said the veterans were an integral component of the Defence Force, world over; hence, it was critical to have a designated office in place to attend to all matters affecting them. “Veterans function as a reserve for the Defence Force as you may be recalled from time-to-time to serve but was told there was scarcity of diesel for the graders.

He said he had visited a number of homes and found that about 11 houses collapsed as the heavy rains battered the walls.

The MP said he had also found that some crops had been washed away by the heavy rains, to the point that farmers would have to start afresh.

Community member, Sibonginkosi Bernard Dlamini, whose home is at Mahlangatsha near Mavovo Primary School, said he was alone in his one-roomed hut when the walls and roof collapsed on him last week.

This was after weeks of persistent rains, which had been threatening the hut made of stick-and-mud.

Dlamini said he was under your country,” he said.

The army commander said the significance of veterans had culminated in the establishment of the Veterans Affairs (VA) Office which is headed by Lieutenant Colonel Churchill Dlamini.

He said the formation of the office was not just his vision and aspiration but that of the entire command staff who endorsed the development.

He further lauded the Republic treatment for diabetes, which had rendered him unable to walk without support.

“I was rescued out of the rubble by neighbours who heard my screams for help after the walls had collapsed on me,” he said.

Dlamini said last year he lost his wife who had been admitted to the Raleigh Fitkin Memorial (RFM) Hospital after an illness.

Battling

“Then while I was battling diabetes, I was also diagnosed with COVID-19, which worsened my diabetes condition,” he said.

He said ever since his house collapsed, he now lived in a rondavel within the homestead, which had a leaking roof.

Dlamini appealed to members of the public to call if they wanted to offer any help.

of China (Taiwan), who upon learning about the establishment of this critical office, sprang into action by providing the UEDF with a road map on how the veterans office operated in their home country.

The acting commander said the major aim of the office was to address all issues affecting veterans while envisioning that it would be absolutely imperative for the office to comprise pastors and lawyers, among other professionals.

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He also reminded the veterans that loyalty, honesty and selfless service remained the core tenets of military life. Fakudze stated the imperative role played by veterans due to their vast experiences and invaluable knowledge which they acquired in diverse military schools during their active years of service, which he said the UEDF and the country still needed their expertise.

He said the office of the veterans was based at the Ministry of Defence, where all issues affecting the ex-serviceman and women would be addressed.

“We do not want a scenario whereby when your years of active services cease, the only time we meet you is when we pay our last respects during funeral drills,” the acting commander said much to the delight of the veterans.”

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