(OSISA) The security forces use STA to oppress activists
Submitted by Richard Lee on Tue, 2013-11-19 12:59
By Richard Lee | November 19th, 2013
From George Soros' OSISA or Open Society Initiative for Southern Africa. - MrK
In a letter to Swaziland’s Prime Minister, 25 organisations called on the government to amend the reviled and unconstitutional Suppression of Terrorism Act (STA), which has been used to target opposition leaders and activists rather than ‘terrorists’ since its enactment in 2008.
“Instead of being narrowly used to target real terrorist threats, the STA is routinely used to suppress legitimate political speech in violation of fundamental rights that are guaranteed under the Swazi Constitution, including the rights to personal liberty, freedom of expression and freedom of association,” said Musa Hlophe, Chairperson of the Swazi Coalition of Concerned Civic Organisations.
The local, regional, and international organisations are calling on the government to amend the STA so as to bring it into line with the Swazi Constitution. In particular, the organisations have urged the authorities to narrow the STA’s overly broad definition of ‘terrorist act’ and ensure that there is fair and adequate opportunity for organisations that are designated as ‘terrorist groups’ to challenge that classification.
In June, the then Minister of Labour and Social Security, Lutfo Dlamini, promised that the government would narrow the definition of ‘terrorist act’. However, the authorities have shown no sign of fulfilling this pledge.
“The Attorney General and the Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs are given wide discretion to classify an organisation as a terrorist group,” said Simon Delaney, Media Law consultant at the Southern Africa Litigation Centre, which is one of the signatories to the letter. “There is a strong risk of incorrect identification as officials need only have reasonable grounds to believe that the group is engaging in terrorist activity – which is an impermissibly low standard. And groups have little recourse when they are designated.”
In addition to its constitutional obligations, Swaziland is a signatory to a number of international treaties, which place obligations on the country to ensure that its legislation, including the STA, adheres to international norms and standards.
“Although counter-terrorism measures are vitally important in any country, these measures must still adhere to domestic and international human rights law and comply with international standards,” said Sipho Gumedze, of Lawyers for Human Rights (Swaziland). “However, the STA fails this test. It is time that it was thoroughly overhauled.”
The following organisations have signed the letter:
Amnesty International
Coalition of Informal Economic Associations of Swaziland
Constituent Assembly of Civil Society Organizations
Concerned Christian Church Leaders
Council of Swaziland Churches
Foundation for Economic and Social Justice
Human Rights Institute – International Bar Association
Human Rights Watch
Lawyers for Human Rights (Swaziland)
Legal Assistance Centre
Luvatsi Youth Empowerment
Media Institute of Southern Africa (Swaziland Chapter)
Southern Africa Litigation Centre
Swaziland Agricultural and plantations Workers Union
Swaziland Coalition of Concerned Civic Organizations (SCCCO)
Swaziland Democracy Campaign (SDC)
Swaziland National Association of Teachers
Swaziland National Union of Students
Swaziland Positive Living
Swaziland Rural Women's Association
Swaziland United Democratic Front
Swaziland Youth in Action
Swaziland Young Women's Network
Trade Union Congress of Swaziland
Women For Women
Women in Law in Southern Africa (Swaziland Chapter)
Labels: COLOUR REVOLUTIONS, FREEDOM HOUSE, OSISA, SWAZILAND
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(OSISA) Police cracking down on farmers protesting forced evictions
Submitted by Richard Lee on Fri, 2013-11-22 15:36
By Richard Lee | November 22nd, 2013
From George Soros' OSISA or Open Society Initiative for Southern Africa. - MrK
Freedom House condemns unlawful arrests and detentions
Freedom House condemns the unlawful arrests and detentions carried out by police against University of Swaziland students as well as farmers in Swaziland’s Vuvulane area. The government of Swaziland should immediately end these violations of Swazi citizens’ basic freedoms.
In recent days, both groups have been subject to repeated arrests, and students have complained of being beaten by police.
On Sunday, November 17, university students protested against what they perceived as an unfair change to the exam calendar. Police officers responded by forcefully entering students’ housing, allegedly beating and then arresting students. On another campus, six students were detained and later released without being formally charged.
In Vuvulane, the police are increasing pressure on farmers resisting their unlawful evictions from land that they have occupied for generations. In a clear attempt to intimidate the community, police this week arrested and detained a group of five farmers four times. Each time they were released before the 24 hour deadline for a charge to be brought, only to be immediately rearrested.
The Swazi government should compel police to refrain from using unlawful, violent means to prevent constitutionally protected free speech and protests.
A recent Freedom House report on Swaziland reveals the extent of King Mswati’s control over all levers of power in Swaziland. His 27-year rule has led to the near collapse of the Swazi economy, increasingly desperate poverty and lack of respect for the rule of law and the political rights of citizens. Political parties remain banned in Swaziland, which is rated ‘Not Free’ in Freedom in the World 2013.
Labels: GEORGE SOROS, NEOLIBERALISM, SWAZILAND
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(OSISA) 40 years without parties and without democracy in Swaziland
Submitted by Richard Lee on Tue, 2013-10-29 11:00
By Richard Lee | October 29th, 2013
The government of Swaziland and the country’s absolutist monarchical system has once again come under fire at the Africa Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR) in Banjul.
A series of Swazi civil society groups took to the floor at the 54th Ordinary session of the ACHPR to lambast their government for holding undemocratic elections, violating people’s rights and refusing to implement previous recommendations of the Commission.
Two years ago, the ACHPR adopted a resolution calling on the Swazi authorities to take all necessary measures to ensure the conduct of free, fair and credible elections in 2013.
Needless to say, King Mswati III and his clique took no notice of the resolution and the recent polls were once again held under the undemocratic Tinkhundla system, which bans political parties from participating – violating Swazis’ rights to freedom of association and assembly.
During its submission, the Human Rights Association of Swaziland (HUMARAS) stressed that while the September elections were largely free of violence, they could not be seen as credible because “despite appeals from citizens and Swaziland’s regional and international friends, including this very Commission, the exercise of freedom of association remained severely curtailed. The election once again took place under a no party system.”
HUMARAS urged the Commission to call on the Swazi government to “put in place enabling legislation for the unequivocal unbanning, recognition, registration and operationalization of political parties in the country” so as to usher in multiparty democracy, which operated in Swaziland from independence until 1973 and which is – crucially – supported by the majority of the people and civil society.
And indeed by the Africa Union electoral mission, which criticised the absence of political parties during the elections and called on the government to implement the ACHPR’s 2012 resolution to “respect, protect and fulfil the rights to freedom of expression, freedom of association and freedom of assembly.”
HUMARAS also urged the Commission to encourage the Swazi authorities to take additional steps that would help take the country forward, including ratifying the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance; convening an all-inclusive national dialogue aimed at normalising the political environment in the country; and stopping the harassment and intimidation of human rights defenders and political activists (and their families,) who are working towards promoting democracy and good governance.
Indeed, HUMARAS also gave a separate statement on the situation of human rights defenders, highlighting the continued existence of restrictive laws (such as the Sedition and Subversive Activities Act; Public Order Act and Suppression of Terrorism Act, which all violate human rights instruments that Swaziland is a party to) and the lack of effective access to justice delivery structures, which are compromised by a lack of independence and interference by the executive.
HUMARAS singled out the moribund Swaziland Human Rights Commission – the status of which underlines the authorities’ complete disregard for Swazi’s fundamental rights. “Since its establishment four years ago, legislation has not been passed to operationalize it in an independent manner. It is located in a royal enclosure and deemed unfriendly to human rights and political activists.”
If that were not enough, HUMARAS added that “women in mourning and wearing trousers are not permitted to enter that enclosure.”
And to cap it all, the group pointed out that the “Commission rarely makes statements on or responds to report on human rights violations.”
Unsurprisingly, HUMARAS called on the ACHPR to urge the Swazi government to operationalize the Human Rights Commission as well as to remove unjustified legal restrictions on the human rights and fundamental freedoms of Swazi citizens and to ensure that its security forces and other state agents do not interfere in the legitimate and peaceful work of human rights defenders.
