Swaziland Striving For Freedom Vol 34 Apr - June 2019

Swaziland: Striving for Freedom
As seen through the pages of Swazi Media Commentary

Vol. 34. April – June 2019
Compiled by
Richard Rooney
SWAZILAND STRIVING FOR FREEDOM
CONTENTS
Introduction 2
1 Health crisis 3
2 Workers’ rights 9
3 King Mswati III 14
4 Democracy activists 22
5 Schools and children 30
6 Corruption 37
7 LGBTI 42
8 Media 45
9 Royal Decree anniversary 53
10 And the rest … 56
About the editor 63
Previous publications 64
1
INTRODUCTION
Public services throughout Swaziland / eSwatini are close to meltdown as the government,
handpicked by absolute monarch King Mswati III, fails to get a grip on the economy. Health
services have been especially hit over the past three months with reports that people have
died as medicines run out because the government did not paid suppliers. Drugs for HIV are
in short supply, even though the kingdom has the highest rate of infection in the world.
Patients in public hospitals have also gone unfed.
These are some of the reports that have appeared on the Swazi Media Commentary website in
the second quarter of 2019 and are contained in this compilation, Swaziland: Striving for
Freedom Vol 34 April to June 2019. Also included: the International Trade Union
Confederation placed Swaziland near the bottom of countries across the world for workers’
rights. It said in the past year ‘police brutality reached unprecedented levels’ and ‘security
forces fired live ammunition at protesting workers’. Elsewhere, public service unions
marched on the government demanding cost-of-living salary increases.
The absolute monarch King Mswati maintained his grip on power by appointing 28 members
of his family to the kingdom’s committees and boards, including 10 princes and princesses to
the 23-member Liqoqo, a supreme traditional advisory body which is also known as the
Swazi National Council Standing Committee. This was in addition to the eight members of
his Royal Family he appointed to the Senate and six to the House of Assembly last year.
Meanwhile, the United States in its annual report on human rights in Swaziland found there
was no appetite to investigate human rights abuses or corruption. Swaziland was controlled
by the King and ‘political power remained largely vested with the king and his traditional
advisors,’ the report, stated.
Swazi Media Commentary is published online, updated most weekdays. It is operated entirely
by volunteers and receives no financial backing from any organisation. It is devoted to
providing information and commentary in support of human rights in Swaziland.
2
1. HEALTH CRISIS
More deaths in Swaziland as government fails to pay medicine suppliers

14 May 2019
People have died in Swaziland / eSwatini as medicine has run out because the government
has not paid suppliers.
At least three patients using the Nhlangano Health Centre died because they could not get
drugs to control their blood pressure.
The Swaziland Democratic Nurses Union believes many more may have died across
Swaziland.
The Times of Swaziland reported on Tuesday (14 May 2019), ‘It has emerged that across the
country, health facilities are struggling with a diminishing supply of critical drugs, but most
affected are the elderly, who suffer from high blood pressure.’
It reported that Nhlangano Health Centre has also run out of medicine to treat chronic
conditions like stomach ulcers, and for people with mental illnesses.
It reported a health worker saying, ‘It’s a very precarious situation. Doctors are now scared to
admit patients in the absence of medicine because relatives may end shifting the blame to the
hospital, yet the underlying problem is that of the drug shortage.’
The newspaper said there was also a serious shortage of medicines to treat flu, just as the
winter season approached.
President of the Swaziland Democratic Nurses Union Bheki Mamba told the Times several
facilities across the country continued to face serious challenges because they had run out of
medical supplies.
Mamba said, ‘Government has failed in its obligation to make health care accessible to the
populace, and this has resulted in people losing trust in the health system.’
Public services in Swaziland are in crisis as the government, handpicked by absolute monarch
King Mswati III, owes E3 billion to suppliers.
There have been reports across Swaziland that hospitals cannot afford to feed patients and
vital medicines have run out.
In December 2018 the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at the Mbabane Government Hospital was
reported to be close to shut-down because equipment was not being maintained. People were
dying because of this, it was reported.
In September 2018 it was reported at least six children in Swaziland had died from diarrhoea
and many more were sick because the government was broke and could not pay for vaccines.
It would cost US$6 for the vaccine to immunise a child.
3
In June 2018 it was revealed there were only 12 working public ambulances in the whole of
Swaziland because the government failed to maintain them. It had bought no new ambulances
since 2013.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) reported there were not enough doctors, nurses and
support staff. WHO conducted the Universal Health Coverage (UHC) scoping exercise in
Swaziland. Its report stated, ‘The country has inadequate health workforce in both numbers
and skills. The distribution of health workforce is also skewed in favour of urban areas with
some rural health facilities having staffing gaps. Other health workforce challenges include;
retention of skilled staff due to frequent rotation of workers especially nurses; and
government absorption of donor funded positions.’
WHO added, ‘The distribution of health facilities and access to essential health services
create inequities between rural and urban populations.’
HIV drugs not available across Swaziland as health crisis deepens

12 June 2019
Drugs to treat HIV infection are not available in most hospitals and clinics across Swaziland /
eSwatini as the public health systems sinks further into crisis.
Swaziland has the highest rate of HIV infection in the world. As of 2017, 27 percent of the
population, or 210,000 people, were infected. There were reportedly 7,000 new infections in
that year.
The drugs known as antiretrovirals (ARVs) have been out of stock in many places for at least
a month, the Times of Swaziland reported on Wednesday (12 June 2019).
It said the shortage affected ‘most public health institutions’. It added, the shortage also
affected some private health facilities. It said the shortage was countywide and patients had
been told to seek alternative suppliers.
Raleigh Fitkin Memorial (RFM), Manzini, is one hospital that still has supplies of the drugs.
The Times reported, ‘Sources at the RFM Hospital have revealed that there were currently
unbelievable queues for ARVs because of the shortage at other health centres.’
Swaziland’s health system is in meltdown mainly because the government, which is not
elected but appointed by absolute monarch King Mswati III, has not paid suppliers.
Medicines of all sorts have run out in public hospitals and health clinics across Swaziland.
Local media reported in the past that many people, including children, have died as a result.
Hospital equipment, including at intensive-care units, has not been maintained and cannot be
used. In September 2018 it was reported Mbabane Government Hospital was unable to feed
its patients because it had no money. There are 500 beds at the hospital. Hlatikhulu
Government Hospital faced a similar problem in February 2019.
since 2013.
4
Swaziland with world’s worst HIV rate only has four months’ ARV supplies
26 June 2019
Swaziland / eSwatini which has the highest rate of HIV infection in the world has only four
months stock of life-saving ARV drugs, as the health system in the kingdom continues to
disintegrate.
The government of the kingdom ruled by absolute monarch King Mswati III has not paid
drug suppliers because it is broke.
The shortage was revealed to members of the Ministry of Health Portfolio Committee when
they toured the kingdom’s Central Medical Stores (CMS) in Matsapha which houses
Swaziland’s medical supplies.
Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Health, Dr Simon Zwane, said ARVs were available
but not in adequate supply. They preferred to have stock for seven months.
The Times of Swaziland reported CMS Deputy Director Themba Motsa said government
allocated about E270 million for ARVs supply, but the Ministry of Finance released only E68
million which was paid to the various suppliers.
The newspaper added, ‘He said the paid amount did not even cover the E100 million owed by
the Ministry of Health to the suppliers. This, he said meant that the ministry was able to use
the available resources to partly pay the suppliers, but there was still no funds to beef up the
supply of ARVs.’
Chairman of the Ministry of Health Portfolio Committee, Mduduzi ‘Small Joe’ Dlamini said
the Ministry of Health also suffered fuel shortages.
Swaziland Positive Living (SWAPOL) Director Siphiwe Hlophe said, ‘This is a disaster.’ She
said Swaziland must prioritise buying ARVs. She added she had received reports that some
clinics were allegedly rolling out expired ARVs to patients, especially those who were
ignorant.
Hlophe said, ‘Does the country want us to die because if the shortage continues, a number of
people will relapse.’ She said Swaziland would go back to a time where funerals were being
held in every corner.
Swaziland has the highest rate of HIV infection in the world. As of 2017, 27 percent of the
population, or 210,000 people, were infected. There were reportedly 7,000 new infections in
that year.
Swaziland hospital crisis: govt not paid bills so patients only eat bread
18 June 2019
Patients in a public hospital in Swaziland / eSwatini were only fed two slices of bread at
meals when food ran out because the government had not paid suppliers.
It was reported the bakery would only deliver bread if it was paid in advance.
Swaziland is reeling from a health crisis because the government has not paid it debts. Nurses
plan a protest march against government.
5
The Times of Swaziland reported on Monday (18 June 2019) that the food shortage hit two
public hospitals, Hlatikhulu Government Hospital and Nhlangano Health Centre, both in the
Shiselweni Region.
It reported at Hlatikhulu, ‘patients revealed that for the past week, hospital staff had been
dishing only two slices of dry bread for all the meals of the day’.
It added, ‘An interviewed patient said there was a brief relief on Tuesday when they were
given porridge and soup. Thereafter, the patient said they were back to the bread supply.’
At Nhlangano it was reported staff paid for food out of their own money.
In the past food shortages have been reported at the Mbabane Government Hospital and again
at Hlatikhulu Government Hospital.
The food problem is one of many facing the health service in Swaziland which is caused by
the government’s inability to pay suppliers. There are shortages of many drugs across the
kingdom. Local media reported in the past that many people, including children, have died as
a result.
Members of the Swaziland Democratic Nurses Union (SWADNU) plan to march and deliver
a petition to the Ministry of Health on Friday (22 June 2019) to demand it addresses the drugs
shortage.
It is not only a problem of drugs. Hospital equipment, including at intensive-care units at
Mbabane Government Hospital, has also not been maintained and cannot be used.
since 2013.
Swaziland health crisis: fearful psychiatric nurses say they might release patients
20 June 2019
Psychiatric nurses in Swaziland / eSwatini say they might release patients from their clinic
because there are no drugs to subdue them after supplies ran out and they fear for their own
safety.
The drug shortage is part of a nationwide health crisis after the government failed to pay
suppliers.
Nurses at the National Psychiatric Centre, near Manzini, have been drawing attention to the
problem for some months, but government has failed to respond.
Nurses told the Swazi Observer newspaper that they suffered violence from patients.
It quoted one nurse saying, ‘The wards have become battle rings because the patients are
fighting more than usual since there are those who need to be kept in check through
medication. It’s hard for us because our patients can’t reason due to their ailment.’
6
Meanwhile, senators in Swaziland have given the Minister of Health Lizzie Nkosi seven days
to submit a detailed report highlighting the problems in the health sector, including the drug
shortages and proposed industrial action by health workers.
Public services, including health, are grinding to a halt as the government, which is not
elected but handpicked by absolute monarch King Mswati III, has repeatedly failed to pay
suppliers. Medicines have run out in public hospitals and clinics and children who rely on
free food at schools to fend off hunger go unfed.
Swaziland nurses give govt one month to solve drugs shortage or they strike
24 June 2019
Nurses in Swaziland / eSwatini have given government four weeks to solve the drugs
shortage crisis in the kingdom or they will call a nationwide strike.
This was stated at a protest march where petitions were handed into the Ministry of Health
and the Prime Minister’s Office on Friday (21 June 2019).
Swaziland, ruled by absolute monarch King Mswati III, has been short of medicines in public
hospitals for more than a year. The government, which is not elected but handpicked by the
King, is broke and has not paid suppliers. Media in Swaziland reported people, including
children, have died because of the shortages.
President of the Eswatini Nurses Association Bhekie Mamba told the Observer on Saturday
newspaper in Swaziland that government had lied in the past when it said medical supplies
were being sent to hospitals and clinics.
Nurses also want government to prioritise hiring of nurses and for health care to be
adequately financed.
The Observer quoted the nurses association’s Second Deputy Secretary Neliso Matsenjwa
saying, ‘if this is not done in the next four weeks, we shall render the health sector
unworkable’.
Last week psychiatric nurses in Swaziland said say they might release patients from their
clinic because there were no drugs to subdue them after supplies ran out and they feared for
their own safety.
See also
Report: patients die as Swaziland government hospital runs out of cash
Medicine shortage: five die
Swaziland health crisis getting worse as budgets cut. Rural areas most affected
Grants for people with disabilities cut as Swaziland Govt financial crisis continues
30 May 2019
Grants for people with disabilities in Swaziland / eSwatini are to be cut because the
government has run out of money.Now, only 20 people in each political constituency (known
7
locally as tinkhundla) will get benefits.
There are 59 tinkhundla in the kingdom for about 1.2 million people. In 2016 the then Prime
Minister Barnabas Dlamini estimated 114,000 people were living with disabilities in
Swaziland.
E8.7 million (US$600,000) was set aside in this year’s national budget for the grants. In 2017
that figure was E25.5 million, according to budget estimates for 2019 – 2022.
President of the Federation of People with Disabilities in Swaziland (FODSWA) Sipho
Dlamini said he had been told by Swaziland’s Deputy Prime Minister Themba Masuku the
cutback was because of the ongoing financial crisis.
He told the Times of Swaziland (28 May 2019) his organisation would work closely with
local leaders to choose who gets the grants. Sipho Dlamini said people with disabilities were
not adequately represented in parliament. The Times reported he said it was because of this
that issues of people with disabilities were not given the attention they deserved.
People with disabilities in Swaziland are poorly treated. A report published by SINTEF
Technology and Society, Global Health and Welfare in 2011 that studied living conditions
among people with disabilities in Swaziland, found, ‘There is a general belief that those who
have a disability are bewitched or inflicted by bad spirits.
‘Many believe that being around people with disabilities can bring bad luck. As a result,
many people with disabilities are hidden in their homesteads and are not given an opportunity
to participate and contribute to society.’
It also found that people with disabilities had been abandoned by the Swazi Government. The
report stated, ‘The absence of any comprehensive laws and policies to address people with
disabilities’ access to equal opportunities reflect a lack of political will and a failure to
recognize disability as a human right issue contributes to the devaluing and dehumanising of
people with disabilities.
‘People with disabilities have the same rights as able-bodied people and they are entitled to
enjoy all citizenry rights.’
Since that report the Disability Act of 2018 introduced financial grants, but the kingdom,
ruled by King Mswati III as an absolute monarch, is in economic meltdown. Public health
centres and hospitals have run out of medicines, schools are without supplies and children are
going hungry because feeding programmes have stopped. All because the government, which
is handpicked by the King, cannot pay suppliers.
See also
Disabled people ‘treated like animals’
Sick kids ‘hidden to save Swazi image’
8
2. WORKERS’ RIGHTS
US Ambassador to Swaziland’s optimism over political progress in kingdom misplaced

