There is no appetite to investigate human rights
abuses or corruption in Swaziland /eSwatini, the latest
report from the United States Department of State
concluded.
Swaziland is controlled by King Mswati III and ‘political power remained largely vested
with the king and his traditional advisors,’ the report, which covered human
rights issues during 2018, stated.
The 24-page report
detailed ‘human rights issues’ across a wide range of areas
which included, ‘restrictions on political participation, corruption, rape and
violence against women linked in part to government inaction, criminalization
of same-sex sexual conduct, although rarely enforced, and child labor’.
The report stated, ‘The government often did not
investigate, prosecute, or administratively punish officials who committed
human rights abuses. With very few exceptions, the government did not identify
officials who committed abuses. Impunity was widespread.’
The report added, ‘Although there were mechanisms to
investigate and punish abuse and corruption, there were few prosecutions or
disciplinary actions taken against security officers accused of abuses.’ It
said the Royal eSwatini Police Service (REPS) itself investigated complaints of
police abuse and corruption, but did not release findings to the public.
‘In most cases the REPS transferred police officers
found responsible for violations to other offices or departments within the
police system.’
The Department of State report was not the first in
2019 to detail human rights abuses in Swaziland. In February, Freedom
House concluded King Mswati continued to hold
a tight grip on power and all aspects of life in the kingdom.
Freedom House scored Swaziland 16 out of a possible 100 points in its Freedom
in the World 2019 report. It concluded that Swaziland was ‘not free’.
Freedom House stated, ‘The king exercises ultimate authority over all
branches of the national government and effectively controls local governance
through his influence over traditional chiefs. Political dissent and civic and
labor activism are subject to harsh punishment under sedition and other laws.
Additional human rights problems include impunity for security forces and discrimination
against women and LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender) people.’
National
elections took place in Swaziland in 2018. Freedom House scored Swaziland
zero out of a possible 12 points for its ‘electoral process’. It stated, ‘The
king, who remains the chief executive authority, is empowered to appoint and
dismiss the prime minister and members of the cabinet. The prime minister is
ostensibly the head of government, but has little power in practice. Ambrose
Dlamini was appointed prime minister in October 2018, although he was not a
member of Parliament at the time of his appointment, as required by the
constitution.
Freedom House scored Swaziland one point out of a possible 16 for
‘political pluralism and participation’ stating, ‘The king has tight control
over the political system in law and in practice, leaving no room for the
emergence of an organized opposition with the potential to enter government.
The vast majority of candidates who contested the 2018 general elections were
supporters of the king.’
Swaziland scored zero out of a possible 12 points for ‘functioning of
government.’ The king appoints the Prime Minister and government ministers.
Freedom House stated, ‘The king and his government determine policy and
legislation; members of Parliament hold no real power and effectively act as a
rubber stamp in approving the king’s legislative priorities. Parliament cannot
initiate legislation and has little oversight or influence on budgetary
matters. The king is also constitutionally empowered to veto any legislation.
The absolute authority of the king was demonstrated by his decision
to rename the country in April 2018 [from Swaziland to eSwatini] without
any constitutional process or parliamentary approval.
The
full report from the State Department is available here
See also
Swaziland
in economic freefall with human rights failings, report shows
King Mswati in complete control as another year of
human rights struggle ends in Swaziland
Police
violence, undemocratic elections, hunger and disease: highlights of Swaziland’s
human rights violations
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