Meanwhile, after raising similar concerns about the 2013 elections, the Lawyers for Human Rights Swaziland (LHR(S)) also told the Commission that the government had still not amended the law to allow TUCOSWA (the only workers’ federation in the country) to be registered despite its undertakings before the International Labour Organization in Geneva – so there is still “no workers’ federation in Swaziland, although there is an employer’s federation.”
The lawyers also highlighted that the media was under attack and that the judiciary is “perceived to be lacking independence as a result of the compromised manner of appointing judges and the role of the Judicial Service Commission.”
Considering the litany of criticisms, the LHR(S) implored the Commission to consider another mission to Swaziland and to encourage the Swazi government to submit its periodic report to the Commission as well as to urge the authorities – echoing the demand from HUMARAS – to operationalize the National Human Rights Commission.
Interestingly, Women and Law in Southern Africa (WLSA) began its submission by commending the government for (finally) passing the Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Act and for (finally) ratifying the Maputo Protocol. But its praise-singing did not last long.
Firstly, WLSA called on the state to “go beyond ratification [of the Protocol] and begin processes of domesticating and implementing this very important and progressive African instrument.” And the group also urged the government to allocate resources to enforce the new sexual offences act.
And secondly, WLSA made it clear that “discrimination persists in all spheres of life and is continuously reinforced by the socio-cultural norms that relegate women to inferiority and in turn subordination” and that senior government and traditional authorities regularly made pronouncements that contradicted the State’s articulated aims to attain gender equality – and yet nothing was done to rein them in.
For example, during the election campaign, a chief told his community not to vote for a widow, while another young woman was stopped from being nominated as she was wearing trousers. Neither woman won a seat. And in neither case was anyone disciplined. Indeed, the chief was reappointed to parliament by the King.
Even worse, only one woman was elected to parliament – a “very serious regression” – while the King did not follow the constitution and appoint at least five women to the House of Assembly. But as WLSA pointed out, “because of constitutional immunities, we cannot challenge this in any court of law.”
It will be interesting to see how the ACHPR acts now, especially after its earlier resolution was treated with such contempt by the Swaziland government.
But considering that the AU electoral mission criticised the recent polls and that civil society has once again issued a clear, coherent and powerful call for action, the Commission will surely adopt another resolution calling on Swaziland to implement reforms?
But will King Mswati and his regime take any more notice in 2014 than they did in 2012?
Labels: GEORGE SOROS, NEOLIBERALISM, OSISA, SWAZILAND
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COMMENT - The CIA has some gall criticizing the size of the Swaziland army, when the US is opening up new bases in Australia, and has the biggest army in the world by far. Perhaps they think the army is too strong to easily overthrow and invade, by financing and arming the political opposition.
SD spends too much on the army – CIA
By WELCOME DLAMINI on November 18,2011
Soldiers marching during a parade. However these soldiers have nothing to do with the article.MBABANE – As Swaziland grapples with a financial crisis it has also been found that government is spending too much on its army.
The 2011 Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) World Factbook carries what is termed as latest statistics which show Swaziland reportedly spending more money on the army than any other country in the SADC region and ranks 13th in the world. The comparison has been made in terms of the percentage of the gross domestic product (GDP) that a country spends on the army. It must be noted that the CIA based its information on statistics dating between 2005 and 2010 for the various countries but when it comes to Swaziland the data is for 2006.
In the entire African continent, Swaziland reportedly ranks third after Burundi and Morocco who are ranked eighth and 11th in the world respectively. The World Factbook provides information on the history, people, government, economy, geography, communications, transportation, military, and transnational issues for 267 world entities.
The statistics come at a time when there has been a public outcry over government’s priorities in terms of expenditure as even a recently tabled supplementary budget made a provision for a further E64m request for the army.
The National Public Servants and Allied Workers Union (NAPSAWU) Secretary General Vincent Dlamini said they have been concerned over the spending pattern of government for a while.
"Swaziland is not even involved in peacekeeping operations and therefore we have a problem with government militarising the country," he said.
Dlamini said government had got its priorities all wrong as it should be focusing on health, education, job creation and infrastructure development so as to resuscitate the country’s economy. Dlamini said the best way for government to defend itself was by providing enough services for the people.
"Let government assist SMEs so as to create more jobs. Once we have more people working then people will be happy and there would be social stability. Let us focus on that, not the military," he added.
According to the CIA, Swaziland spent 4.7 per cent of GDP on the army while Burundi and Morocco spent 5.9 per cent and five per cent respectively.
An analysis of the statistics suggests that the kingdom’s military expenditure surpasses that of the United States of America and war-ravaged Libya.
The USA, which is one of the world’s ‘superpowers’ spends 4.06 per cent of its GDP on the army and is ranked 24th in the world.
Libya, which is fresh from an uprising that cost the life of its leader Colonel Muammar Gaddafi, spends 3.9 per cent of GDP on the army and ranks 25th in the world. Rwanda is ranked 26th in the world and at a spending of 2.9 per cent of GDP on the army at the time of the statistics.
In the SADC region, Zimbabwe spends 3.8 per cent, Namibia allocates 3.7 percent; Botswana spends 3.3 per cent, Lesotho spends 2.6 per cent; South Africa spends 1.7 per cent and Mozambique is at 0.8 per cent. Zimbabwe ranks 18th in the world, Namibia 19th, Botswana 23rd, Lesotho 29th, South Africa 43rd and Mozambique is positioned 54th.
In the 2011/2012 budget estimates, Swaziland’s Ministry of Defence was allocated a head total of E623 219 583 of which E523 571 352 was specifically for activity 12 (Defence).
These statistics have not yet been put in account for the CIA website.
The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) is an independent US Government agency responsible for providing national security intelligence to senior US policymakers.
Civil servants say it’s a tragedy
MBABANE – Civil servants say Swaziland’s expenditure on the army is a tragedy and want the retirement age for soldiers reduced to 50.
Vincent Dlamini, who is Secretary General for the National Public Servants and Allied Workers Union (NAPSAWU), feels that government made a blunder by increasing the retirement age to 60 for soldiers.
"We asked government as to why it was keeping soldiers for another 10 years because that adds to the number of civil servants. Physically, what can a soldier do at 60 years? The country is not at war so there is no need to spend 4.7 per cent of GDP on the army. Government is complaining about the huge wage bill but is keeping more people in the army," Dlamini said.
...no comment, Percy cites national security
MBABANE – Government says it cannot comment on issues of the army because they border on national security.
Government Press Secretary Percy Simelane said security matters were not open to the public.
"I cannot comment on the army’s budget because it is a security matter. Security matters are not as open to the public as other issues. We don’t comment on issues of the army. We don’t normally discuss them for security reasons," Simelane said.
Last week, Premier Sibusiso Barnabas Dlamini said the army needed to be well taken care of so that the nation could have peaceful nights and not having to look over their shoulders because of security threats.
He said an army ensured that a country lived in peace.
SADC Military expenditure rankings according to CIA
Rank Country % of GDP Date of info
1. Swaziland 4.7 2006
2. Zimbabwe 3.8 2006
3. Namibia 3.7 2006
4. Angola 3.6 2009
5. Botswana 3.3 2006
6. Lesotho 2.6 2006
7. Zambia 1.8 2005
8. South Africa 1.7 2006
9. Malawi 1.3 2006
10. Madagascar 1.0 2006
11. Mozambique 0.8 2006
World top 20 countries on military expenditure according to CIA
Rank Country % of GDP Date of Info
1. Oman 11.4 2005
2. Qatar 10 2005
2. Saudi Arabia 10 2005
3. Jordan 8.6 2006
3. Iraq 8.6 2006
4. Israel 7.3 2006
5. Yemen 6.6 2006
6. Eritrea 6.3 2006
7. Macedonia 6 2005
8. Syria 5.9 2005
8. Burundi 5.9 2006
9. Mauritania 5.5 2006
9. Maldives 5.5 2005
10. Turkey 5.3 2005
10. Kuwait 5.3 2006
11. Morocco 5.0 2003
12. Singapore 4.9 2005
13. Swaziland 4.7 2006
14. Bahrain 4.5 2006
14. Bosnia 4.5 2005
15. Greece 4.3 2005
16. United States 4.06 2005
17. Russia 3.9 2005
17. Libya 3.9 2005
18. Zimbabwe 3.8 2006
18. Cyprus 3,8 2005
18. Cuba 3.8 2006
18. Djibouti 3.8 2006
19. Namibia 3.7 2006
20. Angola 3.6 2009
We have second smallest army in the SADC region
MBABANE - Despite the reportedly high expenditure, available statistics reflect that Swaziland has the second smallest army in the SADC region after the Kingdom of Lesotho.
