Swaziland
Newsletter No. 741 – 26 August 2022
News from and about Swaziland, compiled by
Global Aktion, Denmark (www.globalaktion.dk)
in collaboration with Swazi Media Commentary (www.swazimedia.blogspot.com),
and sent to all with an interest in Swaziland - free of charge.
eSwatini
not free, has long way to go
Emmanuel Ndlangamandla, Times of eSwatini, 22 August 2022
The Freedom House conducts an annual study of political
rights and civil liberties worldwide.
For its 2022 report, Eswatini
was once again rated as not free, scoring 17 of out of a score 100, where
on political rights Eswatini’s score was one out of 40, and on civil liberties
the country scored 16 out of 60. Let us share some aspects of this report to
help us introspect.
Political rights
With regard to a question of
if the prime minister (PM) was elected based on a free and fair system, the PM
is appointed, hence the score was zero out of four. With regard to the election
of legislative bodies, the country again was scored zero out of four, as
election processes are deemed to be not free and fair as they can be influenced
by external factors. The case of a widow who was denied her right to be elected
because she was mourning her husband is one example, not just being an example
of an unfair system but a gender skewed system. With regard to
electoral laws’ fairness and being implemented impartially, the report scored
the country zero out of four. The report states that the Elections and Boundary
Commission (EBC) is appointed and is also dependent on Ministry of Justice
and Constitutional Affairs for funding and, hence lacks
independence. The other questions asked in this report were on the topics
below:
Political
pluralism, participation
Do the people have the right
to organise in different political parties of their choice? Is the system free
of undue obstacles to the rise and fall of these competing parties or
groupings? Once again Eswatini was scored zero out of four because elections
are based on individual merit. Even though political parties are operational,
they are not registered; they face obstacles in organising and promoting their
programmes and are not allowed to contest power. The report states that
political crackdown is a common phenomenon and also cites the arrest of two members
of Parliament while the third MP is in exile and also lost his parliamentary
seat.
Functioning of
government
Do the freely elected head of
government and national legislative representatives determine the policies of
the government? Eswatini scored zero out of four. It is noted in the report
that Parliament cannot initiate legislation. Parliament is seen as having
limited powers and at most acts as a ‘rubber stamp’ for the Executive’s
decisions. Are safeguards against official corruption strong and effective? The
country also scored zero out of four. The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) is
perceived to be ineffective and lacks adequate financial and human
resources. Does the government operate with openness and transparency?
Once again the country scored zero out of four. Eswatini lacks access to
information laws, and there is no culture of proactive disclosure of government
information.
Civil
liberties
Is there freedom and an
independent media? The country scored one out of four. It is noted in the report
that a variety of laws, including the Sedition and Subversive Activities Act
and defamation laws can be used to restrict media coverage by criminalising
publications that are alleged to be seditious. Are individuals free to practice
and express their religious faith or non-belief in public and private? The
country fared better at two out of four. It’s noted in the report that
non-Christian groups are denied access to State broadcasters.Is there academic
freedom, and is the educational system free from extensive political
indoctrination? The country scored one out of four. Restrictive laws such as
anti-terrorism limit academic freedom.
Organisational
rights
Is there freedom of assembly?
Eswatini scored zero out of four as freedom of assembly is restricted. The
report notes that human rights-focused NGOs are also constrained by sedition
and terrorism legislation. Also noted is that Eswatini has a vibrant trade
union movement which, however, faces crackdowns during strikes and public
protests.
Rule of law
It is noted in the report that
the Judiciary enjoys some independence hence it scored two out of four. The
report continues to note that the King holds ultimate authority with regard to
the appointment and dismissal of judges. On due process on civil and criminal
matters Eswatini scored one out of four due to time limits on detention without
charge and are not always respected. In terms of protection from illegitimate
use of force, it is noted that police brutality continues in spite of the
passage of the 2018 Police Act. With regard to equal treatment for all segments
of society, Eswatini scored one out of four as women, people with disabilities
and LGBTQI populations continue to face restrictions. This report paints a
gloomy picture regarding the state of freedoms for emaSwati. Nelson Mandela
once said: “Real leaders must be ready to sacrifice all for the freedom of
their people.”
eSwatini’s
King Mswati accused of assaulting yet another wife
By
Zweli Martin Dlamini, Mail & Guardian (South Africa), 25 August 2022
Eswatini king, Mswati III, allegedly
assaulted Inkhosikati Sibonelo Mngomezulu — known as LaMbikiza — for
questioning him about the real father of Princess Sikhanyiso’s son, Prince
Phikolezwe.