27 May 2019
The confidence Lisa Peterson, US Ambassador to Swaziland /eSwatini, has that the kingdom
is honouring the rights enshrined in the constitution and allowing political marches is
misplaced. The facts show the opposite is happening.
Ambassador Peterson made her comments in an article published in both the two national
newspapers in Swaziland. She wrote after the publication of the annual US State Department
report on human rights in Swaziland. It covered the year 2018.
Swaziland is ruled by King Mswati III as an absolute monarch. He chooses the government,
top judges and senior civil servants. Political parties are banned from taking part in elections
and groups that advocate for democracy in the kingdom are banned under the Suppression of
Terrorism Act.
In her article Ambassador Peterson wrote, ‘If you look back at prior year human rights
reports, you will see that prior restrictions on public gatherings were part of what drew
international attention to Eswatini’s failure to honour the constitution’s fundamental
freedoms of assembly, association, and expression.
‘Having explicitly political marches take place [in 2018], and having the organisers able to
publicly highlight their success, shows that Eswatini is better honouring the rights enshrined
in its constitution. Such improvement should be celebrated.’
She made no reference to the numerous cases where state forces attacked legitimate
protestors during 2018. Live ammunition, rubber bullets and teargas were repeatedly used.
In August 2018, for example, police attacked three separate demonstrations by workers
protesting for better pay and conditions.
Police fired several gunshot blasts while textile workers, mostly women, protested at
Nhlangano about poor pay. More than 200 paramilitary police and correctional facility
warders with riot shields, helmets and batons guarded the entrance to Juris, one of the major
factories, according to a local media report. It happened on 30 August 2018 when five firms
closed after management locked gates after workers gathered.
On the previous Friday police shot and wounded a schoolteacher during a march in Manzini.
On the Wednesday that week in Mbabane nurses were tasered. Both groups were protesting
at the Swazi government’s decision to offer a zero increase in their salary cost of living
adjustment.
In September 2018, police blocked nurses who were legally trying to deliver a petition to
government as part of their ongoing campaign against service cuts. One local newspaper
reported a policeman’s baton was broken in two during the confrontation.
9
Also in September, police officers were captured on video viciously attacking defenceless
workers on the street in Manzini during a legal protest over pay. Dozens of officers in riot
gear and waving batons were seen chasing workers. At least one officer appeared to be
wielding a whip. Workers were seen running fearing for their safety. The police
indiscriminately hit the fleeing workers around their bodies. It was on the first day of a three
day national strike organised by the Trade Union Congress of Swaziland (TUCOSWA).
Protests took place simultaneously in the towns and cities of Mbabane, Manzini, Siteki and
Nhlangano.
The strike had earlier been declared legal under Swaziland’s Industrial Relations Act.
Four protesters were injured on 29 June 2018 when police opened fire with rubber bullets and
stun grenades during a workers’ protest in Mbabane against government policies. AFP
reported, ‘Police fired rubber bullets and tear gas at about 500 protesters, as well as using
water cannon and wielding batons, as demonstrators threw stones at officers.’ Reuters put the
number of protestors at 2,000.
Reuters reported they marched against poor service delivery, alleged misuse of state pension
funds and a proposed law to charge citizens who marry foreigners.
On 13 April, police fired rubber bullets as about 2,000 workers and supporters took to the
streets of Mbabane to protest against worsening living conditions. The AFP news agency
reported one protestor was hit in the thigh by a rubber bullet.
In April, police fired rubber bullets and arrested eight students when they put a rubbish skip
in the middle of a road during a protest against poor teaching and facilities.at Limkokwing
University, Mbabane.
On 15 March, police armed with batons blocked a road in Lobamba to stop a petition
rejecting the national budget being delivered to parliament. Police with guns watched from a
distance. About 100 members of civil society groups, community organisations and political
parties under the banner of the Swaziland Economic Justice Network marched from
Somhlolo National Stadium heading to the Parliament gate.
On 31 January, police reportedly fired live ammunition during a protest by students from
Swaziland Christian University about delays in receiving allowances and problems over
graduation.
The Department of State report was not only one to detail human rights in Swaziland during
2018. Freedom House concluded in its annual review that King Mswati continued to hold a
tight grip on power and all aspects of life in the kingdom.
Freedom House scored Swaziland 16 out of a possible 100 points in its Freedom in the World
2019 report. It concluded that Swaziland was ‘not free’. Freedom House scored Swaziland
one point out of a possible 16 for ‘political pluralism and participation’ stating, ‘The king has
tight control over the political system in law and in practice, leaving no room for the
emergence of an organized opposition with the potential to enter government.’
Richard Rooney
10
See also
Swaziland police fire gunshots during textiles dispute, third attack on workers in a week
Swaziland teacher who stopped police chief shooting into unarmed crowd appears in court
Police in Swaziland attack nurses with taser during peaceful protest over pay
No guarantee of workers’ rights in Swaziland, ITUC reports, and it’s getting worse
21 June 2019
There is no guarantee of workers’ rights in Swaziland/ eSwatini and it is getting worse, a

report from the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) concluded.
ITUC placed Swaziland, which is ruled by absolute monarch King Mswati III, near the
bottom of countries across the world. It said in the past year ‘police brutality reached
unprecedented levels’ and ‘security forces fired live ammunition at protesting workers’.
In a review of workers’ rights during 2018, ITUC reported, ‘In eSwatini, a peaceful
demonstration, organised by the Trade Union Congress of Swaziland (TUCOSWA) to deliver
a petition to the deputy prime minister’s office, was brutally repressed by armed forces on 29
June 2018.
‘The police prevented workers from reaching the deputy prime minister’s office by using
water cannon and tear gas canisters, and attacked demonstrators with batons. Four members
of TUCOSWA were gravely injured and taken to the hospital, while Majembeni Thobela, a
security guard who was marching this day, received severe beatings and was left unconscious
covered with blood on his face from head injuries.
‘The police did not even bother to rush him to the hospital, and first aid was later applied to
him by other marchers. Many demonstrators ran for safety, with pursuing police beating
everyone in sight with batons. Some were cornered and severely assaulted by the police. A
week after the events, two people were still in a critical state in hospital.’
The ITUC Global Rights Index ranked 145 countries on the degree of respect for workers’
rights in law and in practice. It reported the situation n Swaziland /eSwatini had worsened
since last year.
Swaziland public service unions call national strike to march on government

19 June 2019
Public service unions across Swaziland / eSwatini plan a nationwide strike against
government.
They intend to march and deliver petitions to a number of government ministries. It is due to
take place on Wednesday (26 June 2019).
Four public service unions have joined forces, they are the National Public Service and Allied
Workers Union (NAPSAWU), Swaziland National Association of Teachers (SNAT),
Swaziland Democratic Nurses Union (SWADNU) and the Swaziland Government
Accountants Personnel (SNAGAP).
11
The strike had been delayed by the kingdom’s Industrial Court.

One of the matters the union wants sorted is the shortage of medicines at public hospitals and
clinics. The government, which is not elected but handpicked by absolute monarch King
Mswati III, is broke and has not paid suppliers.
SNAT Secretary General Sikelela Dlamini told the Swazi Observer that the shortage was so
bad that people had died as a result.
Members of the SWADNU already plan to march on Friday (21 June 2019) over the issue of
healthcare.
Workers have been campaigning for the past two years for cost of living salary increases of
6.5 percent. The government offered zero percent. Unions say inflation in Swaziland has
risen by 14.5 percent over the past two years.
See also
Industrial Court stops Swaziland public servants strike at last minute
Swaziland public servants prepare for pay strike amid fears of renewed police violence
against them
Swaziland public servants talk of working three-day week as wages dispute drags on
27 June 2019
Public servants in Swaziland / eSwatini are threatening to work only three days a week in the
latest move in a two-year-old pay dispute.
They want a 14.4 percent cost of living increase but the government of absolute monarch
King Mswati III has said it cannot afford to pay anything.
Public service unions marched on government on Wednesday (26 June 2019) to deliver a
petition.
After the march the Times of Swaziland reported union negotiators said if the government did
not meet their pay claim by July, public servants would only work three days a week in
future.
It reported, ‘Their argument was that as it was, they were working five days per week but
received a salary equivalent to three days, based on the erosion by inflation rate in the past
two financial years.’
Negotiations are due to continue between unions and government next Wednesday.
Four public service unions have joined forces in the negotiation; they are the National Public
Service and Allied Workers Union (NAPSAWU), Swaziland National Association of
Teachers (SNAT), Swaziland Democratic Nurses Union (SWADNU) and the Swaziland
Government Accountants Personnel (SNAGAP).
Ahead of the march, SNAT said the government claimed it had no money but continued to
spend on ‘national celebrations that do not feed into the developmental agenda for the
12
country’. These included the King’s Birthday. It said, ‘Millions of Emalangeni were spent in
these vanity activities and yet the middle class and the poor continued to live in abject
poverty. With 70 percent of the population living in rural areas and 63 percent of the
population living below the bread-line, it spells doom for Swaziland.’
See also
Swaziland absolute monarch gets millions in cash as birthday gifts while people die
through lack of medicine
13
3. KING MSWATI III
Swaziland King reportedly hiding $30 million of Libyan money for Jacob Zuma
10 April 2019
King Mswati III, the absolute monarch of Swaziland / Eswatini, is reportedly hiding US$30
million of money from Libya for his friend Jacob Zuma, the former president of South
Africa.
The Sunday Times newspaper in South Africa reported (7 April 2019) that the money was
secretly moved to Eswatini earlier this year from Zuma’s Nkandla residence where it had
been hidden. The money had reportedly been given to Zuma by late Libyan dictator
Muammar Gaddafi.
A high-ranking intelligence source told the Sunday Times that its investigations had revealed
that the money had been moved in five tranches from Nkandla and transported to Eswatini.
King Mswati III reportedly confirmed the existence of the money to South Africa’s current
President Cyril Ramaphosa during a meeting at OR Tambo International Airport in
Johannesburg.
The AFP news agency reported, ‘According to the Sunday Times’ sources, Zuma travelled to
Libya in 2011 with then intelligence minister Siyabonga Cwele, where the delegation offered
the Libyan leader safe passage to SA as rebel forces closed in.
‘According to an insider, Gaddafi gave Zuma the cash, saying that if he was captured Zuma
must find him a good lawyer to represent him at the International Criminal Court.
‘Gaddafi died while being chased by rebels in Tripoli in October 2011.’
The Sunday Times reported, ‘The money was said to have been transported out of King Shaka
airport in Durban bound for Eswatini, where it was to be stored by the Central Bank of
Eswatini.
‘But highly placed sources in the country said the bank’s governor Majozi Sithole refused to
deposit the cash pile. Sorting out the cash pile was left to deputy governor Mhlabuhlangene
Dlamini, who is related to the king.
‘“The deputy governor is involved. He is the one who went with JZ [Zuma] to go and count
the money. He took some people at the bank, they apparently flew to King Shaka airport,
counted out the money and brought it back. Majozi is refusing to put the cash into the
system,” said an insider with links to both the royal household and the bank.’
The Sunday Times reported that according to government sources Zuma allegedly held the
stash of high-denomination US dollar bills for several years in an underground vault at his
luxurious home in rural Kwazulu Natal. Zuma handed it over to King Mswati of Eswatini
after fearing he would face charges in South Africa over corruption allegations.
The newspaper said the Libyans had asked President Ramaphosa to help get the money back.
It reported Gaddafi’s son Saif al Islam wanted to contest elections later this year.
14
King Mswati and Jacob Zuma have a close personal relationship. In October 2017 Princess
Ziyanda, a member of the Swazi Royal Family, married Zuma’s son Mxolisi. The princess
was the second member of the royal family to marry into the Zuma family, the Swazi
Observer, a newspaper in effect owned by the King, reported at the time.
The Observer reported, ‘The Zuma family alone presented her [Princess Ziyanda] with close
to E600,000 in hard cash.’ In Swaziland seven in ten of the population live on incomes less
than E55 a day. The Zuma family also paid the King 121 cattle as lobola [bride price] for the
princess.
King Mswati was a close ally of Gaddafi and made trips to Libya for talks about securing
business and financial aid for Swaziland.
In 2002, King Mswati, made Gaddafi a Grand Counsellor of the Order of Sobhuza II, the
royal palace’s highest honour and named after Mswati’s father.
One of the king’s sons, Prince Sicalo, underwent intensive military training in Libya.
King Mswati was both a political ally and a friend of Gaddafi. In 2001, when King Mswati
was struck down with a mystery illness (widely believed at the time to be caused by
deliberate poisoning) Gaddafi flew a team of doctors to Swaziland to treat the king.
In 2009, Gaddafi sent the king six camels as ‘a token of friendship’.
Both the Swazi and South African governments denied the existence of the money. It was
reported by Africa News 24-7 that Zuma intended to sue the Sunday Times for defamation.
King Mswati, makes Gaddafi a Grand Counsellor of the Order of Sobhuza II. Picture:
Without The King documentary
See also
Wikileaks: Swazi Gaddafi gaffe
15
Swaziland’s king appoints 28 members of his family to kingdom’s committees and

boards
16 April 2019
King Mswati III, the absolute monarch of Swaziland / eSwatini, has appointed seventeen
members of his own family to the kingdom’s two most influential advisory committees.
This is in addition to the eight members of the Royal Family he previously appointed to the
Swazi Senate and six to the House of Assembly.
The announcement of the appointments was made in a statement from the King’s Office.
King Mswati appointed 10 princes and princesses to the 23-member Liqoqo, a supreme
traditional advisory body which is also known as the Swazi National Council Standing
Committee. This group rules on matters relating to Swazi traditional law and customs.
King Mswati also appointed seven members of his family to the 17-member Ludzidzini
Council, a group of senior traditionalists centred around the King’s Ludzidzini Palace. The
Ludzidzini governor is also known as the traditional prime minister and has more status in the
kingdom than Ambrose Dlamini the man King Mswati appointed Prime Minister to lead the
cabinet the King also hand-picked.
As well as the 17 members of his family he appointed to Liqoqo and Ludzidzini, King
Mswati appointed a further 11 princes and princesses to five other committees.
The Swaziland Solidarity Network, a group banned in Swaziland because it advocates for
multi-party democracy, said in a statement, ‘These appointments by King Mswati confirms
our long held view that the king believes that the country is his own farm where he does what
he wants without taking into consideration the people’s views or interests.’
In October 2018, following the national election, King Mswati appointed eight members of
his Royal Family to the kingdom’s Senate and six to the House of Assembly. Elections for
the House of Assembly were held on 21 September 2018. Political parties are banned from
taking part and people are only allowed to select 59 members; the King appoints a further 10.
No members of the 30-member Senate are elected by the people. The King also chooses the
Prime Minister and Cabinet ministers as well as senior civil servants and top judges.
The full results of the 2018 House of Assembly elections have not been made public by the
Elections and Boundaries Commission, the group that ran the election. Only the names of the
winning candidate in each constituency is readily available. Withholding of results is
common in Swaziland; the full results of the previous House of Assembly election in 2013
are not public.
Swaziland was a British Protectorate until 1968. In the years following independence
Swaziland was a parliamentary democracy. In 1973 King Sobhuza II proclaimed a Royal
Decree after he objected to his subjects electing members of a political party that was not
under his control.
He abolished the kingdom’s constitution and announced, I have assumed supreme power in
the Kingdom of Swaziland and that all Legislative, Executive and Judicial power is vested in
myself.’
16
Even though Swaziland adopted a new constitution in 2006, the kingdom, now ruled by King
Mswati III, remains an absolute monarchy.
Swaziland is a small landlocked country about the size of the US state of New Jersey. Seven
in 10 of its estimated 1.2 population live in abject poverty with incomes less than the
equivalent of US$3 per day. The King has at least 13 palaces and fleets of top-of-the-range
Mercedes and BMW cars. He and members of his extensive Royal Family (he has had at least
15 wives) live opulent lifestyles and are often seen in public wearing watches and jewels
worth hundreds of thousands of dollars.
The King wore a watch worth US$1.6 million and a suit beaded with diamonds weighing 6
kg, at his 50th birthday party in April 2018. Days earlier, King Mswati took delivery of his
second private jet aircraft that with upgrades was estimated to have cost US$30 million.
In recent years public hospitals have run out of vital medicines and schools have closed
because supplies of food to feed children have run out. This is because the government failed
to pay suppliers.
See also
Anniversary of day Swaziland stopped being a democracy and became absolute monarchy
approaches
Swaziland King appoints eight of his family to Senate amid reports of widespread vote
buying elsewhere
Norwegian Labour Party criticises Swaziland King for neglecting own people
18 April 2019, Kenworthy News Media,
The largest political party in the Norwegian parliament, the Norwegian Labour Party
Arbeiderpartiet, criticised the absolute monarchy of Swaziland in a resolution presented at its
national congress.
‘Eswatini (formerly Swaziland) is one of the world’s last absolute monarchies. King Mswati
has almost absolute power. While the population of Eswatini suffers from partial extreme
poverty, the king lives an extravagant life of luxury. Swaziland has the highest rate of HIV-
Aids-infection per capita. But treating those who are infected or preventing further spread of
the disease is not a priority,’ a statement from the Norwegian Labour Party Arbeiderpartiets
national congress reads.
‘King Mswati must be criticized for neglecting the humanitarian needs of his own people,
including hunger, as well as for the silencing of oppositional voices,’ the statement, titled
Stronger together: a safer and better organized world, adds.
‘The citizens of Eswatini are forced to follow the orders of the king. Organised opposition is
restricted and union leaders and oppositional forces are persecuted. Norway must take greater
17
responsibility for securing the needs of the people of Eswatini internationally,’ the statement
concludes.
The statement also criticises international tax evasion and the lack of action in regard to
global warming, amongst an array of other issues.
See also
Swaziland is not in the ‘first world’
Denmark questions King on rights
Swaziland absolute monarch tries to sell his undemocratic kingdom to the world
6 May 2019
Swaziland / eSwatini, which is ruled by King Mswati III as an absolute monarch, has started
a campaign to encourage people internationally to support the kingdom’s undemocratic
political system.
In Swaziland the Constitution allows the King to dominate all political and public life in the
kingdom. Political parties are banned from taking part in elections and groups that advocate
multi-party democracy are outlawed. Individuals who speak out against the system are
prosecuted under terrorism and sedition laws.
The system of government in Swaziland is known as ‘Tinkhundla’ or ‘monarchical
democracy’. It puts all power in the hands of the monarchy. King Mswati chooses the Prime
Minister, cabinet ministers and many members of the House of Assembly and Senate. He also
appoints members of the judiciary and all senior political postholders in his kingdom.
The King has demanded Minister of Tinkhundla Administration and Development David
Ngcamphalala set up a task group to document the Tinkhundla ideology. According to the
Swazi Observer, a newspaper in effect owned by King Mswati, the task is to ‘correct
misconceptions that have been developed, especially at the international stage,’ about the
system of government in Swaziland. Ngcamphalala added he wanted to increase investor
confidence in the kingdom.
The newspaper said the process of documenting the Tinkhundla system would include
consultative meetings ‘with specific but relevant stakeholders’.
The intention, the Observer reported, was that after the review the ‘attitude would change
internally and externally on how Emaswati [the people of Swaziland] are governed’.
However, the chances are the exercise is likely to only emphasise the lack of democracy in
Swaziland. It is no secret that King Mswati rules as an absolute monarch. His position is
enshrined in the Swaziland Constitution that came into effect in 2006.
Human rights violations in Swaziland have been well documented. Recently, the United
States Department of State in its annual review of the kingdom, highlighted ‘human rights
issues’ across a wide range of areas which included, ‘restrictions on political participation,
corruption, rape and violence against women linked in part to government inaction,
criminalization of same-sex sexual conduct, although rarely enforced, and child labor’.
18
Amnesty International in a review of Swaziland for 2017 / 2018 stated, ‘The Public Order
Act and the Suppression of Terrorism Act severely limited the rights to freedom of
expression, association and peaceful assembly.’
It added, The Public Order Act, ‘curtailed the rights to freedom of assembly and association,
imposing far-reaching restrictions on organizers of public gatherings. The Act also failed to
provide mechanisms to hold law enforcement officials accountable for using excessive force
against protesters or public gatherings.’
See also
Swaziland in economic freefall with human rights failings, report shows
Swaziland ‘not free’ as King keeps grip on power, Freedom House reports
More money goes to Swaziland’s absolute monarch, despite kingdom’s financial