According to the internet accessible Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) World Factbook, Swaziland is reported to have an army of over 3 000 soldiers, while Lesotho has 2 000; South Africa has 62 082; Zimbabwe has 29 000; Zambia 15 100; Mozambique 11 200; and Namibia has 9 200 soldiers.
The army spokesperson Khanya Dlamini referred any queries to government.
The latest expenditure on the army is an allocation of E64 million to be provided through the supplementary budget tabled in Parliament by Finance Minister Majozi Sithole last week.
On Wednesday, the International Monetary Fund welcomed the supplementary budget for its inclusion of downward revisions in revenue projections and cuts in capital expenditures for goods and services "while regularising earlier budgetary overruns in defence expenditures."
Labels: ARMED FORCES, CIA, HYPOCRISY, SWAZILAND
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Pastors meet with SRA about intended taxation
By LUCKY TSABEDZE on November 18,2011
MATSAPHA - Pastors want to take action against their intended taxation by the Swaziland Revenue Authority (SRA). The men of the cloth had a meeting with SRA officials yesterday at the Jesus Calls Ministries in Matsapha.
The intention of the meeting was to explain issues around the legislation to be used and the processes that will be used by the SRA.
The media was not allowed to attend the meeting. The President of the Swaziland Conference of Churches, Steven Masilela said the meeting with SRA officials was fruitful but the pastors and reverends had misgivings with some aspects of the legislation.
"We will not divulge the course of action that we will take but we are going to take action," said Masilela yesterday.
Masilela said the legislation to be used was drafted in 2004, and they were not consulted.
"When the legislation was drawn we were not consulted, and it is only now that this legislation will be put into use.
"The people from SRA explained where they are coming from with this taxation, and how it will be carried out – we understood what they were saying. But as in all similar cases, there are issues on which wediffer and we will take action," said Masilela last night.
"However, SRA clarified yesterday that they did not announce a date on which our taxation will begin. They said they were misquoted," said Masilela.
Vusi Dlamini of the SRA could not be found for comment last night.
Labels: NEOLIBERALISM, SWAZILAND, TAXATION
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COMMENT - "Swaziland's financial problems stem from
a sudden fall in revenue payments from the Southern African Customs Union" - that is because in the name of 'free trade' and 'open markets',
there was a change to the SACU revenue formula.
According to the US State Department: "Swaziland is a member of the Southern African Customs Union (SACU), with which the U.S. began negotiating a free trade agreement in May 2003." Also read, from The Post:
Chikane hopes Free Trade Area will break barriers.
Now the same people are going: oh no, look at the government shortfall, you must privatize! I already wrote about this back in July
(see here). Also read:
Africa: Swaziland in Crisis as Customs Union Revenue Is SlashedThese are typical TEA Party, Shock Doctrine tactics. First you create a crisis, then you supply the solution, which is always austerity. Cuts to social services, and the selling off of the people's assets, like mines, telcos, and land. This is daylight robbery of the Swazi people. UPDATE: (MAIL & GUARDIAN)
Swaziland 'being mortgaged for loan'Swaziland's economy near collapse, says IMF
STAFF REPORTER AND AFP MBABANE, SWAZILAND - Nov 16 2011 15:49
Swaziland's economic growth will grind to near zero this year as the government's fiscal crisis rocks banks and private businesses, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) warned on Wednesday.
"The fiscal crisis has reached a critical stage. Government revenue collections are insufficient to cover essential government expenditures," the IMF said after a two-week fact-finding mission to the kingdom. Businesses dependent on government contracts were laying off workers or shutting down, the IMF said, projecting economic growth to slow to 0.3% this year.
Banks are also beginning to feel the pinch, head of mission Joannes Mongardini said, warning of an "outflow of deposits to South Africa" that was contributing to a liquidity problem.
'Financing gap'
"Key social programs, like the fight against HIV/Aids ... are being negatively affected" -- in a nation where one in four people carry the virus, the IMF said.
"Even if the government were to finance just minimal expenditure like wages, there is a significant financing gap that needs to be covered somehow," said Mongardini, who estimated the government's unpaid bills could almost double to $306-million by March.
The international lender in August declared Swaziland's financial reform programme a failure and has refused to extend loans until it reins in spending.
That assessment has made other international lenders reluctant to help Swaziland.
SA's loan
A R2.4-billion loan offered by South Africa in August is in limbo after Swaziland's giant neighbour linked aid to IMF belt-tightening targets.
Recently Swaziland's government has tried to meet some of the IMF's demands but Mongardini called budget cuts tabled last week "insufficient," saying: "Further cuts are needed, particularly on the wage bill."
The government announced on Tuesday that it had raised from banks and parastatals 350-million emalangeni (about R350-million) reportedly needed to pay civil servants but warned that December pay checks could be in jeopardy.
Agence France-Presse reported on Tuesday that Swaziland pulled together enough loans from local banks and private businesses to pay government workers on time this month, a spokesperson said.
The announcement came after emergency to raise the $43-million reportedly needed to pay civil servants.
Extremely vulnerable
Swaziland's financial problems stem from a sudden fall in revenue payments from the Southern African Customs Union but critics of the regime also blame poor economic management and widespread corruption because of the power wielded by Mswati and his inner circle.
In a country where two-thirds of the population live in poverty and one in four adults are HIV-positive, it is extremely vulnerable to the financial squeeze which has had a large impact on basic health and education services.
It has been more than a year since the IMF first advised Africa's last absolute monarchy to slash its public wage Bill and overhaul its poorly managed economy.
Labour unions have joined forces with pro-democracy campaigns and since the beginning of the year have been staging frequent and noisy public protests, objecting to retrenchments and calling for political change.
The ongoing strikes seem to have paralysed the government which has failed to meet the IMF target to cut jobs and, as a result, cannot access emergency donor funding.
Backs to the wall
A plan announced by South Africa in August to lend its landlocked neighbour R2.4-billion appears to be on ice following resistance by Mswati to agree to conditions such as the unbanning of political parties and open dialogue about democratic reform.
Other reported possible bailouts coming from royal families in Kuwait and Qatar also seem to be either on hold or shelved indefinitely.
Pro-democracy protests, which rocked major urban centres and rural areas from September 5 to September 9, were part of a tightly organised series of demonstrations uniting the democratic movements in the cities of Mbabane, Manzini, as well as the rural areas including Siteki.
More than 4 000 participants joined the Swaziland demonstrations each day and parallel protests took place in South Africa, the UK, Denmark and Germany.
Médecins Sans Frontierès said in early September that they were almost out of HIV testing kits. Drug shortages meant many new patients were reportedly not being put on antiretrovirals (ARVs), while those who are already on ARVs were being given only one month's supply at a time.
-- Staff reporter and AFP
Labels: IMF, NEOCOLONIALISM, NEOLIBERALISM, SWAZILAND
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COMMENT - Swaziland = Greece
The Swazis need to get off the neoliberal economic crazy train, and reinstate the Southern Africa Customs Union, which provided the state with 60% of it's revenues before the creation of the 'free trade zone'. Economics isn't that difficult.
Also read:
Chikane hopes Free Trade Area will break barriers (linked to other articles on the neoliberal 'free trade' scam pulled on Swaziland). I wonder how much the 'pro democracy campaigners' get paid by foreign governments.
