ROUGH JUSTICE IN SWAZILAND

Here’s a snapshot of what it’s really like to be a woman in Swaziland.

In November 2008, a ‘romantic rival’ stabbed Hlengiwe Msibi six times in the forehead.

Eight months later she is still waiting for justice to be done. After bringing her assailant to trial in the Swazi traditional courts neither a witness nor the weapon nor even her medical report were presented and her case was thrown out. The presiding officer gave her a rationale.

‘The court president stated that if a person stabs you, you should stab him back, Msibi said. ‘So the accused was acquitted.’

This is one of the cases highlighted by JusticeMakers, part of the International Bridges to Justice organisation which strives to achieve fair trials in countries (like Swaziland) where governmental commitment to human rights principles has failed.

JusticeMakers say there is evidence of corruption before Msibi’s case came to trial.

‘Police officers told them (the accused and boyfriend) that they must carry 240 emalangeni for the fine and the accused was told to bring the knife she used to stab me,’ Msibi said, adding this could have influenced the verdict.

‘That decision had been taken a long time ago because the police officers were given money by my boyfriend and the accused.’

Complicating matters is the traditional courts’ structure, which does not allow lawyers and employs a convoluted system of appeals, JusticeMakers says.

To read more on the case click here.