Africa-Press – Eswatini. Clerk to Parliament and former legislator Bennedict Xaba has urged emaSwati to lobby Members of Parliament (MPs) to pass legislation that will ensure free access to sanitary towels for girls across the country.
Xaba made the call during the Speech and Prize Giving Day at Edwaleni High School in Mahlalini, under Shiselweni II Inkhundla. He said that access to sanitary towels remained a challenge for many girls, particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds, and stressed that government intervention was vital.
“It is important to ensure that girls have free access to sanitary towels because some simply do not have the money to buy them. The only way MPs can help is if the electorate lobbies them to enact such legislation. This is how girls and women, who make up a large segment of the population, can benefit,” Xaba said.
He added that ensuring menstrual health support was not just about hygiene but also about dignity, equality, and the empowerment of young women, as lack of access often leads to absenteeism from school and missed opportunities.
Message to Pupils
Beyond the call for legislative reform, Xaba took time to advise pupils at Edwaleni High School to take their education seriously and uphold values of respect and discipline.
He urged them to respect their parents, guardians, teachers, traditional leaders, and Their Majesties, emphasising that respect should also extend to God and the authorities of any country they may visit in the future.
“It is imperative for you to understand how your country was formed and how it functions in administrative terms. This will enable you to defend the country even when you are abroad,” he told the learners.
Xaba’s remarks have reignited the conversation on menstrual health management in Eswatini, with advocates noting that a law mandating free sanitary towels would mark a significant step towards gender equity and educational inclusion.
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