Swazi loan 'like giving money to a drunk wife-beater'
LOUISE REDVERS JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA - Jul 07 2011 15:14
Swazi pro-democracy campaigners on Thursday urged South Africa not to give their country financial assistance without imposing conditions aimed at steering the troubled kingdom towards negotiations for a transitional government. One campaigner likened offering a financial bailout to the beleaguered kingdom to giving money to a drunken wife-beater.
A delegation of union leaders and activists, as well as politicians from two banned political parties, travelled to South Africa to personally lobby against the handout, which is believed to be in the region of R1.2-billion.
After addressing reporters in Johannesburg they were due to meet members of the South African Communist Party and other government officials, and visit a number of Western embassies.
Mario Masuku, the leader of the People's United Democratic Movement (Pudemo), said: "We need a commitment from our head of state and government, that they are prepared to work towards a democratic process in Swaziland."
Demands
"We want all political parties unbanned and all political prisoners released," said Masuku. "We want the scrapping of the 2008 Suppression of Terrorism Act; and we want to work towards setting up a transitional government moving in the long term, towards a new constitution and, eventually, free elections."
"We appreciate this is a long-term goal and it will not happen overnight, but we need a commitment to this process," she added.
On the question of whether they would retain a constitutional monarchy or do away with the throne altogether, Masuku said that would be for the people of Swaziland to decide.
Swaziland has approached South Africa, cap in hand, after a 60% drop in its revenues from the regional customs union (Sacu) plunged it into a financial crisis that has seen wages go unpaid and public services grind to a halt.
CONTINUES BELOW
Attempts to access funding from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the African Development Bank (AfDB) stalled after Swaziland failed to carry out the fiscal reforms specified in the institutions' lending conditions.
SA comes clean
Two weeks ago, South Africa's ministry of international relations and cooperation finally confirmed -- after much speculation -- that Swaziland had asked it for financial assistance. On Wednesday, minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane told reporters this was still being considered.
Although she stopped short of revealing any conditions a loan might have, the minister said: "The South African government has urged all relevant parties in the kingdom to begin a political dialogue with a view to speedily and peacefully resolving all the challenges facing the country."
She added: "The government will also have to improve its governance and fiscal management system. A strengthened foreign direct investment portfolio would also help to mitigate the financial crisis."
Veteran democracy campaigner Musa Hlophe, who heads the Swaziland Coalition for Concerned Civil Organisations (SCCCO), said poor financial management and economic policy were as much to blame for Swaziland's downfall as its non-democratic system of governance, where the king has absolute power.
"If Swaziland were a company it would have been bankrupt by now, because of how it has been managed," he said.
Quid pro quo
Offering a financial bailout to Swaziland "is like giving money to a drunken wife-beater", said Hlophe, and he urged South Africans who had been helped by the Swazi people during the days of apartheid to use this opportunity to bring regime change to his country.
This week's delegation to South Africa comes after months of unrest in Swaziland, where labour unions and teachers have been calling for the prime minister to resign, and striking over plans to cut the wages of civil servant.
On April 12, the anniversary of a 1973 decree banning political parties in Swaziland, the Swazi police came under fire for heavy-handed tactics and their use of tear gas and water cannons to put down anti-government demonstrations, during which several journalists were arrested.
Hlophe said the SCCCO was calling for peaceful reform and transition but warned that there was a risk that the situation could get worse should the government continued to refuse to engage.
He also added that while Swaziland had diplomatic ties with Taiwan, one of its key sources of foreign direct investment, through textile factories, he had heard that the government was considering approaching China to secure financial backing.
"If South Africa does not give Swaziland this bailout then it may seek solace elsewhere, and that could mean turning to China. It is a wild card but it is possible."
Swaziland is Africa's last absolute monarchy, ruled over by King Mswati III, who has 13 wives and maintains luxurious lifestyle.
Meanwhile, two-thirds of his subjects live in poverty, 40% are unemployed and one in four are HIV-positive, the highest rate in the world.
Labels: NEOLIBERALISM, SACU, SWAZILAND
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COMMENT - Another day, another 'IMF riot'. This is in the wake of the IMF telling Swaziland to introduce austerity measures, so they can make up for letting go of the customs union that provided most of the government's revenues. (Read:
Swaziland must get its house in order, warns World Bank, or the more blunt:
"Swaziland must cut spending") My guess is that the IMF wants to get rid of King Maswati. They know that austerity makes rulers extremely unpopular, because of cuts in services like education.
Swazi teachers demand freeze on king's assets
MBABANE, SWAZILAND - Jun 01 2011 20:36
About 3 000 Swazi teachers marched to the South African and American embassies on Wednesday to appeal for an international asset freeze against King Mswati III, Africa's last absolute monarch.
"We appeal to you to identify and freeze assets owned by the ruling elite and invested in the US resultant from their looting of our economy over the years," read the petition by the Swaziland National Association of Teachers.
The union appealed to Washington to ask countries in the Group of Eight to also freeze assets of Mswati and his inner circle.
Mswati has drawn condemnation for his lavish lifestyle with 13 wives and more than 20 children.
Excluding the cost of overseas trips and refurbishing palaces, the royal family's budget allocation this year was $30-million -- 20% more than last year.
The angry teachers brought the capital Mbabane to a standstill in the first demonstration since pro-democracy protests in April were dispersed with water cannons and batons. This time police did not intervene.
"We are saying as Swazis, it is enough! We are in a bus that is burning and we are kicking out the emergency window," union leader Sibongile Mazibuko told the crowd.
The United States is the country's biggest donor, putting millions of dollars into the fight against AIDS in the country with the world's highest incidence of HIV.
"We remain partners with the Swazi government and people ... We seek to strengthen key government institutions that uphold democratic values," said US embassy political adviser Craig Pike.
Teachers fear that Swaziland's lilangeni currency could be de-linked from the South African rand.
They petitioned the South African embassy for assurances on the currency peg and asked President Jacob Zuma "to intervene in helping Swaziland becoming a multi-party democratic state".
Swaziland is reeling after a 60% drop last year in revenues from a regional customs union, its main source of income.
The country has been paying civil servants by drawing down foreign reserves, but as the crisis deepens the cash is running out. -- AFP
Labels: NEOLIBERALISM, SWAZILAND, TEACHERS
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COMMENT - Again, another country that does not have a spending problem, but a revenue collection problem. Reinstate the customs union, and the problem disappears. Why doesn't the IMF insist that revenues are collected, instead of demanding a reduction in spending?
Swaziland must get its house in order, warns World Bank
JINTY JACKSON MBABANE, SWAZILAND - May 22 2011 07:40
Swaziland may be forced to devalue its currency unless the crisis-hit Southern African kingdom can urgently cut government spending, a World Bank economist warned.
"It is getting to the point of reckoning -- when Swaziland will no longer be able to sustain its deficit," visiting World Bank economist Jean van Houtte told Agence France-Presse, ahead of a meeting here on Monday organised by the lender on the crisis.
"We have said if you need a little time to get your house in order you can re-peg at a different level."
Swaziland's currency, the lilangeni, is pegged at one-to-one with the rand.
But pressure to devalue is growing as the country faces a fiscal crisis brought on by a 60% drop last year in revenues from a regional customs union, the government's main source of income.
The country has been paying civil servants by drawing down its foreign reserves, but as the crisis deepens the kingdom's cash is running out.
Finance Minister Majozi Sithole warned on state radio last week that it would be "difficult" for the government to pay May salaries, adding: "I do not even want to mention June" -- a bombshell he later retracted, promising the government would find a way.
According to the International Monetary Fund, Swaziland's central bank had to issue an emergency loan for the government to pay salaries in February.
The IMF says Swaziland has one of the world's highest wage bills --almost half of government spending -- and a deficit that stood at 13% of GDP at the end of March, nearly double that of the previous year.
The global lender on Wednesday gave Swaziland's financial reform programme a harsh review, a major blow to its urgent attempts to secure international loans.