meltdown
15 May 2019
The conglomerate of businesses that partly finances the lavish lifestyle of Swaziland’s
absolute monarch King Mswati III increased its revenue by 26 percent in the year ending
2017, according to official figures, recently released.
The profits of Tibiyo TakaNgwane are said to be held in trust for the Swazi Nation but the
way they are spent is clouded in secrecy. The South African Sunday Times newspaper in
August 2014 reported ‘several sources’ who said it was ‘an open secret’ that although money
generated by Tibiyo was meant to be used for the benefit of the nation, Tibiyo in fact
channelled money directly to the Royal Family.
The annual accounts for the financial year ending April 2017 were recently released. They
show that dividends from investments were E162 million, an increase from the E118.5
million recorded in 2016.
Net income increased from E145 million to E250 million, a 72 per cent increase. Total assets
grew from E1.8 billion to E2 billion, a growth of nine per cent.
According to the annual report Tibiyo, spent E144 million on ‘Swazi national development’.
The accounts do not give full details of how this money was spent except to say E56 million
went on ‘sundry expenses’ and a further E36 million was spent on ‘national ceremonies’.
This compared to E2 million spent on health care and E38 million on scholarships and
bursaries.
Tibiyo owns outright or has substantial interests in a number of businesses including sugar
refining giants Ubombo Sugar and Royal Swaziland Sugar Corporation (RSSC), dairy
company Parmalat Swaziland, spirits manufacturer Swaziland Beverages and hotel chain
Swazi Spa Holdings. It also owns the Swazi Observer, one of only two daily newspapers in
the kingdom.
Separately from his money from Tibiyo, King Mswati also holds 25 percent of all mining
royalties in Swaziland ‘in trust’ for the Swazi Nation.
19
This unaccounted spending took place at a time when the Swaziland government was deeply
in debt and unable to pay its suppliers. Public services across the kingdom renamed eSwatini
by the King in 2018 have ground to a halt with reports of people dying for lack of medicines
and children going hungry because the government, handpicked by King Mswati, was unable
to pay suppliers of meals for children.
In 2017 King Mswati was named the third wealthiest King in Africa by the international
website Business Insider. It reported he had a net worth of US$200 million (about E2.8
billion in local Swazi currency). The King rules a population of about 1.3 million people and
seven in ten of them live in abject poverty with incomes of less than E30 per day.
In 2009, Forbes named King Mswati among the top 15 wealthiest royals in the whole world,
with a net worth of US$200 million.
In February 2011 the Mail & Guardian newspaper in South Africa reported King Mswati also
had US$10 billion that was put in trust in King Mswati’s name for the people of Swaziland
by his father, King Sobhuza II.
King Mswati and his family live a lavish lifestyle, at the expense of the people of Swaziland.
The Swazi Government paid US$30 million to buy the King a private jet plane in 2018. King
Mswati now has two private planes, 13 palaces and fleets of top-of-the-range BMW and
Mercedes cars. He wore a watch worth US$1.6 million and a suit beaded with diamonds
weighing 6 kg, at his 50th birthday party in April 2018. He received E15 million (US$1.2
million) in cheques, a gold dining room suite and a gold lounge suite among his birthday
gifts.
His family regularly travel the world on shopping trips spending millions of dollars each
time.
Meanwhile, the World Food Program said it could not raise the US$1.1 million it needed to
feed starving children in the kingdom.
See also
Lavish spending leads to food aid cut
Report blasts royal family’s ‘greed’
Swaziland absolute monarch gets millions in cash as birthday gifts while people die
through lack of medicine
17 May 2019
King Mswati III, the absolute monarch of impoverished Swaziland /eSwatini, received E3.5
million cash, including E300,000 from a state workers’ pension fund, in birthday gifts.
He also received other gifts, including five of the latest 65-inch TV sets, portraits, jewellery,
clothing and more than 100 cattle. In total the gifts for his 51st birthday were worth E6.8
million, according to the Swazi Observer, a newspaper in effect owned by the King.
20
The gifts were handed over at Lozitha Palace, one of 13 palaces owned by the King who rules
over a population of about 1.3 million people. Seven in ten of them live in abject poverty
with incomes of less than E30 per day.
The money King Mswati received included E300,000 from the Public Service Pensions Fund
which is set up to provide members with retirement annuities, death benefits, disability
benefits and other pension-related benefits.
The Eswatini sugar industry contributed the biggest cheque of E1.3 million, mobile phone
company Eswatini MTN donated E500,00 and Royal Swazi Spa, E264 000.
Tibiyo TakaNgwane, the conglomerate of businesses that the King holds in trust for the
Swazi nation, paid for the event, the Observer reported.
The King took the gifts just after news broke in Swaziland that people were dying because of
the lack of medicines in hospitals. Schools across the kingdom are struggling to feed
malnourished children. The Government, which is handpicked by King Mswati, is broke and
cannot pay its suppliers.
The presents the King received were modest compared to those he was given in 2018 for his
50th birthday. The Queen Mother gave him a dining room suite made of gold. It went
alongside a lounge suite trimmed with gold that he was given by senior members of his
government.
He also received cheques totalling at least E15 million.
At his birthday he wore a watch worth US$1.6 million and a suit weighing 6 kg studded with
diamonds. Days earlier he had taken delivery of his second private jet. This one, an Airbus
A340, cost US$13.2 to purchase but with VIP upgrades was estimated to have cost US$30
million.
In addition to 13 palaces, the King also owns jewellery and watches worth millions of dollars,
fleets of top-of-the range Mercedes and BMW cars. His family regularly travel the world on
shopping trips spending millions of dollars each time.
See also
King eats off gold, children starving
Swazi cabinet’s gift of gold
21
4. DEMOCRACY ACTIVISTS
May Day in Swaziland recalls time when State murdered activist Sipho Jele
30 April 2019
As workers and pro-democracy activists in Swaziland / eSwatini mark Workers’ Day on

Wednesday (1 May 2019) many will remember Sipho Jele who was killed by state forces in
2010.
The 35-year-old Jele was arrested and charged under the Suppression of Terrorism Act on 1
May 2010 for wearing a T-shirt supporting the People’s United Democratic Movement
(PUDEMO), an organisation banned in the kingdom, ruled by King Mswati, sub-Saharan
Africa’s last absolute monarch.
He was taken to Manzini Police Station and then to Sidwashini Remand Correctional
Institution. He was found hanging from a beam in a shower block on 3 May.
The inquest verdict delivered in March 2011 said in effect that Jele levitated to the ceiling
unaided, tied an old piece of blanket around a beam and then around his own neck and then
allowed himself to fall to the ground, thereby killing himself by hanging.
Coroner Nondumiso Simelane reported, ‘Further, although there was nothing found at the
scene which the deceased could have used as a platform on which to stand to commit the
suicide; upon closer examination of the scene and the photos of the deceased captured at the
scene, and the pathologists concluding that “it is possible for the deceased to have mounted
himself upwards from the floor and then suspended himself without the use of a platform,”
and that “after the ligature was applied to the beam and neck he could have lowered himself
and the feet would still be above the floor.”
Simelane recorded Jele’s death as suicide.
Independent Specialist Forensic Pathologist Dr Ganas Perumal at the inquest said there was
no evidence that Jele had been hanged.
According to a report in the Swazi News, Perumal said, ‘In this case there is no evidence of
being hung. The perplexing thing is how he got suspended as there was no object on which he
stood. In most cases the object is kicked away for the body to remain suspended. There was
no such object that was found. That is the only feature that doesn’t confirm suicide. It is an
enigma how he hung without standing on an object.’
Questioned by attorney Leo Gama on whether it was possible that Jele had tied the rope
around his neck while seated on the beam he was found hanging from, and then threw
himself down for the rope to tighten around his neck, Dr Perumal entirely ruled out this
possibility.
‘In that case there would be stretching of the skin and moreover there would be problem with
the spine. Looking at the findings, we can exclude that scenario. There are no features to
suggest that,’ he said.
22
It emerged at the inquest that Swazi police and prison warders lied a number of times about
the circumstances up to the time of the death. They had claimed that they interviewed people
who were in the same cell as Jele about the circumstances of his death; Perumal told the
inquest that the cell mates denied being interviewed.
Perumal said, ‘I asked if any of the inmates had been interviewed to see if they had seen him
and if any fight had ensued during the night of his death but none had been interviewed.’
This was not the first time that the police had been found out lying to the inquest. Previously,
it was discovered that police had recorded in an official journal that Jele was in good health
when he arrived at Manzini police station.
The official record – called the RSP 3 book – said the entry was made by Constable David
Tsabedze, but he told the inquest that he never made the entry.
This led to Attorney Leo Gama concluding that Tsabedze never made such entries and left
the space vacant, but when the police heard that there was to be an inquest into the matter,
someone filled up those spaces without telling Tsabedze. This was so they could show Jele
was in good health when he left the police station.
Another anomaly was that although Jele was brought to the police station at 5.30pm on 1
May, he was only placed in a police cell at 11pm and no one could come forward to state
what happened in the meantime.
In a bizarre twist the inquest heard that Jele asked to be sent to Sidwashini because he feared
being ‘tubed’ (tortured and suffocated) if he was sent back to police custody. The Swaziland
Director of Public Prosecutions Mumcy Dlamini said she was pleased to hear this because it
meant Jele had not yet been tortured while at the police station. Dlamini told the inquest as
far as she knew the only reason why Jele wanted to go to Sidvwashini was his fear of torture
by police.
The inquest was told Jele was taken out of the Manzini Police Station’s cell for interrogation
purposes for hours on different occasions, but one officer said it was unclear whether they
also took him out of the building.
A jailor, Assistant Superintendent Richard Mthukutheli Fakudze, told the inquest he found
Jele hanging from a concrete bar in the bathroom of his prison cell at about 5am on 3 May
and he just knew Jele had killed himself. While he gave his testimony, he was interrupted by
Prosecutor Phila Dlamini who warned him to only say what he observed and desist from
giving an opinion. Fakudze had conclusively said Jele hanged himself yet he found him
hanging. Said Dlamini, ‘If you insist that he hanged himself, you are actually saying that you
saw him tying the blanket around his neck and hanging himself.’
Jele was charged under S19 (1) (a) of the Suppression of terrorism Act for wearing a T-shirt
with PUDEMO written on it.
S19 (1) (a) of the STA states, ‘A person who is a member of a terrorist group commits an
offence and shall on conviction, be liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding ten (10)
years.’
Wearing a PUDEMO T-Shirt does not make you a member of PUDEMO and therefore the
police had no reason to arrest Jele. But after police arrested him they then took him to his
23
home and searched it and later alleged they had found materials linking him to the banned
political organisation.
Amnesty International suspected that Jele might have been targeted for arrest at the May Day
rally. Jele was one of 16 prodemocracy activists awaiting trial after they were charged with
treason in 2005.
In a public statement, Amnesty said, ‘Mr Jele had been subjected to torture and other ill-
treatment in police custody in the past. He was detained by police in December 2005 and
subsequently charged with treason along with 15 others. Mr Jele alleged that while in custody
he was beaten around the head causing long-term damage to his hearing, for which Amnesty
International was able to obtain independent medical corroboration. He also alleged that he
was subjected to suffocation torture while forcibly held down on a bench by six police
officers at Sigodvweni police station. Some of his co-defendants made similar allegations of
torture by the police.
‘The presiding High Court judge hearing their bail application in March 2006 was
sufficiently concerned to call on the government to establish an independent inquiry into their
claims. An inquiry was established under a single commissioner who subsequently reported
his findings to the then Prime Minister. To Amnesty International’s knowledge this inquiry
report was never made public. Mr Jele and his co-defendants had still not been brought to
trial on the treason charge by the time of his death.’
At the time of Jele’s death, PUDEMO said in a statement, ‘The Swaziland royal regime has
always been giving the international community the wrong information that political
dissenters are not imprisoned, harassed and killed. And that Swaziland is a peaceful country.
But here is a political activist getting killed for attending Workers Day and wearing a
PUDEMO T-shirt.’
Richard Rooney
See also
Swazi Police disrupts activist's funeral
Activist funeral – IPS report
Former Swaziland student leader and rights activist Musa Ngubeni jailed after protest
against govt
16 May 2019, Kenworthy News Media
Former student leader and human rights activist Musa Ngubeni was convicted of
contravening Swaziland’s Explosives Act of 1961 by magistrate Joe Gumedze on Tuesday
(14 May 2019).
He was whisked away to prison after the conviction and is expected to appear in court on 21
May for sentencing.
24
Musa Ngubeni was arrested together with student leader Maxwell Dlamini in 2011 and
charged with contravening the Explosives Act. They were both arrested during protests
against absolute monarch King Mswati III’s government.
According to Ngubeni and Maxwell Dlamini they were subjected to torture during their
interrogation.
‘I was tied to a bench with my face looking upwards and they suffocated me with the black
plastic bag with a huge police officer on my stomach. They [Swazi police] asked me where
the guns were and who was going to come to Swaziland to overthrow the king. They did that
over and over again till I collapsed. They told me that they will kill me for causing trouble in
the country,’ Dlamini said at the time.
Amnesty International mentioned Musa Ngubeni and Maxwell Dlamini in their 2012 and
2013 reports. Amongst other things, Amnesty said that they were held incommunicado
without access to a lawyer or contact with their families, that they were denied legal access
while in police custody and during their hearing at the magistrate’s Court, and that they were
subsequently released in remand custody and placed under oppressive bail conditions.
They were both released on bail in 2012 under strict bail conditions, including having to
report to the police four times a week. Their trial resumed in 2014, where Dlamini was
acquitted.
Ngubeni and Dlamini both insisted that the charges against them were fabricated and
political, and that the state had stalled their case for three years due to lack of evidence.
A mysterious brown shoe box, that was allegedly found near Ngubeni’s home in Mbikwakhe
when he was arrested in 2011 and was supposed to have contained explosives, detonators and
wires, was never produced in court.
Initially a witness for the prosecution had claimed that the box was too dangerous to bring to
court. Later the box was claimed to have exploded after a South African bomb expert had
tried to assemble it.
The trial has been described as a farce by Swaziland’s democratic movement. Amongst other
things because testimonies of the prosecution witnesses were untruthful and contradicted
each other, because the pair were interrogated by what appeared to be hired South African
Police investigators without the presence of Ngubeni’s and Dlamini’s lawyers, and because
Ngubeni and Dlamini appeared in court on occasion without legal representation.
‘Ngubeni’s conviction comes at a time where the Swazi monarchy is tightening its grip on
power, as political parties remain banned since 1973. Political dissidents are either jailed,
tortured or exiled,’ says former President of youth organization SWAYOCO, Bheki Dlamini.
Freedom House rates Swaziland as one of the least free countries in the world, on par with
the Democratic Republic of Congo and the United Arab Emirates.
‘Safeguards against arbitrary arrest and detention, such as time limits on detention without
charge, are not always respected in practice. Lengthy pretrial detention is common,’ the
organization wrote in their latest report on Swaziland.
25
Musa Ngubeni was chairperson of the student representative council at the University of
Swaziland in 2008/09. He graduated with a bachelor of laws in 2010, after which he worked
for the Foundation for Socio-Economic Justice.
He was presently finishing his Master’s degree in Law at the University of South Africa.
Doubts over evidence as Swaziland democracy activist Musa Ngubeni jailed seven years
31 May 2019
Musa Ngubeni, the democracy activist in Swaziland / eSwatini, has been jailed for seven
years with four of them suspended for possession of explosives.
His case took eight years to conclude and the conviction has been criticised for lack of
evidence.
Ngubeni was an activist with the banned Swaziland Youth Congress (SWAYOCO) and the
People’s United Democratic Movement (PUDEMO). In Swaziland political parties cannot
contest elections and groups campaigning for democracy are banned under the Suppression of
Terrorism Act.
Ngubeni was found guilty and sentenced by Piggs Peak Magistrate Joe Gumedze. Swaziland
which is ruled by King Mswati III as sub-Saharan Africa’s last absolute monarch does not
have jury trials.
Ngubeni was arrested together with student leader Maxwell Dlamini in 2011 and charged
with contravening the Explosives Act. They were both arrested during protests against the
government which is not elected but handpicked by King Mswati.
According to Ngubeni and Dlamini they were subjected to torture during their
interrogation. They were both released on bail in 2012 under strict conditions, including
having to report to the police four times a week. Their trial resumed in 2014, where Dlamini
was acquitted.
Peter Kenworthy of Kenworthy News Media who has followed the case since 2011 reported
Ngubeni and Dlamini both insisted that the charges against them were fabricated and
political, and that the state had stalled their case for three years due to lack of evidence.
A mysterious brown shoe box, that was allegedly found near Ngubeni’s home in Mbikwakhe
when he was arrested in 2011 and was supposed to have contained explosives, detonators and
wires, was never produced in court.
Initially a witness for the prosecution had claimed that the box was too dangerous to bring to
court. Later the box was claimed to have exploded after a South African bomb expert had
tried to assemble it.
Kenworthy reported the trial has been described as a farce by Swaziland’s democratic
movement. Amongst other things because testimonies of the prosecution witnesses were
untruthful and contradicted each other, because the pair were interrogated by what appeared
to be hired South African Police investigators without the presence of Ngubeni’s and
Dlamini’s lawyers, and because Ngubeni and Dlamini appeared in court on occasion without
legal representation.
26
Following Ngubeni’s conviction, SWAYOCO said in a statement the Mswati government