This is not the first time allegations
have emerged of abuse by the king.
The late Inkhosikati Nothando Dube
(LaDube) allegedly sent photographs to political activist Lucky Lukhele and
journalists reporting the physical abuse she suffered at the hands of her
husband.
It has been reported that LaDube was
allegedly isolated and heavily assaulted by the king and his bodyguards after
being found in bed with Ndumiso Mamba, the then minister of justice and
constitutional affairs.
The king’s spokesperson, Percy Simelane,
said he was only responsible for the public image of the king, not private
matters. He added that any effort to inquire about the matter would be an
invasion of the king’s privacy.
“We are not aware, it is the public face
of the king that is our area of interest and concern. We therefore wouldn’t be
able to know what happens behind closed doors and any effort by us to inquire
along those lines would be an invasion of privacy,” he said.
Questions were sent to LaMbikiza but she
had not responded at the time of publication.
Lukhele, the spokesperson of the Swaziland
Solidarity Network, confirmed that LaDube had sent him photographs as evidence
of assault. He added that he was also aware of the assault against LaMbikiza.
“I am aware that LaMbikiza was assaulted
by Mswati and she lost her teeth in the process. Other queens are suffering at
the hands of the king, he doesn’t want them to socialise with men that he sees
as competitors, he has a low self-esteem. LaDube even reached out to me
reporting that Mswati assaulted her, she even shared some pictures,” said
Lukhele.
LaMbikiza is alleged to have told some of
her close friends about the incident while she was in hospital in about
February last year. It is alleged that the queen was receiving dental
implants.
A royal household insider, who is close to
LaMbikiza, said: “It’s true, she told me kutsi loMjita [Mswati] umshaye
wamkhokha ematinyo. Wangitjela asayowafaka lamatinyo waphindze wangitjela noma
asabuyela ayowalungisa [She told me that he assaulted her and she lost her
teeth, she even told me when she was going to hospital for the artificial
teeth]. So if you want to verify this, check her passport around February 2021
and then follow that evidence. She was assaulted a few months or weeks after
the birth of Phikolezwe.”
An independent investigation by Swaziland
News found
that LaMbikiza left the country on or around 15 August this year. Her
diplomatic passport suggests that she flew to South Africa at about 10:54am.
But royal insiders said the queen was
receiving medical treatment in South Africa for a different illness, not for
her teeth.
“She is sick and has gone for an
operation. It’s true that these days there’s a serious conflict between the
king and the queen … The queen [has in the past] tried to advise the king
that he must listen to the people, instead the king accused her of being a
sellout and [said] that she was plotting to kill him.”
A former member of the king’s advisory
council also confirmed that the queen reported the assault to him.
“She even showed me a picture after the
assault and was forced not to appear in public until she receives medical
treatment,” said the person.
Mswati rules eSwatini as an absolute
monarch, with executive, judicial and legislative powers. As a result, he
cannot be taken to court to be held accountable for allegations of gender-based
violence.
Human rights lawyer Nosimilo Vilakati said
domestic violence remained a gross violation of human rights, irrespective of
who the perpetrator was.
“National and international law
instruments serve the purpose of protecting every individual against any form
of abuse. Analysis of domestic violence as an abuse of human rights is
addressed in national courts.
“However, when domestic courts fail to do
this, international litigation provides positive mechanisms.The right to be
free from domestic violence is not directly stated in international human
rights treaties because domestic violence often results in battery, rape,
murder,” said Vilakati.
‘Security is fast
deteriorating’: eSwatini activists welcome SADC move
Lenin
Ndebele, News 24 (South Africa), 20 August 2022
Pro-democracy activists from Eswatini welcomed the
Southern African Development Community (SADC) resolution to send a fact-finding
mission to Africa's last absolute monarchy.