Protests
"A large fiscal adjustment is needed to bring the programme back on track and reduce the fiscal deficit in line with available financing," said mission head Joannes Mongardini in a statement at the end of an IMF visit.
In March, Cabinet members agreed to take a 10% pay cut, but negotiations to get public-sector workers to accept a 4.5% wage cut have failed.
The government's moves to slash its wage bill sparked large protests in April that were forcefully put down by King Mswati III's regime. Police beat, detained and tear-gassed protesters, drawing condemnation from international human rights groups.
A finance ministry source said the government is determined not to devalue the currency and will try to get through the next two months by drawing down reserves.
The country's commercial banks are not buying government bonds, limiting the state's capacity to borrow domestically.
The World Bank has agreed to loan Swaziland $20-million, but the money will only be available in September. Even coupled with a potential $150-million loan from the African Development Bank, van Houtte warned, "they are not close to closing their financial gap".
The government's 2011 budget deficit is expected to hit $565-million.
The government is now in a position where it will have to take "unilateral action" to force through salary cuts, he said.
About 70% of Swazis live on less than a dollar a day and face growing strain from rising food and transport costs.
Van Houtte warned that if the currency peg is scrapped, income distribution could become more unequal, hitting civil servants especially hard.
"You would have an immediate impoverishment of civil servants at the same level of depreciation," he said.
"That is because most goods they buy are imported from South Africa." - AFP
Labels: IMF, NEOLIBERALISM, SAP, SWAZILAND
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COMMENT - The King and his adviser are completely correct. National HIV infection rates in Africa are massively exaggerated for several purposes, but mainly for big farma to make lots of money. The claimed HIV infection rates are not reflected in the population growth rate, as they never are in Africa. No accurate national HIV infection rate will be known, until a DHS survey using Western Blot confirmation tests will be used. Until then,
all HIV figures for Swaziland are overestimates.
(IrrinNews) SWAZILAND:
New survey shows much lower HIV infection among youth (Washington Post)
How AIDS in Africa Was OverstatedReliance on Data From Urban Prenatal Clinics Skewed Early Projections
By Craig Timberg - Washington Post Foreign Service
Thursday, April 6, 2006
Estimates on HIV called too high - New data cut rates for many nations
By John Donnelly, Globe Staff | June 20, 2004
Swaziland Population:
1976 494,534
1986 681,059
1997 929,718
http://www.gov.sz/home.asp?PID=75&ToolID=6&ItemID=5939
Swazi anger at prince's HIV exaggeration claim
By BBC News
Sat 21 Aug. 2010, 11:30 CAT
Aids activists in Swaziland have criticised a top adviser to King Mswati III for saying
the country's HIV epidemic is being exaggerated for the benefit of pharmaceutical firms.Prince Mangaliso said public awareness campaigns against HIV amounted to little more than
scare tactics. He added that
male circumcision was no more a preventative measure than bathing after sexual intercourse. Swaziland For Positive Living told the BBC the remarks were "irresponsible".
According to UNAids, Swaziland - Africa's last absolute monarchy - has one of the highest levels of HIV infections in the world, with a prevalence rate of 26 per cent in the adult population.
'Bad example'
"The prince he has just exhibited high standards of ignorance," Tengetile Hlophe, a co-ordinator of the charity Swaziland For Positive Living, told the BBC's Network Africa programme.
She said that statistics could not lie and that 42.6 per cent of pregnant women in kingdom were infected with HIV.
"Male circumcision is scientifically proven to lessen the risk," she added.
Trials in Kenya, Uganda and South Africa have shown that the operation reduces by 60 per cent the risk of a man contracting HIV - the virus that causes Aids.
Prince Mangaliso, who chairs the king's advisory council, made the remarks in an interview published in Swaziland's Times newspaper.
He told the paper he was "not scared of HIV".
Ms Hlophe said that his attitude was setting a bad example.
"I think he should apologise to the Swazi nation," she said.
Forty-two-year-old King Mswati, who has 13 wives, has also come in for criticism from aids campaigners for sending the wrong message to his subjects by promoting polygamy.
From the Swaziland DHS:
Swaziland Demographic And Health Survey 2006-2007
http://www.gov.sz/home.asp?PID=75&ToolID=6&ItemID=5939
1.2 POPULATION
The population census is the major source of historical demographic data. The first detailed population census was conducted in 1966 and since then, censuses have been conducted every ten years, i.e., 1986, 1997, and 2007. Table 1.1 shows that in 1976 the population of Swaziland was about half a million. Two decades later in 1997, the population had almost doubled. The high growth rate of the population is brought about by high fertility and declining mortality levels. According to the 1997 Population and Housing Census, life expectancy at birth is 60 years.
Swaziland population:
1997 929,718
2007 1,018,449
Source: TABLES FOR THE KEY FINDINGS FROM THE CENSUS
1. Spatial Distribution of the Population and Urbanization
Population Growth of Swaziland, 1904-2007
(2007) 1,300,000
(Source: US Census, census.gov, Swaziland, 2007)
Someone is playing Statistricks with the population of Swaziland. It is not only odd that the DHS in Swaziland in 2007 puts the population in 2007 at 1 million, but that the US Census bureau puts their population in the same year at 1.3 million.
It is also odd that the DHS in Swaziland has put equal importance on 'reducing fertiliy' (population control) and the 'massive HIV/AIDS epidemic' that they say afflicts 26% of the adult population. Why is controlling fertility important in a population that is being 'decimated' by HIV/AIDS?
Unless there are other agendas being played out. The DHS is a representative sample of the general population, far more so than the Antenatal Clinic Surveys of pregnant women at antenatal clinics. But that does not mean it is not open to manipulation, ill will or ulterior motives and agendas.
If the Swaziland census was correct about the 1997 population, and the US Census Bureau is correct about the 2007 population, then the population of Swaziland grew from 929,718 (1997) to 1,300,000 (2007) in ten years, which means they grew 39.9% in 10 years.
Labels: CORRUPTION, HIV/AIDS, NGOs, SWAZILAND
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‘SADC should intervene in Masuku’s arrest’
Written by Margaret Habbuno
Sunday, June 14, 2009 4:03:25 PM
CIVIL society organisations in Swaziland have asked SADC to intervene in the arrest of human rights activist Mario Masuku and his lawyer Thulani Maseko.
In a joint statement with other civil and political organisations in Zimbabwe and South Africa, the Swaziland Solidarity Networks stated that it was important for the Swazi monarch to value human rights.
The statement has also been endorsed by the Congress of South African Trade Unions and the South African Communist Party, among others.
“We the undersigned South African civil society organizations, affirm that Swaziland is at a major strategic turning point in the course of its political history. In our vehement protest at the detention of the Peoples United Democratic Movement (PUDEMO) president Mario Masuku, his lawyer Thulani Maseko and all political prisoners, we recognize the unique political movement and appeal for reflection leading to an urgent and different approach,” stated the organizations.
“We appeal to the South African government, progressive forces and all people for their support and for the region and international community to back this decisive call and for all to prepare for this paradigm shift. Relevant institutions of SADC and the AF, must step in, exercise leadership, provide political and technical assistance. A credible national dialogue agenda is desired and the opening up of all channels of communication.”
In the last two years, the Swazi Monarch has been at a war of words with the civil society over a return to a constitutional democracy.
Masuku is president of the People's United Democratic Movement - Insika Yenkhululeko YeMaswati - of Swaziland.
Since 1983 this organisation has been banned in Swaziland because political parties are illegal.
PUDEMO has called for multi-party democracy since its formation and believes the people shall govern.
In November 2008 Mario Masuku was again arrested and put in prison. Government has no case and continues to delay his trial.
Labels: MARIO MASUKU, SADC, SWAZILAND
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SWAZILAND: Simple Solution - Save Rainwater
Mantoe Phakathi
MBABANE, Jan 30 (IPS) - It's so early, the frogs are still croaking, as women push forward holding firmly onto their buckets while dodging cattle that are also scrambling for water in the pond at Gebeni. It has rained only a few times since the wet season began in October, and competition for water begins as early as 5:00 am.
