Eswatini senate pushes for joint action after foreign-linked gambling raid in Mbabane
Senators said the situation highlights the need for stronger coordination across government departments.
Eswatini.- Eswatini senators have urged government leaders and the public to set aside blame and work together to address the issue of illegal gambling, following the recent bust of an illicit syndicate involving foreign nationals in Mbabane.
The call came during a senate portfolio committee meeting on the Ministry of Tourism and Environmental Affairs’ 2025/26 annual performance report, as Senator Prince Mphatfwa told the committee that incidents like recent police raids require a collective response.
He said: “When such incidents happen, people are quick to blame different departments, which does not help solve the problem. We are very sorry to everyone affected by this situation. We must not turn this into a blame game.”
Mphatfwa added that government institutions should support one another rather than point fingers. He warned that corruption could have played a role in allowing the operation to continue. “If someone was bribed to allow this, it shows how easy it can be. Even a small amount of money can influence decisions. But we must stand together and fix the problem.” He assured the Ministry that the Senate stood in solidarity with it and was ready to help resolve the matter.
The senators’ statements follow a police operation in Mbabane and nearby areas that targeted an alleged illegal online gambling syndicate. Officers arrested more than 200 foreign nationals from countries including China, Taiwan, Brazil, Indonesia, the Philippines and Cambodia. Many of the suspects face charges related to immigration offences and working without permits. More than 146 have appeared in court so far.
Minister of Tourism and Environmental Affairs Jane Mkhonta Simelane told the Committee that her Ministry had no prior knowledge of the activities. “The Ministry had not been informed of such operations prior to recent enforcement actions,” she said. She noted that the only contact her office had with gambling matters was a single licence application from one individual, which remains unapproved. The Minister also confirmed that the ministry had no information on how the foreign nationals entered the country.
Senators said the situation highlights the need for stronger coordination across government departments. The country’s lawmakers expressed hope that a unified approach will lead to lasting solutions and prevent similar operations in future, while police said investigations into the full scope of the syndicate are still ongoing.