They noted, however, that it was not the first
fact-finding mission to be sent to Eswatini, with those before not
yielding much progress.
Thulani Maseko, a prominent human rights lawyer from
Eswatini, and Mlungisi Makhanya, leader of the People’s United Democratic
Movement, the largest opposition party in the country spoke to News24.
Maseko said: “While we welcome the developments, we
are concerned about what we see as a lack of decisiveness when it comes to the
Eswatini question.
“The question is, how many fact-finding missions will
be conducted before there is a serious commitment to a real meaningful process
to resolve the crisis?”
He added that he hoped President Cyril Ramaphosa’s
framework for dialogue would be consolidated so that King Mswati III commits to
it, although in the past, the king had not been so keen on engagement.
“We do feel that the king is given leeway to delay the
resolution of the impasse while he continues to harass the people in Eswatini
and the leaders of the mass democratic movement.
He added: “In our view, the facts speak for themselves
for the need to bring the parties to the impasse to the table of dialogue, and SADC
long accepted that dialogue is the only possible and meaningful way to address
the socio-economic and political crisis facing the country.”
He also said that SADC should pin down the king to
commit to the creation of a political climate of peace conducive to dialogue,
ensuring that all political prisoners are released, exiles return home safely,
and all impediments to meaningful dialogue and free political activity are
removed.
Another wish from Maseko was for SADC to agree on a
framework for the dialogue to start, including timelines, and the adoption of
mutually agreed terms of reference.
“We do hope that the fact-finding mission will realise
the urgency because the security situation is fast deteriorating,” he added.
Makhanya told News24 that while SADC was going to send
another fact-finding team led by a panel of elders, it owed the people of
Eswatini an update on what happened with past envoys.
“While we in principle welcome the decision by the
SADC summit to send the panel of elders on a fact-finding mission anywhere it
deems fit, we however strongly feel that SADC owes the people of Swaziland an
explanation on how far the previous fact-finding mission went and their
subsequent reports,” he said.
Three envoys sent by SADC have been to Eswatini in the
past.
Makhaya feels SADC was playing “marbles” with the
Eswatini situation and as things stood, “the country will continue to burn”.
While SADC handles the diplomatic side of the crisis,
Makhanya said they would not wait but take matters into their own hands.
“We are not waiting for SADC to liberate us, we are
liberating ourselves. Our message to our people is very clear: You are on your
own and only your efforts will liberate you,” he added.
He also branded SADC leaders as “elites” who are “indifferent”
about the massacre of innocent people.
Govt
‘clarifies’ SADC leaders’ resolution
By
Mhlonishwa Motsa, Times of eSwatini, 20 August 2022
MBABANE: Government Spokesperson Alpheous Nxumalo’s office
has clarified the real stand taken by the Southern African Development
Community (SADC) on the country’s political situation.
Government refuted reports
that the Southern African leaders resolved, during the 42nd Ordinary Summit of
Heads of State and Government, to send the newly-approved Panel of Elders (PoE)
to the country to deal with the political upheaval. The meeting, which was
attended by the regional Heads of State, including His Majesty King Mswati III,
was held in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo, on August 17, 2022.
In a statement issued by
Nxumalo’s office, government said SADC released a communiqué after the meeting
on the same day and the reports that were later circulated in various
communication outlets were contradictory to the resolution. “Government
would like to provide clarity on the circulating reports to the effect that
SADC would be deploying a panel of elders to the Kingdom of Eswatini to address
the country’s political situation.
“The resolutions highlighted in
the communiqué is the official position that SADC has taken on the matter
regarding the Kingdom of Eswatini and other issues that were addressed at the
summit. Any other assertions as to the process that will follow regarding the
Eswatini matter are therefore not a reflection of what was agreed on the
summit,” reads the statement.
To read more of this report,
click here
EFF
CIC advised parents not to release girls to join umhlanga [Reed Dance]
By
Pholile Masuku, Swati Newsweek, 25 August, 2022
LOBAMBA: Nombulelo Motsa, says the
national umhlanga ceremony should be boycotted by all Swazis and the girls in
Eswatini.