But not Anna Hlophe, a 68-year-old resident of this drought-stricken community - 55 kilometres outside Swaziland's administrative capital - in the dry middleveld of the Kingdom.
"It hardly rains in this area but, when it does I make sure that I harvest as much rainwater as possible," says Hlophe.
Hlophe's neighbour Neli Mkhabela (50) points at a cylindrical grey structure attached to her cooking hut which she says is saving her - for the moment - from the early morning scramble at the pond. Mkhabela says rainwater is a precious resource to her community which they capture using cement cisterns.
"I've used this (cistern) for five years and it does relieve me at least for a month after rainfall," says Mkhabela who lives in a family of 11 people. "Save for the pond, there is no source of water in this place."
But for Hlophe who stays with only two grandchildren the water lasts for more than two months.
The cisterns are called ludziwo (water jar) in the community, a SiSwati word for the clay pots used for fetching and storing water found in every household. The latter-day ludziwo are helping many families save rainwater for domestic use in dry parts of Swaziland.
"We use the water for only drinking and cooking," insists Hlophe.
The water jars, which are a prominent feature in almost every homestead at Egebeni and surrounding communities, store up to 500 litres of water. Schools, clinics and community centres have bigger versions of the cisterns, with a storage capacity of 40,000 litres of water.
According to Meketane Mazibuko, Lutheran Development Services Gender Coordinator, water jars are benefiting up to 60,000 people in areas where water is a serious challenge.
"We discourage people from using this water for washing and bathing because it will not last for long," says Mazibuko.
LDS has helped with the construction of the water jars by providing communities with building material and also training the people to make these water harvesters for themselves. For a 500-litre cistern, one needs three 50 kilo bags of cement, three wheelbarrows of river sand, a sieve - to sift sticks, grass and stones out of the sand, an old mesh sack for oranges also works - and a tap.
"The construction of water jars is highly replicable which is why each and every homestead in this community has a water jar. After LDS trained a few community members on how to make water jars, people started training one another which is why almost every homestead has this facility although LDS stopped constructing them two years ago," says Mazibuko.
For houses with corrugated iron roofs, a gutter leading to the water jar is attached to channel runoff directly into the container.
"For those who cannot afford to buy a gutter, they can still use old bent corrugated iron sheets," says Mazibuko.
Thatched roofs can also harvest water, says Mazibuko. A kite-like shape is made using a hard plastic and logs.. A gutter or bent corrugated iron sheets is attached to the roof to lead water to the water jar.
"We've trained rural health motivators on how to treat water in the jars using bleach," says Mazibuko.
In the absence of rain, communities in the lowveld, which is the driest part of the country's four geographic regions, frequently go for days without water for drinking.
The Swazi Vulnerability Assessment Committee (VAC), a body that evaluates the extent of poverty in the country, documents the poor state of water and sanitation services in the lowland Shiselweni and Lubombo in its 2007 report.
The report notes widespread problems with both the nature of the water source - such as crocodile-infested rivers and muddy streams - and the distance to the water point and thus time taken to fetch water and bring it to the household; both factors impact negatively on a household's water usage.
According to the report, households with chronically ill adults may face particular constraints in this area. While their needs for water may increase, the adults in the household may be too ill to fetch adequate amounts, if any at all. Children in the household may thus assume the burden of fetching water.
Women and young girls who have to travel long distances to fetch water also risk getting raped in the process.
This situation puts Swaziland in a difficult position in achieving goal seven of the eight United Nations Millennium Development Goals whose other target is to halve, by 2015, the proportion of the population without sustainable access to safe drinking water and basic sanitation.
However, the 2007 Swazi VAC report notes "a remarkable improvement in access to water in the Lubombo region where 56 percent of the households had access to improved sources as compared to just 19 percent in 2006."
But the problem of lack of access to water is far from over because once it stops raining, communities in dry areas go for days without this basic resource, as observed by Matsanjeni Member of Parliament Cedusizi Ndlovu in the southern part of Swaziland, Government needs to build dams to catch water.
"We sometimes receive substantial rain in this place but, because there are no dams built at the rivers that run through here, we watch helplessly as the water runs to South Africa's Jozini Dam," says Ndlovu.
(END/2009)
Labels: IRRIGATION, RAINWATER HARVESTING, SWAZILAND, WATER
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COMMENT - Oh, the 'moral hazard' of mediation.
Swazi opposition appeals to SADC
Written by Chibaula Silwamba, Mutuna Chanda and Fridah Zinyama
Saturday, December 13, 2008 3:59:53 AM
SWAZILAND's opposition political party, Ngwane National Liberatory Congress (NNLC), has appealed to the SADC and other international community organizations to urgently help democratize Swaziland before the political situation there gets out of hand.
Speaking in Johannesburg, South Africa where NNLC is lobbying the international community to intervene in the political situation in Swaziland, NNLC member Simangele Mmema said the situation in her country was terrible because the King Mswati had immense powers and that political parties were still banned.
"Our King appoints the Prime Minister, he appoints the cabinet, and all board chairpersons. Human rights violations are the order of the day in our country. The King himself even made a statement to the effect that in his life time there will be no political party in Swaziland. Right now, as I speak, all political parties still remain banned," Mmeme said.
She said Swaziland's current constitution was flawed and was not an all inclusive exercise.
Mmema said the oppressive environment in Swaziland was causing breakdown of law because people were now taking the law in their own hands.
"We have reached such a desperate situation in our country and people are now taking matters in their own hands," she said. "There have been spats of bomb attacks around the country as youths are trying to kill the King. Last week two youths were killed by their own bomb which they were trying to plant under the bridge where King Mswati was supposed to pass in five minutes' time. One of the people who died was a member of the SACP."
She, therefore, said after her interaction with the South Africa Communist Party (SACP), she was scared that she might be arrested upon return to Swaziland because the government suspected that the SACP was the one supplying bombs to people opposed to the government in that country.
"This is why I am saying I might be arrested when I go back because they will suspect that I am carrying bombs from the South Africa Communist Party," Mmeme said.
She said there was a break down in the rule of law. The courts rulings are being over looked.
She said political and civil society activists' homes were being raided on a daily basis and their families victimized by not being given scholarships and international passports.
She said the government had set up surveillance to monitor whatever the activists did where ever they [activists] went.
"There is also suppression of terrorism Act; where terrorism has not been clearly defined. It is specifically targeting those with dissenting views to such an extent that the president of the People's Democratic Movement (PUDEMO) has been arrested for uttering words at the funeral of those who were bombed to the effect that they died for a good cause," Mmema said.
Mmema said the president of PUDEMO refused to sign for a bail demanding that he wanted his cases to be disposed off quickly.
She said the rights of the president of PUDEMO were violated because the authorities were not allowing his colleagues and diplomats to visit him in prison.
She said the only people that were allowed to visit him were his wife, children, lawyer and doctor.
"We are unable to visit the president of PUDEMO, we are denied that right," Mmeme said. "Even the British ambassador who had travelled all the way from Pretoria, South Africa to visit him had been denied permission to visit him."
Mmema said political parties were challenging the some closes of the terrorism Act in the courts of law.
Labels: SADC, SWAZILAND
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Zim talks down to one ministry – Swazi PM
Nancy Pasipanodya
Wed, 29 Oct 2008 12:31:00 +0000
THE Prime Minister of Swaziland has indicated that the power-sharing talks in Zimbabwe are now focussing on just one ministry and urged the main parties in the country to come up with a speedy solution to the political and economic crisis in the country.
Prime Minister, Sibusiso Barnabas Dlamini was speaking to reporters and government officials at Swaziland’s Matsapha International Airport after attending the Southern African Development Community’s Troika summit on Zimbabwe.
Dlamini chaired the summit on behalf of His Majesty King Mswati III, the current chair of the Sadc Troika – the Organ on Politics, Defence and Security of the regional grouping.
