Public servants were prevented by police from
protesting about their pay levels when King Mswati III,
Swaziland’s absolute monarch, opened the Swazi Parliament on Friday (12
February 2016).
Trade unionists wanted the Swazi Government, which
is unelected and handpicked by the King, to release a salary review report into
their pay that was completed four months ago.
Public protests are rare in Swaziland where
political parties are banned from contesting elections and groups advocating
multi-party democracy in the kingdom are banned under the Suppression of
Terrorism Act.
Members of the Swaziland National Association of
Teachers (SNAT), Swaziland Democratic Nurses Union (SWADNU), National
Association of Public Servants and Allied Workers (NAPSAW) and Swaziland
National Association of Government Accounting Personnel (SNAGAP) had wanted to
march to the Parliament building and deliver a petition to the Clerk of
Parliament.
Earlier this month two tradeunion activists were arrested and charged with obstruction when they took part
in a picket organised by public service unions.
See also
TENSION
OVER SWAZI PAY PROTEST
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