Motsa revealed this in a statement dated
25 August, 2022.
She said, “The Economic Freedom Fighters
of Swaziland wants to take this opportunity to warn everybody and all young
girls, maidens and young women in particular to boycott and abstain from
Mswati's manipulated ‘umhlanga’ reed dance ceremony.”
The president said, “UMhlanga must fall!
Stay at home. Phepha, Uyaphi hlala ekhaya”.
“As EFF Swaziland we want to warn the
entire Swazi nation that they must not endorse a murderer through cultural
manipulation of Umhlanga reed dance ceremony, where Mswati practice his rituals
to young women to be submissive to his autocratic, evil and brutal regime.
“As the EFF Swaziland, we want to remind
Swazis to remember the lives of our fallen Heroes and Heroines who were
massacred by Mswati's brutal and evil regime last year June 2021 by abstaining
from all his activities.”
She added, “As EFF Swaziland and other
progressive movements in the country and in diaspora we are still engulfed by
the dark clouds of mourning for our beloved Heroes and Heroines who were
massacred by Mswati's security forces. Their sin was calling for democratic
reforms at the time, not even regime change.”
In fact, all Swazis who love democracy
must disassociate themselves from Mswati's manipulated cultural activities,
which legizimize his murderous, evil and cruel regime in the public eye, both
local and international.
She explained, “The EFF Swaziland would
like to urge all parents not to send their children to attend Mswati's
manipulated cultural activities. It is a fact that Mswati has disassociated and
removed himself from the throne by killing innocent civilians in the country.
“As Mswati’s security forces continue to
brutalise our people daily with evil impunity and gruesome devious actions, in
total gross violations of human rights. The people on the other hand continue
to be strong, decisive and resolute in calling for regime change.
“Lastly, as EFF Swaziland we want to urge
all progressive forces in Swaziland and diasporians globally to unite and find
practical solutions to overthrow Mswati's autocratic government.
“Swazis we are on our own, no one will
liberate us without us from this evil, brutal and cruel regime.”
Labour
Minister Phila Buthelezi urges ILO to assist eSwatini recover from COVID-19
economic recession
By Bongiwe Dlamini, Swaziland News, 25
August, 2022
MBABANE: Phila Buthelezi,
the Minister of Labour and Social Security has urged the International Labour
Organization (ILO) to assist eSwatini recover from the COVID-19 economic recession.
Speaking during the launch
of “The Next Normal’: The Changing Workplace in Eswatini” report at Hilton
Gardens on Wednesday, the Minister said COVID-19 affected many businesses,
resulting to job losses.
The report comes after a
study conducted by ILO in collaboration with Business Eswatini.
“It is not an exaggeration
that COVID-19 destroyed many jobs as much as it did business establishments.
Crucially, however, the pandemic took away productive souls from our midst. One
is therefore encouraged that as we begin to pick up the pieces as a country we
will do so with a trusted partner such as the ILO on our side. The study
informed how labour relations and business processes could be managed at a time
when confusion and shock were the order of the day. Not only did the assessment
inform and empower business; it also helped the Ministry to tailor some of its
services appropriately and equip other organs of state which are working very
closely with businesses,” said the Minister as quoted by Government online
platforms.
Addressing participants
during the presentation of the report, ILO Director Dr Joni Musabayana said the
study raised several extremely pertinent issues related to Eswatini’s labour
market and more broadly, the priorities outlined in the Abidjan
Declaration.
“The disruptive effects of
the COVID-19 pandemic will leave a legacy in respect of how, where and when we
work,” said the ILO Director as quoted by eSwatini Government online platforms.
On another note, Business
Eswatini Chief Executive Officer (CEO)Nathi Dlamini emphasized the importance
of creating jobs even for the future generation.
“We have to create the jobs
needed by emaSwati so that we may not fail our future generations. We would
also love to extend our appreciation to the International Labour Organisation
for their support towards improving the Private Sector and we are looking
forward to having a continuous fruitful relationship as this is a tripartite
affair,” said the Business Eswatini CEO.
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