SWAZILAND BUS STRIKE SPREADS

The Swaziland bus protest entered its second day today (Tuesday 20 September 2011). There are reports from the kingdom’s capital Mbabane that some shops have closed and that cars have been pelted with stones.

This follows a day of violence in Manzini, Swaziland’s main business city, yesterday when police used rubber bullets and teargas to attack striking bus operators. They are protesting about the high levels of fines being imposed on them for routine traffic offences. In the past few months the government has used the collection of fines as a way to bring in income as the kingdom hurtles towards financial ruin.

Reports are still circulating that at least two people died in yesterday’s disturbances. These deaths have not been confirmed.