tried to deliberately delay and prolong the case to procure ample time to manufacture false
evidence for his conviction.
The Communist Party of Swaziland said in a statement, ‘If there is any individual who still
doubts that Swaziland’s judiciary remains one of Mswati’s tools through which he suppresses
the people of Swaziland, then Ngubeni’s case should be the ultimate illustration point.’
See also
Profile of Musa Ngubeni
‘Lack of evidence in bomb case’
'Police will kill terror suspect'
Court case against activists a ‘farce’
Swaziland activist who called for prosecution of King for embezzlement charged under
terrorism law
28 May 2019
A political opposition activist in Swaziland / eSwatini has been charged under terrorism and
sedition laws for calling on absolute monarch King Mswati III to be prosecuted for
embezzlement and human rights violations.
Goodwill Sibiya is a senior member of the People’s United Democratic Movement
(PUDEMO) and the Communist Party. Both organisations are banned under the Suppression
of Terrorism Act. He is also a founding member of a little-known group called the Economic
Freedom Guerrillas.
Sibiya made a legal statement calling for the King to be charged for the ‘embezzlement of
states funds’ through his use of money generated by Tibiyo Taka Ngwane, a conglomerate of
businesses that is controlled by the King on behalf of the Swazi people; mining royalties and
income from MTN the mobile phone company.
In a list of accusations, Sibiya said the King stripped the powers of two chiefs to the benefit
of his brother Prince Maguga. The King forcefully grabbed young girls to be his wives and
the King appointed Barnabas Dlamini as Prime Minister in contravention of the constitution,
‘so that he can meet his own greedy interest’.
The statement made at the Nhlangano police station was dated 21 January 2019. According to
the Times of Swaziland (27 May 2019) Sibiya attempted to file the document at the High
Court on 21 May 2019, but was stopped by staff members who then informed the police.
The Times reported police raided Sibiya’s home with a warrant searching for documents that
brought ‘hatred to and incited dissatisfaction against the King’. In its report the Times did not
detail Sibiya’s accusations, ‘because of their sensitive nature which borders on treason’.
Sibiya was arrested and appeared at the High Court on Sunday. He was remanded in custody
until 1 June 2019.
27
In Swaziland, King Mswati rules as an absolute monarch, political parties are banned from
taking part in elections and he chooses the prime minister and government members. He is
immune from any prosecution under s11 of the Swaziland Constitution.
Opposition to the King is crushed by use of the Suppression of Terrorism Act and the
Sedition and Subversive Activities Act. Both Acts have been used to stop advocates for
democratic reform.
In 2015 Amnesty International renewed its criticism of Swaziland for the ‘continued
persecution of peaceful political opponents and critics’ by the King and his authorities.
The human rights organisation called for the two Acts to be scrapped or drastically rewritten.
It said the Swazi authorities were using the Acts, ‘to intimidate activists, further entrench
political exclusion and to restrict the exercise of the rights to freedom of expression,
association and peaceful assembly’.
Amnesty said the Sedition and Subversive Activities Act also violated Swaziland’s human
rights obligations.
In September 2016, the Swaziland High Court ruled parts of the two Acts were
unconstitutional. The Government appealed the case to the Supreme Court and it has yet to be
heard.
See also
Swazi law used against human rights
Njabulo Dlamini, democracy activist in Swaziland, dies aged 32

29 May 2019
Njabulo Dlamini, one of the best known young democracy activists in Swaziland / eSwatini,
has died aged 32.
Dlamini, who was known as Njefire, was the Communist Party of Swaziland (CPS)
International Organiser since 2017. He was still a student at the University of Swaziland
when he joined the party in 2011, the year it was founded. He was elected to the CPS Central
Committee in 2013 and served as the party’s National Organiser.
Swaziland is ruled by King Mswati III as an absolute monarch and political parties are not
allowed to take part in elections. The CPS along with other pro-democracy organisations are
also banned from the kingdom under the Suppression of Terrorism Act.
Dlamini took a leading role in pro-democracy campaigns by students and in defence of the
people against state-imposed evictions of residents in the Madonsa township. He also
spearheaded a number of international solidarity campaigns and helped establish the
Swaziland Kurdistan Solidarity Network. His last major international work was during the
2019 Israeli Apartheid Week where he helped organise activity in collaboration with the
leadership of the Swaziland National Union of Students in solidarity with the Palestinian
people.
28
Dlamini worked as a teacher and was Secretary of the Big Bend Branch of the Swaziland
National Association Of Teachers. He died in Mbabane Government Hospital on 23 May
2019. He had been diagnosed with fungal pneumonia a few weeks earlier.
At the time of his death he was awaiting trial together with Mcolisi Ngcamphalala, Deputy
National Chairperson of the CPS, of the traffic offence of jaywalking. They had been arrested
while they were on their way to a workers’ planning meeting in Manzini.
In a statement, the CPS said, ‘One thing that did not go down well with some of the former
leaders in the union is that Comrade Njabulo tended to pursue issues which were viewed by
many as too difficult and impossible to win; issues that had never been attempted before. It
was his revolutionary tenacity, persuasion and steadfastness that helped grow the force
necessary to convince the leadership that those issues be pursued.
‘With his practical contribution towards the resolution of those issues, he became highly
trusted and a great source of inspiration to many members of the union and beyond. The
union gradually transformed and became more radical on its campaigns partly due to his
untiring work. This is how he was able, working together with other young workers, to hold
activities that were thought impossible before, including a fully-packed night vigil in August
2018 and a young workers’ forum where workers’ self-defence units were formed.’
Njabulo Dlamini: Photo sourced from Facebook
29
5. SCHOOLS AND CHILDREN
Swaziland teacher arrested after boy, 10, beaten for defiance, needed medical treatment
25 June 2019
A schoolteacher in Swaziland / eSwatini has been arrested after allegedly whipping a 10-
year-old boy.
Corporal punishment was banned in the kingdom in 2015 but is still frequently used.
In the latest case reported, the boy from Gilgal Primary School needed treatment at a health
centre.
The teacher whipped the boy and kicked him while he was on the ground, according to a
report in the Times of Swaziland. He was punished for defying the teacher, the newspaper
said. He received a bruised lip, a swollen cheek and bruises on his back.
The teacher, Thulile Fortunate Mhlanga, aged 39, was charged under the Children Protection
and Welfare Act.
There have been numerous reports of teachers illegally using corporal punishment. In March
2019 a 12-year-old girl at Mkhuzweni Primary School had her fingers broken when she was
caned 25 times across her hand.
In November 2018 it was reported police were investigating St Theresa’s Primary School,
Manzini, following an allegation that teachers whipped children to make them do better in
their exams. In June 2018 teachers reportedly caned every pupil at Mbuluzi High School for
poor performance.
In August 2017 it was reported boys at Salesian High, a Catholic school, were forced to take
down their trousers and underpants to allow teachers to beat them on the bare buttocks.
In May 2017 pupils at Lubombo Central Primary School in Siteki were thrashed because they
did not bring enough empty milk cartons to class.
In March 2017 children at Masundvwini Primary School boycotted classes because they lived
in fear of the illegal corporal punishment they were made to suffer. Local media reported that
children were hit with a stick, which in at least one case was said to have left a child
‘bleeding from the head’.
In August 2016 an eight-year-old schoolboy at Siyendle Primary School, near Gege, was
thrashed so hard in class he vomited. His teacher reportedly forced classmates to hold the boy
down while he whipped him with a stick. It happened after a group of schoolboys had been
inflating condoms when they were discovered by the teacher.
In June 2016 the school principal at the Herefords High School was reported to police after
allegedly giving a 20-year-old female student nine strokes of the cane on the buttocks. The
Swazi Observer reported at the time, ‘She was given nine strokes on the buttocks by the
principal while the deputy helped her by holding the pupil’s hands as she was made to lie
down.’
30
In September 2015 the Times reported a 17-year-old school pupil died after allegedly being
beaten at school. The pupil reportedly had a seizure.
In March 2015 a primary school teacher at the Florence Christian Academy was charged with
causing grievous bodily harm after allegedly giving 200 strokes of the cane to a 12-year-old
pupil on her buttocks and all over her body.
In February 2015 the headteacher of Mayiwane High School Anderson Mkhonta reportedly
admitted giving 15 strokes to a form 1 pupil for not wearing a neck tie properly.
In April 2015, parents reportedly complained to the Ndlalane Primary School after a teacher
beat pupils for not following his instruction and shaving their hair.
See also
Children fear beatings, miss school
Cane banned in Swazi schools
Teachers beat boys on naked buttocks
Research in Swaziland suggests spanking children is harmful and can cause mental
problems
Death of Swaziland schoolgirl after illegal abortion highlights suffering of women in

kingdom
1 April 2019
The tragic story of the death of a schoolgirl in Swaziland /eSwatini after she had an illegal
abortion highlights the way women suffer because of the law in the kingdom.
The Sunday edition of the Swazi Observer reported (31 March 2019) that the girl (it did not
name her or publish her age) was given a conconction supplied by a traditional healer. She
later died.
The Observer reported, ‘After the abortion, the weak girl is said to have been locked in the
one-room flat within the homestead for three days and her body was later found dumped in
the nearby forest.’ The police found the foetus at another bush.
The newspaper reported a 22-year-old man, described as the girl’s boyfriend, had been
charged with her murder because he gave her the concoction to induce abortion.
Because abortions are illegal in Swaziland it is difficult to say accurately how many are
performed in the kingdom. However, in August 2018 the Times of Swaziland reported that
every month, nurses at the Raleigh Fitkin Memorial (RFM) Hospital in Manzini attended
more than 100 cases of young women who had committed illegal abortions.
The IRIN news agency, quoting the Family Life Association of Swaziland (FLAS), a family
planning organization, reported that in October 2012 more than 1,000 women were treated
for abortion-related complications at a single clinic in Swaziland. Many of the deaths were
the result of haemorrhaging, while others resulted from the patient’s delay in seeking medical
treatment for other complications stemming from illegal terminations.
31
In November 2012 the IRIN news agency reported that 16 percent of all women deaths in the
government hospital in Mbabane that year were the result of botched abortions. It said that
this figure was only those cases that were reported, there were certainly other deaths
unreported.
In December 2018 the Swazi Observer reported the number of illegal ‘backstreet’ abortions
taking place in Swaziland was ‘escalating’ because social media had made it easier to obtain
abortion pills.
According to the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, abortion is
prohibited in Swaziland except in cases of necessity but there is disagreement about what
constitutes a case of necessity.
‘The majority position of commentators is that a case of necessity exists only when an abortion
is performed to save the life of the pregnant woman. However, it is possible that a case of
necessity need not be so serious and that an abortion could be performed in cases of serious
threat to both physical and mental health, foetal defect and rape. There is no case law on this
issue in Swaziland,’ the report stated.
The Swazi Constitution provides that abortion might be allowed on medical or therapeutic
grounds, including where a doctor certifies that continued pregnancy will endanger the life or
constitute a serious threat to the physical health of the woman; continued pregnancy will
constitute a serious threat to the mental health of the woman; there is serious risk that the
child will suffer from physical or mental defect of such a nature that the child will be
irreparably seriously handicapped.
However, no law exists to put the constitutional provisions into effect.
The UN report stated there were no legal provisions dealing with the professional qualifications
required to perform an abortion, the place where the procedure must be performed or the period
during pregnancy when an abortion can be performed.
The UN stated, ‘Induced abortion is a particularly significant problem among teenage girls.
Faced with the prospect of an unwanted pregnancy, many teenage girls resort to abortion to
avoid expulsion from school. Unmarried teenage women are more likely to have unwanted
pregnancies because of the barriers they face in obtaining contraceptives. For example, it is
reported that health workers often require proof of the husband’s authorization before
dispersing contraceptives, even though this is not a legal requirement.’
IRIN reported that in 2011 three Swazi nurses were arrested and given 15 years jail for
assisting in terminations.
‘They were helping the poorest of the poor, women who are truly desperate and who cannot
do what most Swazi women do who need an abortion. Most women just travel across the
border to South Africa,’ Alicia Simelane, a Manzini healthcare worker and midwife, told
IRIN.
‘Also, there are the scared little girls, the rape survivors and the survivors of incest who dare
not talk about their experiences to anyone. Counselling hardly exists for such girls in
Swaziland. Then there are the women who have seven children and a husband who refuses to
32
wear a condom, and they cannot bear to have more children. These are desperate women, and
they will go to anyone who they think will help them,’ she said.
In the absence of legal abortions, mothers are suspected of practising infanticide. Local media
reports of new-borns found dead in isolated areas are commonplace.
In 2017, the United Nations Human Rights Committee in Geneva recommended that
Swaziland adopt laws allowing voluntary abortions.
Richard Rooney
See also
U.S. halts funding to Swaziland NGO as anti-abortion policy bites
Swaziland police fire rubber bullets at schoolchildren protesting sexual abuse by

teacher
9 May 2019
Police fired rubber bullets and teargas at pupils at a school in Swaziland /eSwatini when they
protested about sexual abuse on them by a teacher.
It happened at Mhubhe High School at Ngculwini, 15 km from the main commercial city of
Manzini, the Times of Swaziland reported on Thursday (9 May 2019).
The newspaper said, ‘The pupils were protesting against one of their teachers, who occupies a
senior position in the school, whom they accused of sexually abusing female pupils in the
learning institution.’
The Times reported pupils damaged property at the school. The Times called it ‘Total
mayhem!’ and added, ‘Rubber bullets and teargas canisters flew in the air.’
The Swazi Observer reported the school’s administration block was vandalised and set on
fire.
The school has been closed indefinitely.

