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Cannabis Campaigners' Guide News Database result:
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Swaziland: Swazi dagga goes global Sibusisiwe Ngozo Swazi Observer Friday 07 Sep 2012 This is according to a world drug report by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). The report is based on statistics that were supplied by the respective countries. It is said in 2010, experts from many countries in West and Central Africa, Southern Africa, South Asia and Central Asia reported a perceived increase in cannabis use. In other countries, the use of cannabis, popularly known as dagga, was said to be stable. Seven out of 54 African states provided the information to UNODC, and most of them reported an increasing trend in the use of cannabis and opioids. The data for Africa is hard to come by but seizure data suggest that herb is the dominant form of cannabis in that region, except in North Africa According to the Royal Swaziland Police quarterly report for the period between April and June, at least 630 hectares were destroyed. This indicate a huge increase as the 630 hectares destroyed was only for three months yet for the year 2010 it was 633 hectares. The street value of the cannabis that was destroyed in the three months is E441 million. The police also seized cannabis weighing over 5114kg with the street value of over E2 million. The countries where the use of cannabis was reportedly to have increased include Nigeria, Mozambique, South Africa and Swaziland. In the aforementioned countries, stable trends in the use of cocaine and ATS were noted. Overall, experts from African States who reported to UNODC perceived a substantial increase in the use of all illicit drugs after 2005. Cannabis and opioids are the two main substances contributing to demand for treatment for illicit drug use in Africa, with 64 percent of all treatment for drug use reportedly provided for disorders related to cannabis use. In the Southern Africa region, according to the report, at least an estimated 9.8% of people use cannabis. About 230 million people or 5% of the world’s adult population, are estimated to have used an illicit drug at least once in 2010. Throughout the world, illicit drug use appears to be generally stable, though it continues to be rising in several developing countries. Illicit drugs including cannabis, according to UNODC, undermine economic and social development and contribute to crime, instability, insecurity and the spread of HIV. Govt-unions talks have not resumed Government has not yet engaged the teachers union over the issue of the 4.5% salary adjustment following the end of the seven week long strike. When the king put an end of the teachers strike in his address on the last day of Sibaya, he said the concerned parties in the matter should go back to the negotiation table so that it could be ascertained if the salary adjustments could be made and if they would be sustainable. However, since the call was made, the teachers have not been invited to the negotiating table to start talks surrounding their salary adjustment demand of 4.5%. Swaziland National Association of Teachers (SNAT) president Sibongile Mazibuko said they had not yet received any correspondence from the government negotiating team. Response She said they had on several times contacted the GNT but they had not received any response about engaging each other on the negotiation table. The two parties had previously reached a deadlock which led to the Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration Commission (CMAC) issuing a certificate of unresolved dispute. Even during the strike, which then had been joined by nurses and civil servants, the three unions wrote to the GNT requesting for a meeting which did take place, but nothing tangible was discussed as the government team said it was yet to consult with its principals. meeting Mazibuko said they only received a response last Thursday, where the meeting was brief but there were not discussing the issues of salary adjustment. She said they were prepared to talk it was just that it seemed there was not much willingness from the other party. http://www.observer.org.sz/index.php?news=42701
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