“The talks went throughout the day and night. We spoke until dawn. The problem now is with the Ministry of Home Affairs. Mugabe (President) wants it and Tsvangirai wants it. That is why the talks could not be concluded,” he briefed a group of Swazi Ministers, deputy Ministers and Permanent Secretaries in the airport’s VIP lounge.
Dlamini said the state of economy in Zimbabwe had deteriorated to low levels such that the value of the currency was now too low.
“In order to buy bread, one needs to carry a lot of dollars. The prices are also volatile in that a particular commodity may cost a certain amount at one time. However, this price could change rapidly.”
Dlamini said former South African President Thabo Mbeki will continue with facilitation efforts in preparation for a full Sadc summit in two weeks’ time.
Leaders of Mozambique, Swaziland and Angola who make up the current troika met with President Mugabe, South African President Kgalema Motlanthe and Executive Secretary of Sadc, Tomaz Salamao and the leaders of the two Movement for Democratic Change formations on Monday to try and break the current political deadlock in the country.
A communiqué issued after the summit indicated that the talks were inconclusive and referred them to a full Sadc meeting which will be held in two weeks’ time.
MDC DEMANDS
Meanwhile the Secretary General of the MDC-T party Tendai Biti held a press conference on Tuesday at which he refuted the details issued in the Sadc Troika communiqué.
The communiqué indicated that talks had centred on the outstanding issue of the control of the Home Affairs ministry – a statement corroborated by PM Dlamini, Sadc Secretary Salamao and President Motlanthe of South Africa.
According to Biti all “key ministries” are still under discussion and “are supposed to be shared equitably”.
Biti issued a statement saying the document signed on Global Agreement signed by the principals to the talks (the party leaders) was fundamentally different from the one signed at the official ceremony attended by Sadc leaders on September 15. Biti’s statement was in direct contrast to MDC-T spokesman, Nelson Chamisa’s statement that the difference was a typographical error.
Chamisa told SW Radio that the errors were “not going to be a big mountain to climb for the concerned parties.”
He added: “Well it’s not about the removal of the details. I suppose its typo errors and hopefully it’s going to be corrected. This is why we are not interested in making a mountain out of a mole hill.”
In reference to the same errors, Biti said referred to them as the “fraudulent alteration of the agreement of the 11th of September 2008 and the one that was signed on the 15th of September 2008.”
PASSPORT FOR TSVANGIRAI
Biti also indicated that the next Sadc summit to be held in the next two weeks should help break the current political impasse. He, however, said that if the MDC leader, morgan Tsvangirai was not issued with a passport he would not be attending the summit – if it was held outside Zimbabwe.
“We will not travel on an [emergency document] … The passport issue is the crudest form of a lack of sincerity” by Zanu PF party, he said.
Tsvangirai has not had a passport for almost a year. He has travelled to Europe and all over Africa in the past few months on an Emergency Travel Document.
Labels: NATIONAL UNITY GOVERNMENT, SADC, SIBUSISO BARNABAS DLAMINI, SWAZILAND
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AFRICA: Swazi plotters in “palace bomb” die
Our reporter
Wed, 24 Sep 2008 15:06:00 +0000
KING MSWATI III has been in power since 1986, the kingdom bans political parties. It was shocking news therefore, for the Swazis to learn that late on Sunday, after the result of the parliamentary polls in an election held under the new constitution, were released, two people were killed as the device they planted to bomb a bridge close to one of the royal palaces prematurely exploded on Saturday night.
A third man from neighbouring South Africa was arrested and is to be tried for treason. The dead were trying to plant the
Several union officials were detained ahead of Friday's polls as they took part in protests demanding reforms. All is not peaceful in the Kingdom of Swaziland, one of the world’s last absolute monarchies, where some blame King Mswati III who has failed to tackle an Aids epidemic and plunged that country into poverty.
Although King Mswati III is popular with many of his subjects, there are those amongst him who oppose his lavish lifestyle while most of them exist in poverty.
These are the first elections where foreign observers were allowed in, and according to Thulani Mtwethwa (BBC), two state radio announcers have become MPs and the Minister of Health lost his seat. SADC observers confirmed that the poll was “free and fair”.
Labels: COUP, KING MASWATI III, SWAZILAND
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Mugabe gets standing ovation in Swaziland
Agencies
Sat, 06 Sep 2008 21:28:00 +0000
PRESIDENT Robert Mugabe received a rousing reception in Swaziland Saturday as he joined King Mswati III, for independence day celebrations. He was one a dozen heads of state and government attending the celebrations in Somhlolo Stadium outside the capital Mbabane, where over 15,000 people gathered to celebrate 40 years of independence from Britain as well as Mswati's 40th birthday.
A delighted Mugabe raised his fist in acknowledgement of the welcome before joining leaders from Tanzania, Madagascar, Uganda, Namibia, Botswana, Mozambique and Malawi in the stands. US assistant secretary for African affairs, Ambassador Jendayi Frazer was also in attendance.
Mswati, wearing a traditional leopard-skin cloth over a wrap skirt, an armband made from a cow's tail, and a halo of three red feathers - a sign of royalty - acknowledged that the mountainous kingdom of around 1 million people still faced enormous challenges.
But the monarch also stressed achievements in the area of infrastructure development, education, telecommunications and tourism.
"Today we are telling the world full of turbulence that we are a happy nation, even though faced with these challenges", Mswati told adoring crowds in the Mbabane stadium.
"I'm aware that many in the world might be wondering why we are so excited about the celebrations of our 40th anniversary," ... "The answer is simple. We are celebrating our nationhood," added Mswati.
In a nod to Swaziland's colonial past, columns of red-jacketed royal guards from the Swazi Defence Force marched to music from the army brass band in a British-style trooping of the colours.
The thousands of bare-breasted Swazi maidens who formed a guard of honour for the king as he drove around the stadium waving from an open-top BMW 4x4, a week after dancing for the king, lent the proceedings a more traditional feel.
Labels: MUGABE, SWAZILAND
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CNN critical of the King, not the Queen
Peter Chimutsa-Opinion
Sun, 07 Sep 2008 00:21:00 +0000
EVEN established news agencies like CNN could not resist the temptation to turn political the reporting on the celebrations in Swaziland yesterday. King Mswati III, as if he knew what the world was writing, responded “I'm aware that many in the world might be wondering why we are so excited about the celebrations of our 40th anniversary. The answer is simple. We are celebrating our nationhood."
When England, France or any other Monarch in the West does so, no one dares question it. The deafening voices in the United Kingdom of the Republicans who are campaigning “for a democratic alternative to the monarchy” are ignored.
The aristocratic and hereditary system of the monarchy exists alongside democracy, in a Western sense. A system in which the 'crown' is sovereign and the Windsor family reign supreme is still very much alive. A democracy is people power, not Monarchical power (power of the Crown). The ‘genetic lottery’ of the Windsor family today rules the United Kingdom.
Government is called “Her Majesty’s Government”. Prisons are called “Her Majesty’s Prisons”. Institutions are prefixed “Royal”, e.g. Royal Institute of International Affairs, Royal Institute of Strategic Studies, etc; yet Africa cannot have such titles. In Africa, if these titles are conferred, its referred to as “dictatorship”. The picture of the Queen is all-pervasive in British society, even on money (notes and coins). The insignia of the royal family is seen almost everywhere in British society. The Queen owns all the whales in British and adjacent seas. She even has a message on the moon.
CNN could never bother about this; after all its preservation of British customs and traditions, yet others need to be “destroyed” or replaced.
So when Britain still retains a political culture centred on "Her Majesty's Government" - not the British people’s, but hers, the world should realize that this is a powerful reminder in days gone by of where the British people (and the subjects) are/were in the system.
Republicans in Britain today argue: “The idea of royal ‘ownership’ continues to pervade this culture and to reinforce the idea that the system is not our own.”
CNN went on: “Mswati made no reference to the unhappiness among his subjects in his 45-minute address.” Who does? George Bush?
