Assault on human rights follows coronavirus lockdown in Swaziland

Although there were no reported deaths and only nine reported cases of coronavirus (COVID-19) by the end of March, King Mswati III, the absolute monarch of Swaziland (eSwatini) declared a state of emergency.

Many civil liberties were suspended; school, colleges and universities were closed indefinitely. Many businesses were forced to close and severe travel bans were placed on people. Gatherings, including attendance at churches and other places of worship, were curtailed. 

Almost immediately, members of the police, army and other security forces were beating and intimidating ordinary civilians. Some businesses reported they also demanded bribes to allow them to stay open.

The response to the coronavirus was the main topic in the period January to March 2020 and contained in Swaziland: Striving for Freedom, volume 37, a compilation of reports posted on the Swazi Media Commentary website and available to download free of charge from the Scribd website.

Elsewhere, even before coronavirus struck, the Swaziland economy continued in freefall. In the annual budget spending on internal security was increased as, ‘Support to our security forces as we pursue economic stability and growth in the country.’

As in previous years, the Auditor General highlighted shortcomings in the way government departments recorded their spending, with billions of emalangeni not properly accounted for.

The education sector continued in crisis as government ran out of money. Many pupils were unable to attend primary school because the government did not pay fees.

King Mswati continued to exert his power over his subjects. University lecturers were forced to weed his fields; his chief of police threatened social media users with the wrath of the law if they dared to criticise the king; in February the King told his parliament to ignore calls for democracy and to stick with him.

Swazi Media Commentary is published online, updated most weekdays. It is operated entirely by volunteers and receives no financial backing from any organisation. It is devoted to providing information and commentary in support of human rights in Swaziland.

See also

New political grouping in Swaziland dominates human rights agenda

https://swazimedia.blogspot.com/2020/01/new-political-grouping-in-swaziland.html

Swaziland police violence rampant, children die as economy collapses, report shows

https://swazimedia.blogspot.com/2019/10/swaziland-police-violence-rampant.html

 

Swaziland public services in meltdown and corruption goes unchecked: new report surveys the kingdom
https://swazimedia.blogspot.com/2019/07/swaziland-public-services-in-meltdown.html

Swaziland in economic freefall with human rights failings, report shows
https://swazimedia.blogspot.com/2019/04/swaziland-in-economic-freefall-with.html

Swaziland Striving for Freedom Vol 37 Jan to Mar 2020 by Richard Rooney on Scribd