Swaziland’s absolute monarch King Mswati III has told
his subjects they must demonstrate respect to
authorities of the kingdom at all times.
The King, who is sub-Saharan Africa’s last
absolute monarch, said this in a speech to mark the end of the Incwala ceremony.
Incwala
is a controversial ceremony that takes place between November and January each
year. Traditionalists say Incwala
is a ‘national prayer’, but Christian groups have criticised it for being
‘un-Godly’ and ‘pagan’. The ceremony is shrouded in secrecy and participants
are barred from talking about what happens.
In Swaziland, political parties are not
allowed to contest elections and groups that advocate for democracy are banned
under the Suppression of Terrorism Act. Trade unions are harassed and in January
2015 Swaziland lost preferential trading rights
with the United States because of its refusal to allow human rights in the
kingdom.
The Swazi
Observer, a newspaper in effect owned by King Mswati, reported on
Tuesday (3 January 2017) the King encouraged the nation, ‘to continue with
the good spirit of respect they always display among one another and towards
royal commands and duties’.
The newspaper added, ‘The King said a person who has no respect for
elders and authority of the land does not last long on earth.’
The newspaper reported, ‘He said once a royal command had been issued, a
person has to abandon all they are doing and respond to the command. “There is
nothing as significant as respect in whatever you do. I urge the nation to
stick to respect because a person who is without respect is no human and they
perish from earth at a tender age just because they lack respect. You must also
instil respect to the young ones so that they grow to be responsible members of
the society,” he said.’
Swaziland has been under the international spotlight for a number of
years because of the lack of human rights in the kingdom. A survey published in
December 2016 reported the kingdom had the worst
record among 36 countries in Africa when answering the question, ‘In
this country how free are you to join any political organisation you want?’
only 7 percent responded, ‘completely free.’
See also
SWAZILAND
LAST ON POLITICAL FREEDOM
ECONOMIC SLUMP AFTER TRADE SANCTIONS
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