The pupils were protesting against child sexual abuse, which is widespread in Swaziland.
Swazi culture condones sex abuse of children, especially young girls. Child rapists often
blame women for their action.
The State of the Swaziland Population report revealed that women who ‘sexually starve’ their
husbands were blamed for the growing sexual abuse of children.
Men who were interviewed during the making of the report said they ‘salivate’ over children
wearing skimpy clothes because their wives refused them sexual intercourse.
According to the Swaziland Action Group against Abuse (SWAGAA), one in three girls and
women between ages 13 and 24 had been a victim of sexual violence. Although rape is
legally defined as a crime, many men regarded it as a minor offense.
33
‘The number of reported cases was likely far lower than the actual number of cases, as many
cases were dealt with at the family level. A sense of shame and helplessness often inhibited
women from reporting such crimes, particularly when incest was involved,’ SWAGAA
reported.
In Swaziland rape is against the law but Swazi Law and Custom allows a husband to rape his
wife. This is stated in the 317-page document The Indigenous Law and Custom of the
Kingdom of Swaziland.
See also
Swazi child rape is not unusual
‘Investigate prince for child sex’
‘Dad rapes daughter to test virginity’
Swaziland police force schoolchildren back to classes after boycott supporting

suspended teachers
25 May 2019
Police were called when pupils at Mhubhe High School in Swaziland / eSwatini boycotted
classes in support of two of their teachers who had been suspended from duty.
The pupils at the school in Ngulwini gathered around the school yard, singing and chanting
for about four hours. The Times of Swaziland reported on Friday (24 May 2019), they were
‘demanding that the suspended teachers at the school be brought back to resume their duties’.
The two suspended teachers are Swaziland National Association of Teachers (SNAT)
President Mbongwa Dlamini and John Hoffman, who is also a union activist.
SNAT has accused the Ministry of Education and Training (MoET) of an attack on the union
for suspending Dlamini who is accused of absenteeism from school.
SNAT said in a statement, , 'Chief amongst these charges is becoming a union leader and
participating in legitimate trade union activities.’
There have been disturbances at the school in recent weeks after pupils demonstrated against
some teachers who they said were sexually abusing them. Police fired rubber bullets and
teargas at the pupils.
Six pupils were later charged with theft and destruction of property. They were denied bail
and remanded in custody. An online petition organised by Swaziland Human Rights Network
UK called for their release on bail. The pupils were later released on bail.
Teachers boycotted classes for two days because they felt insulted to be accused of sexual
misconduct. They returned to work on the instruction of MoET.
Swaziland schoolchildren learn under trees or in tents as government runs out of money
13 May 2019
34
Schoolchildren in Swaziland /eSwatini are being taught under trees or in tents instead of
classrooms because the government is broke and cannot afford new buildings.
Some schools are relying on the Red Cross to supply tents, the Times of Swaziland reported
on Monday (13 May 2019).
It reported, ‘This is as a result of the lack of classrooms, which are supposed to be
constructed through the Ministry of Education and Training.’
Lubombo Regional Education Officer (REO) Musa Mthupha told the Times the government
faced ‘financial challenges’ and some building projects had been put on hold.
‘He said there was a building programme in place, which did not see the light of day due to
the country’s economic turndown,’ the newspaper reported.
News of the lack of funding comes after the Ministry of Education and Training paid more
than E40 million to cover the cost of sending police and prison wardens into schools to
invigilate examinations at the end of 2018 while teachers were in dispute.
Public services of all kinds in Swaziland are in meltdown because of years of financial
mismanagement by governments which are handpicked by King Mswati III, who rules
Swaziland as an absolute monarch.
At the start of the school year in January 2019 schools across the kingdom remained closed
because the government could not fund the free primary education programme. Government
is required under the Swazi Constitution to provide free places for all primary school
children. It pays E560 per pupil. In Swaziland, seven in ten people have incomes of about
E25 per day.
The funding crisis is not new. In June 2018 headteachers and principals told the Swazi
Observer they were in huge debt and unable to pay suppliers. Many schools were without
electricity.
There were also reports that schools did not receive much needed materials such as stationery
because suppliers had not been paid. At primary school each child needs at least 14 exercise
books and seven text books. One supplier located in Manzini told the Times of Swaziland his
company was owed E300,000.
In the past two years children who relied on government food aid – known as the zondle
programme – had gone hungry when bills were left unpaid.
See also
Chaos and confusion across Swaziland as new school year starts
Children at risk of food poisoning as Swaziland Govt’s financial crisis continues
Swazi police ‘force boy, 6, to strip and illegally thrash his naked buttocks’
17 June 2019
35
Community police in Swaziland / eSwatini illegally forced a six-year-old boy to strip and
then thrashed him on the naked buttocks after he was accused of stealing a cellphone from a
schoolteacher.
It was one of a long list of cases where community police have taken the law into their own
hands. The latest happened at Gundvwini in the Manzini region, the Times of Swaziland
reported on Monday (17 June 2019).
The newspaper reported the aunt of the boy said he had been thrashed by a community police
member. It reported, ‘She said the pupil informed her that he had been taken to the
mountains and had his private parts squeezed before being ordered to undress. After
undressing, she said Simo was allegedly thrashed a number of times with a stick on his bare
buttocks.’
The community police operate in rural Swaziland and are supervised by traditional chiefs
who are local representatives of King Mswati III, Swaziland’s absolute monarch. They have
the authority to arrest suspects concerning minor offenses for trial by an inner council within
the chiefdom. For serious offenses suspects should be handed over to the official police for
further investigations.
There have been a number of cases reported by media in Swaziland where community police
have acted illegally. In June 2018 five community police officers at Ngoloweni in Sandleni
attacked a man described as ‘mentally disturbed’ and beat him close to death and set his
genitals on fire. They suspected the 44-year-old man had attempted to rape a girl aged six.
In April 2018 it was reported that two community police officers at Malindza stripped a man
naked, tied him to a tree and flogged his bare buttocks with sticks until they bled profusely.
They had accused him of stealing pots from his grandfather’s house.
In March 2018 a court heard that three community policemen from Dvokolwako gang-raped
a 17-year-old schoolgirl at knifepoint and forced her boyfriend to watch. One of them
recorded it on his cellphone. The teenager was in her school uniform while she and her
boyfriend walked to a river after a school athletics competition. The community policemen
told them they were on patrol to make sure none of the pupils committed any offences during
the athletics competition.
In 2014 three Malindza community police beat to death a mentally challenged man who had
escaped from the National Psychiatric Centre.
In 2011 community police in Kwaluseni reportedly threatened to murder democracy activist
Musa Ngubeni if he was released on bail pending trial on explosive offences. Residents
accused the community police in the area of being involved in criminal activities.
See also
Police beat man close to death
Police gang-rape schoolgirl
Community police banish gay men
36
6. CORRUPTION
No appetite by Swaziland to investigate human rights abuses, corruption: U.S. report

3 May 2019
There is no appetite to investigate human rights abuses or corruption in Swaziland /eSwatini,

the latest report from the United States Department of State concluded.
Swaziland is controlled by King Mswati III and ‘political power remained largely vested
with the king and his traditional advisors,’ the report, which covered human rights issues
during 2018, stated.
The 24-page report detailed ‘human rights issues’ across a wide range of areas which
included, ‘restrictions on political participation, corruption, rape and violence against women
linked in part to government inaction, criminalization of same-sex sexual conduct, although
rarely enforced, and child labor’.
The report stated, ‘The government often did not investigate, prosecute, or administratively
punish officials who committed human rights abuses. With very few exceptions, the
government did not identify officials who committed abuses. Impunity was widespread.’
The report added, ‘Although there were mechanisms to investigate and punish abuse and
corruption, there were few prosecutions or disciplinary actions taken against security officers
accused of abuses.’ It said the Royal eSwatini Police Service (REPS) itself investigated
complaints of police abuse and corruption, but did not release findings to the public.
‘In most cases the REPS transferred police officers found responsible for violations to other
offices or departments within the police system.’
The Department of State report was not the first in 2019 to detail human rights abuses in
Swaziland. In February, Freedom House concluded King Mswati continued to hold a tight
grip on power and all aspects of life in the kingdom.
Freedom House scored Swaziland 16 out of a possible 100 points in its Freedom in the World
2019 report. It concluded that Swaziland was ‘not free’.
Freedom House stated, ‘The king exercises ultimate authority over all branches of the
national government and effectively controls local governance through his influence over
traditional chiefs. Political dissent and civic and labor activism are subject to harsh
punishment under sedition and other laws. Additional human rights problems include
impunity for security forces and discrimination against women and LGBT (lesbian, gay,
bisexual, and transgender) people.’
National elections took place in Swaziland in 2018. Freedom House scored Swaziland zero
out of a possible 12 points for its ‘electoral process’. It stated, ‘The king, who remains the
chief executive authority, is empowered to appoint and dismiss the prime minister and
members of the cabinet. The prime minister is ostensibly the head of government, but has
little power in practice. Ambrose Dlamini was appointed prime minister in October 2018,
although he was not a member of Parliament at the time of his appointment, as required by
the constitution.
37
Freedom House scored Swaziland one point out of a possible 16 for ‘political pluralism and
participation’ stating, ‘The king has tight control over the political system in law and in
practice, leaving no room for the emergence of an organized opposition with the potential to
enter government. The vast majority of candidates who contested the 2018 general elections
were supporters of the king.’
Swaziland scored zero out of a possible 12 points for ‘functioning of government.’ The king
appoints the Prime Minister and government ministers. Freedom House stated, ‘The king and
his government determine policy and legislation; members of Parliament hold no real power
and effectively act as a rubber stamp in approving the king’s legislative priorities. Parliament
cannot initiate legislation and has little oversight or influence on budgetary matters. The king
is also constitutionally empowered to veto any legislation. The absolute authority of the king
was demonstrated by his decision to rename the country in April 2018 [from Swaziland to
eSwatini] without any constitutional process or parliamentary approval.
The full report from the State Department is available here
http://www.state.gov/j/drl/rls/hrrpt/humanrightsreport/index.htm?year=2018&dlid=289017
See also
Swaziland in economic freefall with human rights failings, report shows
King Mswati in complete control as another year of human rights struggle ends in
Swaziland
Police violence, undemocratic elections, hunger and disease: highlights of Swaziland’s
human rights violations
New report reveals widespread corruption across Swaziland, especially among govt
officials
7 May 2019
Corruption was widespread in Swaziland / eSwatini during 2018, a new report on human
rights abuses in the kingdom reveals.
The United States Department of State reported, ‘there was a widespread public perception of
corruption in the executive and legislative branches of government and a consensus that the
government did little to combat it’.
The annual report on human rights stated, ‘There were widespread reports of immigration and
customs officials seeking bribes to issue government documents such as visas and resident
permits. In March police raided the Department of Immigration, where they confiscated files
and arrested and charged two senior immigration officers. The government filed charges
against one of the senior officers based on allegations she had processed applications for
travel documents for foreign nationals who were not present in, and had never visited, the
country.’
It added, ‘Credible reports continued that a person’s relationship with government officials
influenced the awarding of government contracts; the appointment, employment, and
promotion of officials; recruitment into the security services; and school admissions.
Authorities rarely took action on reported incidents of nepotism.’
38
This is not the first report on corruption in Swaziland issued this year. In January 2019
Transparency International scored the kingdom, ruled by King Mswati III as an absolute
monarch, 38 out of a possible 100 in its Corruption Perceptions Index for 2018. In this scale
zero is ‘highly corrupt’ and 100 is ‘very clean’. The index ranks countries by their perceived
levels of public sector corruption according to experts and businesspeople.
In November 2018 national police Deputy Commissioner Mumcy Dlamini told an event for
International Fraud Awareness Week Swaziland lost E30 million from the economy because
of banking fraud alone during the previous year.
In June 2017, the Open Society Initiative for Southern Africa (OSISA) reported the kingdom,
was riddled with corruption in both private and public places.
It said, ‘The results of grand corruption are there for all to see in the ever increasing wealth of
high-level civil servants and officers of state.’
It added, ‘For a long time the police, the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Commerce,
Industry and Trade as well as the Department of Customs and Excise have often been
implicated in corrupt practices.’
It gave many examples including the case of the government propaganda organisation
Swaziland Broadcasting and Information Service (SBIS) where E 1.6 million was paid to
service providers for the maintenance of a machine that was neither broken nor in use. The
officer who authorised the bogus job cards has since been promoted and transferred to
another government department.
The report called The effectiveness of anti-corruption agencies in Southern Africa stated,
‘This type of behaviour is common albeit covert and therefore difficult to monitor as goods
and services are undersupplied or rerouted for personal use. The results of grand corruption
are there for all to see in the ever increasing wealth of high-level civil servants and officers of
state.’
See also
New drive against corruption in Swaziland leaves out King Mswati, the biggest drain on
the public purse
Swaziland Auditor General fears fraud as govt pensions paid to the deceased
2 April 2019
It looks as if the way elderly grants are distributed by the government in Swaziland / eSwatini
is leading to theft and fraud, the kingdom’s Auditor General reported.
The Deputy Prime Minister’s Office is responsible for the grants (pensions). People aged 60
and over are entitled to E400 (US$30) per month. About 70,000 people are thought to receive
the grants which often are the only income a family has.
Timothy Matsebula, the Auditor General, in his report for the year ending March 2018 said
E1.7 million was unaccounted for. He said if a person failed to collect the quarterly grant
39
twice in a row, social workers had to investigate to see if that person was still alive. These
checks were not being carried out.
When the Auditor General’s office conducted its own survey it found many of the people
receiving grants were in fact dead or unknown in their local community.
He also said elderly social grants amounting to E130,835.00 were collected by other people
on behalf of those who had died.
He reported, ‘I am therefore concerned that the uncollected funds are susceptible to
misappropriation, theft, and fraud.’
He added, ‘The collection of the grants was fraudulent as the rightful beneficiaries were
deceased. I am worried that there could have been more unlawful collections since my audit
was based on a sample of beneficiaries.’
The Auditor General also found that uncollected grants distributed through Eswatini Posts
and Telecommunications Corporation (EPTC) and banks were not sent back to government at
the end of each quarter. More than E7.8 million had not been returned.
He reported, ‘It concerns me that the unreturned amounts have a negative impact on the
Government’s cash flow as the funds could have been used beneficially elsewhere. It is also
highly probable that these funds were unnecessarily allocated to deceased and unknown
beneficiaries.’
He added, ‘I am concerned that the accumulation of the funds in these accounts could lead to
their loss through theft.’
As recently as November 2018 state radio in Swaziland broadcast that the grants could not be
paid on time because the Swazi Government did not have the money.
In 2017, the National Strategy and Action Plan to End Violence in Swaziland: 2017 to 2022
reported more than 80 percent of women aged 60 and over and 70 percent of men lived in
poverty.
See also
Swaziland has no cash to pay elderly pensions, Prime Minister says he will fly business
class to save money
Swazi Govt fails to pay elderly grants
8 in 10 Swazi elderly are in poverty
S. African High Court told Swaziland development projects worth billions were ‘a con’
10 June 2019
Frans Whelpton, a former law professor in South Africa, who worked closely with the
Swaziland / eSwatini government on projects said to be worth billions of emalangeni that
never came to anything is being accused of being a conman in a high court action.
Whelpton, once of the University of South Africa, touted projects in Swaziland, including the
construction of a coal-fired power station, a social upliftment project, and creation of a free
trade zone.
40
The Sunday Times newspaper in Johannesburg reported (9 June 2019) that a Pretoria doctor
Francois Olivier is suing Whelpton in the Pretoria High Court for R6m (US$400,000), saying
the former professor’s ‘grand promises were no more than a con’.
It added, ‘He says his case is just the tip of the iceberg and that over the years Whelpton has
pocketed about R100m from up to 40 people.’
Whelpton denied the claim and in turn issued a defamation action against Olivier, demanding
R1m in damages.
Whelpton was widely known in Swaziland for many years and was said to be close to King
Mswati III, who rules the kingdom as an absolute monarch.
The Sunday Times reported that Olivier said in his court papers, there were a series of
‘fraudulent misrepresentations’ by Whelpton, which included that he had acquired rights to
the:
Development of a free trade zone in eSwatini;
Construction of a coal-fired power station and associated infrastructure; and
Establishment of a ‘social upliftment programme’.
The Sunday Times reported, ‘[O]ne of Whelpton’s central claims - that the UN is providing
millions of dollars for his work on recording customary law in eSwatini - could not be
confirmed this week. A spokesperson for the UN in SA, Zeenat Abdool, told the Sunday
Times none of the UN agencies operating in SA had any record of dealing with Whelpton.’
The newspaper added, ‘Seven years ago, in a separate case, a Pretoria court ordered
Whelpton to pay R10m each to two doctors, Reynhardt van Rooyen and Johannes Kok, after
an alleged eSwatini health-care project in which Whelpton promised them a leading role
failed to materialise.’
See also
Mystery man in King’s jet saga found
$5bn Swazi power plant was a con
41
7. LGBTI
Attempt to register first LGBTI group in Swaziland as preparations for second Pride
parade underway
3 June 2019
The second annual LGBTI Pride is due to take place on 22 June 2019 in Swaziland /eSwatini.
It comes as a newly-formed group the Eswatini Sexual and Gender Minorities (ESGM)
attempts to become the first LGBTI group to be officially registered in the kingdom.
LGBTI (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex) people face discrimination in all walks
of life in the conservative kingdom ruled by King Mswati III as sub-Saharan Africa’s last
absolute monarch. King Mswati reportedly described homosexuality as being ‘satanic.’
Homosexual acts are illegal.
ESGM is seeking to become registered under the Companies Act as a specifically LGBTI
rights group. At present The Rock of Hope campaigns for LGBTI rights but it is also a group
offering sexual health and HIV / AIDS advice.
Melusi Simelane, one of the founders of ESGM, and one of the organisers of Swaziland’s
first LGBTI Pride in 2018, told MambaOnline the move was designed to bring a stronger
focus on decriminalising LGBTI identities in eSwatini.
Separately, on his blog, Simelane wrote about the reality of being a gay man in Swaziland.
He said, ‘I would like to believe that as a citizen of this country I am rightfully equal before
the law, but I am forced by reality to believe otherwise.
‘Should I be found guilty of the sodomy offence, or even found to have had the intention to
commit “sodomy”, I can be arrested without a warrant. This in accordance with the Criminal
Procedure and Evidence Act of 1938.
‘Furthermore, the National Register for Sex Offenders would enlist me, under clause 56 of
the recently passed SODV [Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence] Act of 2018.
‘It cannot be justice to have my name branded as a sex offender for being in love, and being
in a consensual loving relationship. Alas, that is what our government is saying to me.’
Swaziland is a tiny landlocked kingdom with a population of about 1.3 million people, mostly
living in rural communities.
In May 2016 four organisations jointly reported to the United Nations about LGBTI
discrimination in Swaziland. Part of their report stated, ‘LGBT[I]s are discriminated and
condemned openly by society. This is manifest in negative statements uttered by influential
people in society e.g., religious, traditional and political leaders. Traditionalists and
conservative Christians view LGBT[I]s as against Swazi tradition and religion. There have
been several incidents where traditionalists and religious leaders have issued negative
statements about lesbians.’
42
In June 2018 Swaziland held its first LGBTI Pride event. It passed without incident and
received positive international attention, but it also provoked a number of virulent attacks on
gay people in newspapers and churches within Swaziland.
See also
LGBT Pride film shows what it’s like to live with prejudice and ignorance in Swaziland
LGBTI Pride gets global attention
Kingdom’s first LGBTI Pride takes place
‘Observer’ steps up LGBTI hate campaign
Time for Swaziland to follow Botswana’s lead and decriminalise gay sex
13 June 2019
Swaziland should follow the example of its near-neighbour Botswana and decriminalise gay
sex.
The kingdom, also known as eSwatini, has much in common with Botswana. Both were
protectorates of Great Britain and have laws relating to homosexuality dating back to that
time. They became independent in the 1960s. Both countries have small but active
fundamentalist Christian groups that today demonise LGBT people; the media largely ignore
them and when they do report they are usually antagonistic. Both countries want people to
believe that homosexuality is in some way ‘un-African’. Nevertheless, both want to believe
that they are modern societies. Swaziland aims to become a ‘First-World’ country by 2022.
The Botswana High Court on Tuesday (11 June 2019) unanimously ruled in favour of
decriminalising homosexuality. Judge Michael Elburu said, ‘Human dignity is harmed when
minority groups are marginalized.’
According to a BBC report, he added laws banning gay sex were ‘discriminatory’. He also
said, ‘Sexual orientation is not a fashion statement. It is an important attribute of one’s
personality.’
The Mail & Guardian newspaper in South Africa reported the court said, ‘Homosexuality is
not unAfrican, but it is one other way Africans identify but have been repressed for many
years.’
Commenting on the ruling, United Nations Independent Expert on protection against violence
and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity, Victor Madrigal-Borloz,
said, ‘Criminalising homosexuality and other forms of sexual and gender diversity is one of
the root causes of grave and pervasive human rights violations on the basis of sexual
orientation and gender identity. It also violates international human rights law.’
He said legal provisions banning homosexuality were often remnants of colonial laws.
He added, ‘Countries around the world that still criminalise homosexuality and other forms of
sexual orientation and gender identity must, without exception, take note of this recent
advance in Botswana, which joins India and Angola in definitely abandoning this odious
form of discrimination. All countries in which homosexuality or any other form of gender
43
diversity remain criminalised must examine their legal frameworks in order to become fully
compliant with international human rights law.’
The main difference between Botswana and Swaziland is that Botswana is a multi-party
democracy and Swaziland is ruled by an absolute monarch King Mswati III, who has in the
past reportedly said homosexuality is ‘satanic’. Political parties are banned from taking part
in elections in Swaziland and there is very little opportunity for people in the kingdom to
discuss how they might change the way they live.
Swaziland has a poor record on LGBT rights. In May 2016, Rock of Hope, which campaigns
for equality in Swaziland, reported to the United Nations Universal Periodic Review on
Swaziland that laws, social stigma and prejudice prevented LGBT organisations from
operating freely.
The report, presented jointly with three South African-based organisations, stated, ‘In
Swaziland sexual health rights of LGBT are not protected. There is inequality in the access to
general health care, gender affirming health care as opposed to sex affirming health care and
sexual reproductive health care and rights of these persons. HIV prevention, testing,
treatment and care services continue to be hetero-normative in nature only providing for
specific care for men born as male and women born as female, thereby leaving out trans men
and women as an unprotected population which continues to render the state’s efforts at
addressing the spread and incidence of HIV within general society futile.’
The report added, ‘LGBTs are discriminated and condemned openly by society. This is
manifest in negative statements uttered by influential people in society e.g., religious,
traditional and political leaders. Traditionalists and conservative Christians view LGBTs as
against Swazi tradition and religion. There have been several incidents where traditionalists
and religious leaders have issued negative statements about lesbians.
‘Human rights abuses and violations against members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual,
transgender and intersex population continue to go undocumented, unreported, unprosecuted
and not addressed.’
It added, ‘There is no legislation recognizing LGBTs or protecting the right to a non-
heterosexual orientation and gender identity and as a result LGBT cannot be open about their
orientation or gender identity for fear of rejection and discrimination.’
There are attempts to register the first LGBT group in Swaziland and on 22 June 2019 the
second annual Pride parade is due to take place in the kingdom.
Richard Rooney
44
8. MEDIA
Journalists in Swaziland endure year of harassment as they try to do their jobs