Nations should be given the right to celebrate and exercise their customs and Mswati III summed it up succinctly “We are celebrating our nationhood.” For news agencies like CNN to be respectable they should scrutinize their host systems first before they make a fool of themselves by criticizing other people’s customs and cultures.
Labels: INTERNATIONAL MEDIA, SWAZILAND
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COMMENT - Notice the familiar petty backstabbing and vilification, that is now extended to anyone who might have something positive to say about Robert Mugabe. It is time that everyone pointed out the neocolonial role the western media is playing in picking and choosing the west's enemies. You would have hoped they had learned their lesson after the disaster in Iraq, but they moved on to Iran, and Burma, and then Zimbabwe.
Mugabe gets rousing welcome in Swaziland
Last updated: Sun, 07 Sep 2008 06:07:23 GMT
ZIMBABWE President Robert Mugabe received a rousing stadium reception in the Swaziland capital Mbabane Saturday as he joined King Mswati III and other top guests for the king's lavish birthday celebrations. Mugabe, 84, was one of a dozen state and government heads attending the Somhlolo Stadium celebrations amid tight security. He raised his fist in acknowledgement of the welcome, clearly delighted.
The celebrations went ahead amid heavy criticism in southern Africa that they ignored the plight of the poor, and tight security was ordered. Some 2,000 people took to the streets Mbabane Thursday in protest at the spending on the party, and the absence of political freedom. Swaziland, a country of around 1 million people, mostly subsistence farmers, is the world's last absolute monarchy.
The '40-40' celebrations were being held to mark the 40th anniversary of Swazi independence from Britain and Mswati's 40th birthday. Rwandan President Paul Kagame, Lesotho's King Pakalitha Mosisili and US assistant secretary for African affairs, Ambassador Jendayi Frazer were among guests, as were the presidents of Madagascar, Uganda, Namibia, Botswana, Mozambique and Malawi.
Mugabe received the biggest round of applause from assembled citizens and heads of state.
The government says the party is costing 20 million emalangeni (US$12.6 million dollars), but critics estimate it is costing several times that.
The controversy comes against the backdrop of rising tensions in the normally peaceable kingdom in advance of legislative elections on September 19.
Striking workers and youths brandishing sticks and branches smashed car windows and looted shops in Mbabane Thursday in some of the worst rioting in the country in decades.
Mswati, who is famous internationally for having 13 wives, has reigned over the landlocked kingdom for 22 years.
His spending on the party, which includes 20 new BMW 7 series cars and 120 cattle, has angered many in the country where around 70 per cent of people live on less than a dollar a day and one in four adults is HIV-positive.
Nevertheless, many of Swaziland's 1.1 million people, who are mostly subsistence farmers, admire their king.
Among them are the tens of thousands of bare-breasted virgins who competed for his eye on Monday in a traditional Reed Dance, in which he chooses a new wife.
"There's no problem with the 40-40. We are only celebrating our 40 years of independence. The king should do whatever he wants to do," said Phumlile Dlamini, 18, a student.
"He's the king, he should do whatever he wants to do with the money. He is in charge of everything in the country." - dpa/Reuters
Labels: MUGABE, SWAZILAND, ZIMBABWE
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Build on founding fathers' legacies, advises Swazi PM
By Chiwoyu Sinyangwe
Sunday August 03, 2008 [12:52]
SWAZILAND Prime Minister Absalom Dlamini has regretted that
the strong foundation for Africa's growth that was set by the continent's founding fathers has been taken for granted. Officially opening this year's agriculture show in Lusaka on Friday, Prime Minister Dlamini observed that the legacy left by the continent's founding fathers provided limitless opportunities for the continent's growth through diversity.
"Let us learn and build on the foundation and legacies of our wise leaders, both past and present, who have always desired to see growth being the mainstay of every economy," Prime Minister Dlamini said.
"They always wanted to see all sectors of our economies benefiting from growth. Their focus was on building strong institutions; that is from the family, community, national, sub-regional, regional, and continental and at multilateral levels."
Prime Minister Dlamini said the strong foundations laid by the founding fathers of the continent provided immense opportunities for the growth of industrialisation on the continent.
"The legacy has provided limitless opportunities for growth through diversity. It is a pity that many of us now take these opportunities for granted yet our founding fathers made a lot of sacrifices to create this solid foundation for us, which has opened doors to enable the ordinary entrepreneur to achieve the extraordinary," Prime Minister Dlamini said.
"As a region, we need to build on the wealth of experience that we have accumulated over the years to diversify our economies and add value to the different production structure and processes. In the end we safely talk about growth in diversity."
And the Swaziland Prime Minister expressed optimism that the collapsed World Trade Organisation (WTO) trade negotiations in Geneva would be concluded cordially.
"At multilateral level, we pray that the Doha negotiations are concluded amicably. These and other global activities are opening up for micro, small, medium as well as large-scale enterprises to interact and conduct trade smoothly and more freely with each other. Such regional and international interaction will in turn lead to the growth of the economies of the region," Prime Minister Dlamini added.
However, he called for enhanced regional trade as opposed to placing too much emphasis on accessing foreign markets, adding that the continent's rich natural resources could help to achieve strong regional trade.
"We need to promote trade amongst ourselves as a region. I am aware that many times we have looked for trade opportunities beyond our continent, yet if we work as a region, we can boost our economies as we tap experiences, resources and capacities of each of our countries as well as comparative advantage," said Prime Minister Dlamini.
"There is no doubt that our economies have diverse resource endowment and this demonstrates that growth and diversification are possible. I believe that the African continent is very rich both in natural resources and human capital. The only challenge is to believe in ourselves."
Labels: ABSALOM DLAMINI, DEVELOPMENT, SWAZILAND
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Swazi PM urges integration of economic growth
By Chibaula Silwamba
Saturday August 02, 2008 [04:01]
SWAZILAND Prime Minister Absalom Themba Dlamini has said African entrepreneurs need to form business joint ventures in order to compete in the global market. And Vice-President Rupiah Banda said the relationship between Swaziland and Zambia will only be meaningful when business persons from the two countries interact more intimately.
Speaking at a dinner hosted for him at Hotel InterContinental in Lusaka on Thursday, Prime Minister Dlamini said the southern African region had a great challenge of integrating the economic development particularly in respect of trade, tourism and cultural exchanges.
"I believe there is a lot of potential in the region but we have not fully utilised the human and capital resources that we have in our respective countries.
It is true that business joint ventures between the Swaziland business community and Zambian business community need to be encouraged," Prime Minister Dlamini said. "Our entrepreneurs need to form business joint ventures in order to compete in the global market."
He said the government of King Mswati III would follow closely the revival of the Zambia-Swaziland Joint Permanent Commission of Co-operation (JPC).
"There is no doubt that the commission will stimulate trade between Swaziland and Zambia," he said.
Prime Minister Dlamini, who was in Zambia to attend the Smart Partnership Dialogue and officiate at this year's agriculture and commercial show on behalf of King Mswati III, called for the establishment of regional trade fairs that would promote economic integration in southern Africa.
"We need regional trade fairs where we can showcase what each country can offer," Prime Minister Dlamini said.
He said the region was faced with different challenges such as soaring food prices which posed a great concern and climate change that had made it difficult for farmers to produce enough food.
Prime Minister Dlamini commended Zambia for its contribution to the fight against apartheid and liberation of many other African countries.
"It's true that Swaziland has always warmly welcomed Zambians to our country and they are engaged in different trades," said Prime Minister Dlamini.
And Vice-President Banda said it would be useful to revive the Zambia-Swaziland JPC which was established in 1986 in order to put the two countries' cooperation in perspective.
"We must encourage our businessmen and women to forge partnerships and joint ventures," he said. "We are glad that presently, your economy is growing at an impressive speed.
As a fellow SADC member, we are happy for you and look forward to our continued co-operation as we integrate our economies even further."
Vice-President Banda said he was happy that there were many Zambians traveling to Swaziland for training and working there.
Labels: REGIONAL INTEGRATION, SMART PARTNERHIPS, SWAZILAND
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