2 May 2019
As World Press Freedom Day is celebrated across the globe, journalists in Swaziland /
eSwatini face almost continual harassment as they go about their work.
A survey by Swazi Media Commentary shows that in the twelve months since May 2018
journalists have been beaten by state forces and teachers as they try to cover public events.
Two were detained at the Qatar Embassy in Mbabane, the Swazi capital, when they went to
question a diplomat. A government minister called for a journalist to be arrested for taking
photographs of ministerial cars parked in a public place. A former newspaper editor was
questioned by police about allegations he had interviewed members of banned political
organisations back in 2011.
As recently as last Sunday (28 April 2019) it was reported that a journalist on the Swazi
Observer needed hospital treatment after he was beaten by family members of a prominent
bishop when he was investigating allegations of the bishop’s sexual relationship with a
schoolgirl. He needed hospital treatment. Five people were later charged by police.
In July 2018, Health Minister Ndlela-Simelane called on police to arrest a Swazi Observer
journalist who was photographing government ministers’ cars outside the Deputy Prime
Minister’s office. She demanded that the photographs be deleted which the journalist did. The
newspaper had previously published a report about government ministers’ BMW cars being
in a bad state of repair. It was checking a government claim that the vehicles had been
repaired and were back on the road.
In August 2018, police and prison warders beat up a Times of Swaziland journalist and
demanded he delete photographs he took of them attacking and shooting at striking textile
workers at Nhlangano. The reporter was treated in hospital. More than 200 paramilitary
police and correctional facility warders with riot shields, helmets and batons had been at
Nhlangano. It had been the third police attack on workers in a week.
Human rights groups condemned the attack. The Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA)
Zimbabawe chapter called on the Southern African Development Community (SADC) to
investigate Swaziland after a series of ‘state-sponsored violations against journalists’.
It called the police attack, ‘an increasingly worrying development involving state security
agents’. It pointed out that in February 2018 a photojournalist with the Swazi Observer had
also been attacked after he took pictures of a convoy of overcrowded vehicles transporting
prison wardens.
MISA called the attacks, ‘a direct attack on the rights to free expression and press freedom as
explicitly protected in Section 24 of Eswatini’s Constitution. Yet State security forces
continue to attack journalists with impunity.’
It called on SADC to look into ‘these continued state-sponsored violations against journalists.
It is high time the regional body condemned the continued use of state security agents to
45
violate fundamental rights such as the right to free expression and the right to access
information.’
MISA Swaziland chapter said it was concerned the attacks on journalists were taking place
ahead of national elections which were held in September 2018. It stated, ‘The law
enforcement agents ought to know that journalists play a public service of disseminating
information that emaSwati [Swazi people] need desperately to make informed decisions and
choices.’
It added, ‘Whosoever attacks journalists in line of duty, stands accused of violating
emaSwati’s constitutional right to information.’
Separately, the Panos Institute Southern Africa said the state attacks on journalists were
unconstitutional. In a statementit said, ‘Journalism is not a crime, but is a freedom that must
be cherished and protected by all who are concerned about the region’s development. Any
attack on press freedom is a blow on the implementation of poverty eradication interventions,
as the media is a strategic ally in the roll-out of national development programmes.’
In September 2018, a photojournalist with the Swazi Observer was assaulted and had his
camera taken while covering protest march by schoolteachers. He was hit with open hands
and fists and he sustained injuries on the face and body. His camera was taken but later
recovered. It happened near the United States Embassy in Mbabane while teachers marched
to deliver a petition seeking support in their campaign for higher salaries.
In October 2018, the Qatar embassy in Swaziland detained two journalists from the Times of
Swaziland for more than an hour in the kingdom’s capital, Mbabane. The Committee to
Protect Journalists reported a senior diplomat tried to make them sign a statement barring
them from publishing a report about his alleged involvement in an assault.
The journalists refused to sign, saying the story was in the public interest. They were released
and later went to local police to lay a charge of kidnapping.
Times of Swaziland editor Martin Dlamini told CPJ, ‘We are shocked that our journalists
could be subjected to such treatment by an ambassador. This is not just a serious attack on the
local media but displays disrespect toward the country.’
In November 2018, Musa Ndlangamandla, a former editor-in-chief of the Swazi Observer and
a writer for South Africa’s Mail & Guardian newspaper, was questioned by police for talking
to banned political parties for articles he had written in 2011.
He wrote on his Facebook page, ‘They told me they are building a case against me for
interacting (they actually called it advertising) PUDEMO, Umbane and other entities they
described as proscribed.’
Political parties are banned in Swaziland and the kingdom is ruled by King Mswati III as sub-
Saharan Africa’s last absolute monarch.
Meanwhile, the United States State Department annual report on human rights in Swaziland
covering 2018 stated, ‘The constitution and law provide for freedom of expression, including
for the press, but the government restricted this right, particularly with respect to press
freedom and matters concerning the monarchy. Although no law bans criticism of the
monarchy, the prime minister used threats and intimidation to restrict such criticism.
46
‘The law empowers the government to ban publications if it deems them “prejudicial or
potentially prejudicial to the interests of defense, public safety, public order, public morality,
or public health.” Many journalists practiced self-censorship. Journalists expressed fear of
reporting on matters involving the monarchy.
‘Daily newspapers criticized government corruption and inefficiency but generally avoided
criticizing the royal family.’
The report added, ‘Broadcast media remained firmly under state control. Most persons
obtained their news from radio broadcasts. Access to speak on national radio is generally
restricted to government officials, although a leader of the Trade Union Congress of
Swaziland received an opportunity in September to share trade union frustrations and
demands. Despite invitations issued by the media regulatory authority for parties to apply for
licenses, no licenses were awarded. Stations practiced self-censorship and hesitated to
broadcast anything perceived as critical of the government or the monarchy.’
See also
Censorship total at Swazi state media
Journalists say they are under threat
Editor wants media freedom inquiry
‘Forbes’ article praising Swaziland King thought to be April Fool joke was public
relations piece
4 April 2019
An article in the international business magazine Forbes Africa that praised King Mswati III,
the absolute monarch of impoverished Swaziland / eSwatini, for his ‘his highest aspirations
for the welfare of its people,’ that was widely circulated on social media on 1 April 2019 was
thought by many to be an April Fool joke.
Instead, it turns out the article was genuine; but it was not a piece of objective journalism,
only public relations. It was produced by the marketing company Penresa and was published
in the magazine for a fee. The cost has not been publicly disclosed. Penresa said the article
was produced with the ‘guidance’ of Sibi Mngomezulu, eSwatini Ambassador in Brussels,
and Christian Nkambule, eSwatini High Commissioner in London.
The articles raised smiles among people with knowledge of the kingdom that has been in
financial meltdown for years. The King holds power by banning political parties from taking
part in elections and jailing those who campaign for democracy.
The article referred to the Royal Family’s as intent on bringing ‘prosperity to the country
with forward-thinking measures that are paving the way for the nation’s sharp national
economic growth and modernisation’.
47
The article did not say that when delivering the national budget in February 2019 Finance
Minister Neal Rijkenberg reported Swaziland was broke and ‘facing an unprecedented
economic crisis’. In his speech he said the ‘economic outlook remains subdued’. Foreign
direct investment into the kingdom ruled by King Mswati who is sub-Saharan Africa’s last
absolute monarch, was getting worse – with a contraction of 0.4 percent in Swaziland’s GDP
for 2018.
‘The economy has stagnated and we are failing to attract investment as the gap between the
rich and poor continues to grow,’ Rijkenberg said. He added that for too long, ‘this economic
reality has not been addressed’.
Forbes Africa made no mention of the vast spending by King Mswati and his Royal Family
who continue to spend lavishly. The King has at least 13 palaces and fleets of top-of-the-
range Mercedes and BMW cars. He and members of his extensive Royal Family (he has had
at least 15 wives) live opulent lifestyles and are often seen in public wearing watches and
jewels worth hundreds of thousands of dollars.
The King wore a watch worth US$1.6 million and a suit beaded with diamonds weighing 6
kg, at his 50th birthday party in April 2018. Days earlier, King Mswati took delivery of his
second private jet aircraft that with upgrades was estimated to have cost US$30 million.
In recent years public hospitals have run out of vital medicines and schools have closed
because supplies of food to feed children have run out. This is because the government failed
to pay suppliers.
The article in Forbes Africa was produced by Penresa which describes itself as ‘an
independent consultancy agency, specialized in marketing and communication for emerging
markets’.
It said it targeted countries that are ‘casting off their former labels’.
48
Richard Rooney
See also
Swaziland people pay E1 billion for absolute King’s upkeep, but it’s kept a secret
Swaziland King prepares for lavish birthday celebrations, despite dire poverty in the
kingdom
Swaziland journalist beaten for investigating bishop’s sex with schoolgirl allegation
1 May 2019
A journalist in Swaziland /eSwatini needed hospital treatment after he was beaten by family
members of a prominent bishop in the kingdom. Zwelethu Dlamini had been following up a
story that Bishop Bheki Lukhele was having sexual relations with a schoolgirl.
Dlamini works for the Swazi Observer newspaper. The Sunday edition of the Observer
reported (28 April 2019), ‘The incident, which occurred in the Lubombo region, saw one
member of the news team rushed to the hospital after he was clobbered by three sets of
different mobs which left a company vehicle dented by clubs and a broken windshield from a
flying missile.’ The newspaper said those involved in the attack included some of the
bishop’s in-laws.
The Observer said it was investigation allegations that Lukhele, ‘had sexual relations with a
Form Two pupil who ultimately dropped out after falling pregnant’. She is thought to be 21
years old.
Lukhele, founder and leader in the All Nations Christian Church in Zion, reportedly intended
to marry her. According to the Observer, Lukhele, ‘is known to enjoy a polygamous
lifestyle’.
Journalists in Swaziland often face physical attacks when reporting. In September 2018,
Mduduzi Mngomezulu, a photojournalist with the Swazi Observer, was manhandled and
assaulted by teachers as he took photographs at a protest. He was hit with open hands and
fists and sustained injuries on the face and body.
Also in September 2018, police attacked a Times of Swaziland journalist Andile Nsibande
who was photographing them during a workers’ dispute where they fired shots. Police
officers demanded that Nsibande delete pictures he had taken and then beat up the
defenceless journalist. He was taken to hospital where he received treatment.
In February 2018, a photojournalist with the Swazi Observer was attacked after he took
pictures of a convoy of overcrowded vehicles transporting prison wardens.
Another photojournalist with the Sunday Observer was attacked in July 2018 after he took
pictures of government vehicles parked outside a deputy prime minister’s office. Police
forced the photojournalist to delete pictures he had taken.
See also
Swaziland Police beat-up journalist photographing them attacking, shooting at textile
workers
49
High Court ruling banning news report another blow to press freedom in Swaziland
10 May 2019
Media freedom in Swaziland / eSwatini suffered another blow with a High Court decision to
ban a newspaper from reporting on the people behind the Farmers Bank that was recently set
up in the kingdom.
The Central Bank of Eswatini brought an urgent application against the Times of Swaziland
newspaper to prevent it using information contained in a confidential report on the licence
application of Farmers Bank.
Judge Nkosinathi Maseko supported the central bank. A review of the case by Carmel
Rickard, published by Legal Brief on Thursday (9 May 2019), stated, ‘Investigative journalist
Welcome Dlamini had obtained the report, prepared by the central bank’s financial regulation
department, while he was working on a story about Farmers Bank. The central bank
maintained that the law provided for strict security and confidentiality about all its business
and that for an employee or former employee to have ‘leaked’ the document to the media was
unlawful.
‘Approached by Dlamini for comment about the circumstances of the licence approval, the
governor of the central bank, Majozi Sithole, established that Dlamini had a copy of the
report. Sithole told him the document was strictly confidential and required Dlamini to
undertake not to publish his intended report. When no undertaking was forthcoming, the
central bank successfully applied for an interim order barring the newspaper from publishing.
The matter was fully argued soon afterwards.’
High Court judge Maseko in his judgement noted Sithole’s claim that the planned publication
was an unlawful breach of the central bank's privacy and ‘would cause irreparable harm’ to
the central bank, Farmers Bank and to the ‘integrity of the financial systems of the country’.
Confidentiality had to be preserved ‘at all costs’ because of the potential consequences for
banking in the country ‘and beyond’ of any disclosure.
The newspaper argued that the central bank should also protect the kingdom from
‘unscrupulous business people’. Investigations into the people wanting to set up a banking
business were thus surely a matter of importance and of ‘utmost public interest’.
Maseko ruled the law required the work of the central bank to be highly guarded and
surrounded by ‘utmost secrecy and confidentiality’ with criminal sanctions for any breach.
He granted, ‘with costs’, a restraining interdict, and barred the paper from publishing
‘information contained in a confidential report on Farmers Bank's licence application’,
Rickard reported.
The court ruling is only one example of the harassment journalists in Swaziland face. In the
past year alone journalists have been beaten by state forces and teachers as they try to cover
public events. Two were detained at the Qatar Embassy in Mbabane, the Swazi capital, when
they went to question a diplomat. A government minister called for a journalist to be arrested
for taking photographs of ministerial cars parked in a public place. A former newspaper
editor was questioned by police about allegations he had interviewed members of banned
political organisations back in 2011.
50
Swaziland prince who called for dissenting journalists to be killed, dies

17 April 2019
Prince Mahlaba, a senior member of the Swazi Royal Family who called for journalists who
opposed King Mswati III to be killed, has died.
Mahlaba was a stanch opponent of democracy in Swaziland / eSwatini where King Mswati
rules as sub-Saharan Africa’s last absolute monarch.
In 2010, he received international condemnation when he said, ‘Journalists who write bad
things about the country will die.’ He made his threat at a Smart Partnership meeting.
A Times of Swaziland report at the time quoted Prince Mahlaba saying, ‘I want to warn the
media to bury things that have the potential of undermining the country, rather than publish
all and everything even when such reports are harmful to the country’s international image.’
His threat became an international scandal. The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ)
rallied behind the Swazi media and condemned Mahlaba. Internet sites from every continent
carried news criticising the prince and by extension the whole undemocratic regime in
Swaziland.
The South Africa National Editors' Forum (Sanef) said Mahlaba’s accusations against
journalists and about how they operated ‘were outrageous and contemptuously rejected, but
the threat to kill journalists who wrote critically about the governance and leadership of the
country was extremely menacing, designed to intimidate journalists and their publications.’
Prince Mahlaba was an important member of Liqoqo, the group of traditionalists who advise
the King, and was appointed to the Swaziland Senate by the King. He was also famed for his
opposition to the Swaziland Constitution that came into place in 2006.
In 2009, the Times of Swaziland reported Prince Mahlaba stormed out of a meeting of Liqoqo
describing the Swazi Constitution as ‘rubbish’ because it took powers away from the King.
The newspaper said he reportedly believed the constitution granted people rights to do as they
pleased.
Prince Mahlaba, a soldier by background, complained to Liqoqo that the constitution took all
powers from the King and vested them upon judges of the High Court.
According to a report in the Times Sunday, Prince Mahlaba also believed the constitution
‘grants people absolute rights to misbehave in the name of freedom of expression and get
away with it’.
Called to comment on these allegations he said the constitution was crafted for the educated
elite, saying he was uneducated, hence the constitution was not meant for him.
In July 2010, Alec Lushaba, editor of the Weekend Observer, a newspaper in effect owned by
King Mswati himself, asked the King at a press conference if he agreed with comments made
previously by Prince Masitsela (another senior member of the Swazi Royal Family) that
Swaziland needed to review its current political status if it wanted to meet its stated aim of
becoming a ‘first world’ country.
51
According to a report in the Times of Swaziland, the only independent daily newspaper in the
kingdom (23 July 2010), the question sparked an angry intervention from Prince Mahlaba.
Prince Mahlaba denounced Lushaba as ‘not Swazi enough’ to know what he was talking
about. Prince Mahlaba claimed that the Swazi people were all behind the present system of
government and did not want change.
When Prince Mahlaba allowed the King to answer the question, King Mswati said prospects
of reviewing the kingdom’s political system were closed.
The Times reported that Lushaba told the King that political dissenters were also Swazi
people and should be called so they could tell the King what their problems were.
King Mswati, who has banned political parties in Swaziland and branded groups who are in
opposition to him terrorists, said dissenters would not be entertained.
Prince Mahlaba, who was born in 1948, died in South Africa. The cause of death has not been
made public.
See also
CPJ attacks ‘death threat’ prince
‘Death threat’ prince condemned
52
9. ROYAL DECREE ANNIVERSARY

Anniversary of day Swaziland stopped being a democracy and became absolute
monarchy approaches
9 April 2019
It is approaching 46 years since Swaziland (now known as /eSwatini) stopped being a

parliamentary democracy and became an absolute monarchy.
On 12 April 1973 King Sobhuza II proclaimed a Royal Decree after he objected to his
subjects electing members of a political party that was not under his control. He tore up the
kingdom’s constitution that had been in place since Swaziland gained independence from
Britain in 1968. Even though Swaziland adopted a new constitution in 2006, the kingdom,
now ruled by King Mswati III, remains an absolute monarchy.
In his decree King Sobhuza announced, ‘I have assumed supreme power in the Kingdom of
Swaziland and that all Legislative, Executive and Judicial power is vested in myself.’
He added, ‘The Constitution is indeed the cause of growing unrest, insecurity, dissatisfaction
with the state of affairs in our country and an impediment to free and progressive
development in all spheres of life.’
He also said, ‘All political parties and similar bodies that cultivate and bring about
disturbances and ill-feelings within the Nations are hereby dissolved and prohibited.’
He said, ‘Any person who forms or attempts or conspires to form a political party or who
organises or participates in any way in any meeting, procession or demonstration in
contravention of this decree shall be guilty of an offence and liable, on conviction, to
imprisonment not exceeding six months.’
In 1973 the United States Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) believed King Sobhuza had
taken control from the Swazi Parliament because he feared people were becoming educated
and would mount a serious threat to his power.
In 1968 Swaziland had what the CIA called a ‘British-imposed’ constitution with a formal
‘Western style’ parliament working alongside the Swazi National Council (SNC), ‘a group of
chiefs and headmen dominated by the King’.
In a secret report which has since been declassified the CIA stated, ‘In theory the SNC only
dealt with tribal matters but it always maintained a strong voice in governmental affairs.’
It added, ‘The veneer provided by the British-imposed constitution and parliamentary form of
government left the King a great deal of room for exercising political power but it also left
room for a substantial degree of political manoeuvring by non-traditional oriented political
parties.
‘King Sobhuza staked his prestige on the formation of his own political party [the Imbkodvo
National Movement] and won an overwhelming victory, sweeping 24 seats, during the
country’s first post-independence election in 1967. During the next election in 1973,
however, Sobhuza’s party lost three of the 24 parliamentary seats [to the Ngwane National
53
Liberatory Congress] and the King dissolved Parliament, suspended the Constitution, and
assumed power by decree.’
The CIA report added, ‘Most of the vote against Sobhuza’s party in 1973 came from an area
that contained the capital city [Mbabane], much of the country’s developed industry, the civil
servants, and almost half of Swaziland’s urban population.
‘While many observers did not feel that the loss of three parliamentary seats represented a
serious threat to the King and his party, the King probably interpreted the vote as the initial
stages of the breakdown of tribal authority.’
The CIA report stated, ‘As the Swazi people and the economy become more sophisticated,
Sobhuza’s autocratic style is being viewed as an anachronism by growing numbers of
educated Swaziland.’
A confidential cable (later declassified) from the US Embassy in Swaziland to the State
Department in Washington dated 13 April 1973, the day after King Sobhuza’s proclamation,
read in part, ‘King Sobhuza stated he had taken drastic action to prevent breakdown of law
and order and to reverse process of disharmony, bitterness and division which existed in
country. Prince Sifuba [head of the Swazi National Council], on behalf Swazi nation, had
stated that nation wished King to know it had never been so divided as at present. King laid
blame for present “very serious situation” in country directly to constitution which introduced
“undesirable political activities” into country bringing bitterness and threats to peace, law and
order.’
It added, ‘Extent of action surprised Western observers who perceive no serious threat to law
and order. Non-Swazis and even some Swazis profess belief King yielded to pressures and
over-reacted to insignificant opposition.’
The cable said the King repealed the Swaziland constitution, dismissed parliament and
assumed personal control of the country as King-in-Council.
The cable listed what it called some ‘fairly tame’ activities that had taken place in the
previous months that traditionalists and monarchists said was disruptive. These included brief
work stoppages at the Havelock and Ngwenya mines; some civil servants requested a
meeting of all civil servants in December 1972 because they were dissatisfied with wage
increases; modernization and proliferation of commerce and industry in Swaziland had led to
attempts to organize unions; students had voiced complaints and grievances and there had
been growing pressure in the rural areas for different rules for land tenure which, the cable
said, implied a reduction in the real power of the local chief.
Political parties remain banned in Swaziland and the King choses all members of the
government and the judiciary. He also chooses 10 members of the House of Assembly,
allowing his subjects to select the other 59 members. No members of the Swazi Senate are
elected by the people.
In 2013, Swaziland’s Attorney-General Majahenkhaba Dlamini said there was no need to
annul the Royal Decree.
54
He was reacting to a report in the Times Sunday, an independent newspaper in Swaziland,

that traditionalists stopped the decree being repealed when Swaziland’s Constitution came
into force in 2006. He believed the Constitution in effect annulled the Royal Decree.
According to the Times Sunday ‘influential traditionalists’ feared Swaziland ‘could become a
republic if this law was repealed’.
The newspaper said preparations to abandon the Royal Decree in 2005 were far advanced and
a gazette had been drawn up.
The newspaper quoted one of the traditionalists, Brigadier General Fonono Dube, who was a
member of Liqoqo, an advisory council to the King, saying, ‘There was no way we could
have revoked a law that establishes the country. We couldn’t have allowed the authorities of
the country to annul the decree because that would have turned the country into a republic.
We don’t need a president in Swaziland. We need the King.’
The anniversary of the Royal Decree is marked by pro-democracy advocates in Swaziland. It
is usual for the State police and armed forces to intervene. The Suppression of Terrorism Act
2008 makes it illegal to campaign for democracy.
See also
Swaziland state ‘terrorises’ its people
Swaziland ‘becoming military state’
55
10. AND THE REST …
Senior Prince says those who plot against Swaziland’s unelected Prime Minister will die
8 April 2019
People who plot against the Swaziland / eSwatini Prime Minister who was not elected to
office but personally appointed by absolute monarch King Mswati III will die, the King’s
newspaper reported.
The Swazi Observer reported (7 April 2019) a senior member of the Royal Family and a
traditional leader separately made the prediction.
The newspaper which is in effect owned by the King and has been called a ‘pure propaganda
machine for the royal family’ by the Media Institute of Southern Africa reported, Senior
Prince Masitsela and Themba Ginindza, ‘have prophesied that anyone who will work against
Prime Minister (PM) Ambrose Mandvulo Dlamini will die.’
They both made their comments during a thanksgiving ceremony for the PM, at the Soweto
Church of the Nazarene, Mbekelweni.
It was attended by members of the royal family, government ministers, Members of
Parliament, senators, private sector bosses, prominent individuals and members of the public.
The Observer reported Ginindza told the gathering PM Dlamini had been appointed by God.
It added, ‘Ginindza said as it was depicted in biblical verses, anyone who worked against the
PM would die and warned that there should be no one doing bad against the PM as he was
appointed by God through prayer.’
The Observer reported, ‘He emphasised that the PM was anointed by God so the day
government officials start doing things against him (PM), they would die just like those who
died in the Bible.’
The Observer reported the King’s elder brother Prince Masitsela, who is 88 years old, ‘also
reiterated that those who plot ill against the PM would die’.
The newspaper added, ‘The prince expressed his belief that the appointment of the PM was
not a mistake, and was a signal that God has taken over the country.’
Prime Ministers in Swaziland are not elected by the people but appointed by King Mswati,
who rules as an absolute monarch. He also appoints cabinet ministers and top civil servants
and judges. Political parties are banned from taking part in elections and although some
members of the House of Assembly are elected by the people no members of the Swaziland
Senate are.
Just before he appointed Ambrose Dlamini PM in October 2018 King Mswati told a meeting
of the kingdom’s ‘People’s Parliament’ he had been visited by angels who told him whom he
should choose for the office.
King Mswati and his supporters have in the past said the King has a direct line to God.
56
In 2013, African Eye News Service reported Prince Masitsela said that God had given the
royal family authority to rule over other Swazi clans. ‘The Dlaminis are closer to God,’ he
said.
In 2011, the King said God spoke to him through a TV remote control. It happened at the
Lozitha Palace, near Mbabane. At the time the King told his subjects about his ‘miraculous
experience’.
The Times of Swaziland reported in October 2011, ‘His Majesty saw a miracle yesterday
when he was preparing a sermon [to preach to a group of evangelical Christians.] The King
said a remote control lay at the centre of a coffee table but something mysteriously brought it
down.
‘He said there was no person or wind that could have brought it down. The King said he
realised that God was with him. It was Him who brought the remote control down.’
See also
Swazi King’s private line to God
Fears over King’s mental health
Reasonable grounds two Swaziland police officers killed suspect in custody, coroner
reports
12 April 2019
There were ‘reasonable grounds’ to believe two Swaziland police officers killed Luciano
Zavale who had been arrested for allegedly having a stolen CD writer in his possession, a
coroner has ruled.
Zavale, a 35-year-old Mozambican barber popularly known as Melusi, died at Manzini police
station.
The coroner, former Hhohho Principal Magistrate Nondumiso Simelane, said in a report,
‘death was caused by the deprivation of air into the lungs (respiratory distress) through the
outer orifices, being the mouth and nose’.
Simelane said, ‘I am satisfied that reasonable grounds do exist for suspecting that the death of
Luciano Reginaldo Zavale was caused by the criminal act and/or culpable or negligent
conduct of the two investigating constables, being 6432 D/Constable Nhlanhla Nkambule and
5709 D/Constable Ndumiso Myeni.’
Simelane referred the case to the director of public prosecutions to take such action as he
deemed fit.
Zavale made international news after he died in police custody on 12 June 2015. Police took
his body to the Raleigh Fitkin Memorial Hospital where they told nurses that he had been
found by members of the public along the road at Coates Valley.
Pathologist Dr Steve Naidoo told the inquest Zavale died after his breathing was obstructed
externally through suspected smothering and his lungs, instead of drawing air, drew blood
from nearby veins and filled up.
57
He said Zavale had several injuries on his body, including a scraping at the back of his head,
superficial abrasions on his arm, cheek, back, as well as internally, his neck and lungs.
See also
‘Police torture suspect to death’
More police torture in Swaziland
Prisoners in Swaziland jail face beatings and humiliation from warders, former inmate
reports
8 May 2019
Prisoners in jails in Swaziland / eSwatini routinely face illegal beatings from warders and
constant humiliations, according to testimony from a former inmate at Sidwashini
Correctional Facility.
The 27-year-old, a prodemocracy activist charged with terrorism offences in the kingdom
ruled by absolute monarch King Mswati III, reported being ‘beaten and tortured’.
He spent four years at Sidwashini, in the Swazi capital Mbabane, before a judge acquitted
and discharged him in 2014.
The man’s experience was reported by Prison Insider, which publishes testimonials from
people who have been or are currently in prison.
The former inmate who was not named said, ‘I shared a cell with about 35 to 40 other
prisoners, it was packed beyond its capacity, overcrowded as is the case with prisons here.
The only furniture in the cell were our thin sleeping mats and blankets, separated with only
about 30-centimetre space between each of them. The windows in the cells were so high up,
prisoners could only see the outside of the cell by climbing onto a support, for example
several blankets piled up.’
In September 2018 Swaziland’s Correctional Services revealed that the total prison
population in the kingdom was 3,453, which exceeded the prison system’s designed capacity
by 615 inmates.
The former inmate said, ‘In Swaziland, untried prisoners are kept under lock 24 hours a day.
We did not have the luxury of going out like the convicted prisoners. It was extremely
mentally challenging to be locked up all day.’
He added, ‘You would find yourself at the verge of crying due to the very cold condition,
only the fear of being embarrassed for shedding tears in public could hold you back.’
He said inmates were kept in unheated cells, even during freezing weather. Breakfast was
thin maize porridge four times a week and bread with black tea three times a week.
Prisoners were counted by wardens three times a day. ‘The humiliating part about the
counting was that we were forced to squat in rows of five.’
The former inmate said, ‘Some mornings were disrupted by random searches. This
experience was humiliating, lots of verbal and sometimes physical assaults. I saw prison
58
officers severely assault and humiliate fellow prisoners during night searches. They took the
unlucky ones to the isolation cells, where they were beaten and exposed to further degrading
treatment.’
The former inmate said, ‘Finally, when the judge acquitted and discharged me, I was elated. I
shall always cherish the day I was released from prison. Those emotions and feelings are still
fresh in my memory. I do not think they will ever fade away. I was freed from perpetual pain
and humiliation.’
There have been other reports about poor conditions at Sidwashini. In December 2017 a
suspect told a magistrate that inmates there were ‘frequently assaulted’.
The Swazi Observer reported at the time the suspect whom it only named as Masuku, ‘said he
suffered bruises on his body due to the heavy beating he was subjected to by the officers’.
In January 2018 there were reports of disturbances in jails in Swaziland with inmates accused
of brutality against warders. It was reported that new inmates had formed gangs and warders
from jails across the kingdom had been moved to two institutions at Sidwashini and
Bhalekane to increase security.
There were at least two incidents where inmates rioted because they were served with poor
food. These were at Sidwashini and Bhalekane. At Sidwashini, media in Swaziland reported,
untrained warders were sent in to help restore peace. At Bhalekane one warder had to be
taken to hospital after an alleged attack.
In 2017 the United Nations Human Rights Committee (HRC) stepped up investigations into
prison conditions in Swaziland amid reports of inhumane conditions. They included food
shortages, inadequate sanitary conditions and medical care.
In a wide-ranging questionnaire to the Swaziland Government the HRC asked for detailed
information about the number of existing prisons in the kingdom, prison capacity and the
number of inmates and whether there were separate facilities for adults and children. It also
asks what plans Swaziland had to ratify the Convention against Torture and Other, Cruel,
Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment.
In 2014 it was reported that more than 1,000 people were in jail in Swaziland because they
were too poor to pay fines for offences such as traffic violations, theft by false pretences,
malicious injury to property and fraud.
The figures revealed that in Swaziland, where seven in ten people live in abject poverty with
incomes less than the equivalent of US$2 per day, 1,053 of 3,615 inmates in Swazi jails were
there because they did not have the money to pay a fine option. This was 29.1 percent of the
entire prison population.
See also
Jail disturbances across Swaziland
Jail inmates ‘beaten frequently’
Swazi jail riot over no bread
Probe into corruption at Swazi jail
59
Hundreds march in Swaziland after forced evictions leave families destitute

21 May 2019
Hundreds marched at Malkerns in Swaziland / eSwatini to protest the forced eviction of

people last year who have been left homeless and destitute.
It happened on Saturday (18 May 2019) and was jointly organised by a variety of civil
society organisations.
Times Sunday, reported one of the evicted people saying, ‘We eat from the bins as we do not
have homes and cannot practice farming.’
The newspaper also reported Mhlatase Dlamini saying, ‘Our houses were brought down and
our belongings were taken and dumped. My children are all over and eat from dustbins.’
In April 2018, Dozens of people, including 33 children, were left homeless after their homes
at Embetseni were demolished using bulldozers in the presence of 20 armed police.
At the time Amnesty International called to people across the world to protest. Amnesty said
the evictions were in violation of international human rights standards.
In a statement it said four homesteads with 61 people, including 33 children, were forcibly
evicted from a farming area. It said, ‘Representatives of a private farming company that owns
the land together with the Sheriff of the High Court of Mbabane and armed local police
officers were present during the demolition of the homesteads. They arrived in the morning
and told the families to remove their belongings from their homes if they did not want them
destroyed during the demolition.
Afterwards, bulldozers demolished the four homesteads.’

The Swazi High Court had in July 2017 ordered their eviction.
Amnesty added, ‘In violation of international human rights standards, residents of the
homesteads were not given adequate advance notice of the eviction and were not provided
with alternative housing thus rendering them homeless, and at risk of other human rights
violations.’
Forced evictions across Swaziland, where King Mswati III rules as an absolute monarch, are
common. Farmers have been evicted from their land to expand the monarchy-controlled
sugar industry for decades.
60
American independent watchdog organization Freedom House stated in a press release from
2013 that the Swazi police ‘are increasing pressure on farmers resisting their unlawful
evictions from land that they have occupied for generations.” A report from the organization
on Swaziland from the same year concluded that, “in Swaziland, property is insecure, and
rightful owners have no effective redress in the legal system which places the king above all
laws.’
Photograph of the demonstration sourced from Facebook.
See also
Evicted farmers take on Swaziland absolute monarch to get their land back
Bulldozers move in to evict families
Homes destroyed for king’s vanity project
Total of 430 rape cases reported in Swaziland over seven months after new law
introduced
24 May 2019
There were 430 cases of rape reported in Swaziland / eSwatini over seven months, new
figures reveal.
They were among 2,900 cases brought under the Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Act
(SODV) that came into force in 2018.
A total of 2,068 cases of domestic violence were also recorded, a workshop for members of
parliament was told. This was for the period August 2018 to March 2019.
The SODV Act was introduced into Swaziland in an attempt to clarify the law. It has proved
controversial among traditionalists in the kingdom where King Mswati III rules as sub-
Saharan Africa’s last absolute monarch. The Act also makes sexual harassment, stalking and
flashing illegal.
Commenting in 2018 on the SODV Act before it was passed the International Commission of
Jurists (ICJ) said attitudes in Swaziland towards domestic violence demonstrated strong
support for traditional gender roles, high levels of rape-supportive attitudes and tolerant
attitudes for violence.
The ICJ said, ‘For example, only 51 per cent of men have been surveyed as believing that a
woman may refuse to have sexual intercourse with her husband, while 88 per cent believe a
woman should obey her husband and 45 per cent believe a husband has a right to punish his
wife if she does something he deems is wrong.’
Police in Swaziland have in the past been criticised for their lack of concern over rape
victims. In July 2017 the Swazi Observer said rape victims reported their plight was not being
treated seriously by police and often they were simply dropped off at hospital and made to
find their own help. It came at a time when 1,082 rapes had been reported in Swaziland in the
previous two years.
61
See also
‘Urgent need to pass sex offences bill’
Alleged rape of two-year-old in Swaziland covered up in name of local culture
Campaign growing for arrest of Swaziland Prince over kidnapping and rape allegation
Dad rapes daughter (16) to test her virginity
Wives say husbands can rape them
62
ABOUT THE EDITOR
Richard Rooney was associate professor at the University of Swaziland 2005 – 2008, where
he was also the founding head of the Journalism and Mass Communication Department.
He has taught in universities in Africa, Europe and the Pacific. His academic research which
specialises in media and their relationships to democracy, governance and human rights has
appeared in books and journals across the world.
His writing regularly appears in newspapers, magazines and on websites. He was a full-time
journalist in his native United Kingdom for 10 years, before becoming an academic.
He has published the blog Swazi Media Commentary since 2007 and also has other social
media sites that concentrate on human rights issues in Swaziland.
He holds a Ph.D in Communication from the University of Westminster, London, UK.
He edits a weekly email newsletter with news from and about Swaziland, compiled in
collaboration with Africa Contact, Denmark (www.afrika.dk) and sent to all with an interest
in Swaziland - free of charge. To subscribe mail to: SAK-Swazinewsletter-
subscribe@yahoogroups.co.uk
63
Swaziland: Striving for Freedom Vol. 33 January to March 2019 is available free of
charge here
The gap between rich and poor is widening and the kingdom faces ‘an unprecedented
economic crisis’: these were two of the main concerns of Finance Minister Neal Rijkenberg
in his national budget for Swaziland where the ‘economic outlook remains subdued’. He went
on to threaten to cut public service jobs if workers did not fall into line and accept his
programme to reduce debts.
Meanwhile, the Auditor General Timothy Matsebula in his annual report stated the finances
of the Government were in such a mess that billions of emalangeni could not be accounted
for.
Public service across Swaziland are in freefall with hospitals and clinics short of vital drugs.
Schools are unable to feed vulnerable children. All because the government has not paid
suppliers.
These were some of the major themes from Swaziland over the first three months of 2019 and
published in Swaziland: Striving for Freedom: volume 33, the latest quarterly compilation
from the pages of Swazi Media Commentary.
The international spotlight has been shone on Swaziland, where King Mswati III rules as sub-
Saharan Africa’s last absolute monarch. The kingdom continues to be riddled with
corruption, according to Transparency International. Freedom House once again declared
Swaziland ‘not free’ in its annual Freedom in the World Index.
Closer to home, the Law Society of Swaziland Secretary Thulani Maseko criticised recent
appointments of judges, saying there was no transparency in the choices and the Swazi
Constitution was ignored.
64
Swaziland Striving for Freedom Vol 32 October to December 2018 is available free of
charge here
King Mswati III demonstrated how powerful he is as the absolute monarch of Swaziland /
eSwatini by ignoring provisions in the constitution when he selected a Prime Minister and
other members of parliament following the September 2018 election. He also appointed eight
members of his Royal Family to the kingdom’s Senate and six to the House of Assembly.
Full results of the elections, which were widely recognised outside the kingdom to be
illegitimate because political parties are banned from taking part, have still not been released.
There were also reports of bribery and other voting irregularities.
These were some of the stories that appeared on the Swazi Media Commentary website in the
final three months of 2018.
Swaziland faces a period of continued unrest because the elections were unable to change
anything, according to global analysts Fitch Solutions. Risks to stability in the kingdom are
growing, it said. The Government – handpicked by King Mswati – continued to lurch from
one financial crisis to another and pensions were not paid to the elderly.
On a more positive note a church in Swaziland openly welcomed LGBTI people but
discrimination against this group of people remains rife. A ground-breaking documentary on
life as an LGBTI person in Swaziland was released on YouTube and focussed on the first
ever Pride event that took place in June 2018.
Workers continued to be oppressed and riot police invade a hospital during peaceful nurses’
protest. Police were sent into schools to invigilate exams during teachers’ pay dispute. A
conference revealed four in ten sex workers in Swaziland had been raped by uniformed police
officers.
65
Swaziland Striving for Freedom Vol 31 July to September 2018 is available free of
charge here
Police in Swaziland / Eswatini turned the city of Manzini into a warzone when they attacked
a legal protest by workers demanding pay improvements. It was one of a number of police
attacks on legal demonstrations in which bullets, stun-grenades, water cannon and teargas
were fired. A video of an indiscriminate attack by police on defenceless people went viral on
the Internet. The police violence was condemned globally.
Police also fired gunshots, grenades and rubber bullets during Swaziland’s election as voters
protested against what they believed was malpractice. The election was largely recognised
outside the kingdom to be undemocratic. Political parties are banned from taking part and at
its conclusion King Mswati III the absolute monarch in Swaziland appointed six members of
the Royal Family to sit in the House of Assembly. No members of the Swazi Senate are
appointed by the people. The election was riddled with reports of bribery, vote-rigging, and
violence.
These are some of the reports in this edition of Swaziland: Striving for Freedom which
includes reports from Swazi Media Commentary published July to September 2018. Among
others are the financial meltdown of the Government with health and education services
failing. There were reports of hunger and deaths as a result of the government’s inability to
pay its suppliers. Meanwhile, King Mswati and his family continue to spend lavishly on
themselves. Barnabas Dlamini, a stanch ally of the ruling elite who was recognised globally
as a serial abuser of human rights in Swaziland, died after a long illness.
It was also revealed in a once-secret CIA report that the revered King Sobhuza II supported
the white-ruled Apartheid government in South Africa because he was afraid that change
there would encourage people to press for political reform in his own kingdom.
66
Swaziland: Striving for Freedom Vol. 30: April to June 2018 is available free of charge
here
Swaziland might never be the same again. King Mswati III demonstrated his absolute power
by renaming his kingdom Eswatini. He did this during the so-called 50-50 Celebrations to
mark his own 50th birthday and the half-century of Swaziland’s independence from Great
Britain. The King also made headlines when he wore a watch worth $1.6 million and a suit
beaded with diamonds at his birthday party. His lavish spending is notorious; days earlier he
took delivery of his second private jet, this one costing about $30 million after upgrades.
These were some of the stories published by Swazi Media Commentary over the second
quarter of 2018 and published in this Swaziland: Striving for Freedom Volume 30. While the
King and the Royal Family continued to spend millions on themselves the kingdom’s
economy was in freefall with the government admitting it was broke. Suppliers remained
unpaid and public services ground to a halt. Hospitals were without medicines and
schoolchildren went hungry as food supplies dried up.
Registration for the national elections to take place in September descended into chaos with
reports of inefficiency and corruption. The election board’s claim that 90 percent of the
eligible population signed up to vote was met with scepticism. Political parties are banned
from taking part in the election which is widely regarded outside of Swaziland as bogus. King
Mswati chooses the Prime Minister and Government ministers and no members of the Senate
are elected by the people.
Swaziland saw its first ever LGBTI Pride parade in June. Unwittingly it demonstrated how
conservative and backward Swaziland is. Newspapers took the opportunity to demonise
LGBTI people but despite this the event proved a success.
Laws in Swaziland have been used by the State as weapons against human rights defenders, a
major investigation of the kingdom by the International Commission of Jurists revealed.
Separately, the United Kingdom reported it was to undertake an investigation into human
rights abuses in Swaziland and in its annual report on the kingdom the United States
highlighted, ‘The most significant human rights issues included: arbitrary interference with
privacy and home; restrictions on freedoms of speech, assembly, and association; denial of
citizens’ ability to choose their government in free and fair elections; institutional lack of
accountability in cases involving rape and violence against women; criminalization of same-
sex sexual conduct, although rarely enforced; trafficking in persons; restrictions on worker
rights; and child labor.’
67
Swazi Media Commentary
Containing information and commentary in

support of human rights in Swaziland
Click Here
68

Swaziland Striving For Freedom Vol 34 Apr - June 2019

Transféré par

Informations du document

Titre original

Copyright

Formats disponibles

Partager ce document

Partager ou intégrer le document

Options de partage

Avez-vous trouvé ce document utile ?

Ce contenu est-il inapproprié ?

Droits d'auteur :

Formats disponibles

Swaziland Striving For Freedom Vol 34 Apr - June 2019

Transféré par

Droits d'auteur :

Formats disponibles

Swaziland: Striving for Freedom

As seen through the pages of Swazi Media Commentary

More deaths in Swaziland as government fails to pay medicine suppliers

HIV drugs not available across Swaziland as health crisis deepens

locally as tinkhundla) will get benefits.

US Ambassador to Swaziland’s optimism over political progress in kingdom misplaced

There is no guarantee of workers’ rights in Swaziland/ eSwatini and it is getting worse, a

Swaziland public service unions call national strike to march on government

The strike had been delayed by the kingdom’s Industrial Court.

3. KING MSWATI III

Swaziland’s king appoints 28 members of his family to kingdom’s committees and

More money goes to Swaziland’s absolute monarch, despite kingdom’s financial

He also received cheques totalling at least E15 million.

As workers and pro-democracy activists in Swaziland / eSwatini mark Workers’ Day on

Following Ngubeni’s conviction, SWAYOCO said in a statement the Mswati government

Njabulo Dlamini, democracy activist in Swaziland, dies aged 32

Njabulo Dlamini: Photo sourced from Facebook

5. SCHOOLS AND CHILDREN

Death of Swaziland schoolgirl after illegal abortion highlights suffering of women in

Swaziland police fire rubber bullets at schoolchildren protesting sexual abuse by

The school has been closed indefinitely.

Swaziland police force schoolchildren back to classes after boycott supporting

No appetite by Swaziland to investigate human rights abuses, corruption: U.S. report

There is no appetite to investigate human rights abuses or corruption in Swaziland /eSwatini,

Journalists in Swaziland endure year of harassment as they try to do their jobs

Swaziland prince who called for dissenting journalists to be killed, dies

9. ROYAL DECREE ANNIVERSARY

It is approaching 46 years since Swaziland (now known as /eSwatini) stopped being a

He was reacting to a report in the Times Sunday, an independent newspaper in Swaziland,

10. AND THE REST …

Hundreds march in Swaziland after forced evictions leave families destitute

Hundreds marched at Malkerns in Swaziland / eSwatini to protest the forced eviction of

Afterwards, bulldozers demolished the four homesteads.’

ABOUT THE EDITOR

He holds a Ph.D in Communication from the University of Westminster, London, UK.

Swazi Media Commentary

Containing information and commentary in

Vous aimerez peut-être aussi