There is confusion surrounding the United States’
announcement on the future of Swaziland’s status under the African Growth and
Opportunities Act (AGOA).
On Friday (16 May 2014) the AFP news agency
reported Makila James, the US Ambassador to Swaziland, saying the
kingdom had lost its status because it failed to meet
five conditions relating to workers’ and human rights.
Swaziland had been given until 15 May 2014 to
comply or risk losing AGOA status, which allows Swazi goods to be sold in the
United States under preferential terms.
But, the following day media in Swaziland reported
that James denied talking to the AFP.
The Observer
on Saturday, a newspaper in effect owned by King Mswati III, reported Ruth
Newman the Swaziland US Embassy spokesperson, saying, ‘I have checked with her
[the Ambassador] and she is surprised where AFP got the report, because they
never called her in the first place. The quote attributed to her, were not
hers.’
Newman was also reported saying, ‘There is no decision
yet.’
The Swazi
News, an independent newspaper, reported Newman saying a statement on
Swaziland’s AGOA status would be made, ‘when they are ready’.
A press conference due to be held by the US Embassy
on Monday (19 May 2014) to make the announcement was
called off at the last minute. No reason for the cancellation or
alternative date for the announcement was given.
The United States had given Swaziland, which is
ruled by King Mswati III, sub-Saharan Africa’s last absolute monarch, an
ultimatum to implement the full passage of
amendments to the Industrial Relations Act; full passage of amendments to the
Suppression of Terrorism Act (STA); full passage of amendments to the Public
Order Act; full passage of amendments to sections 40 and 97 of the Industrial
Relations Act relating to civil and criminal liability to union leaders during
protest actions; and establishing a code of conduct for the police during
public protests.
It appears the Swaziland Government has failed to
meet the requirements and it is widely anticipated that when the announcement
is made it will say Swaziland will lose its AGOA benefits from the start of
2015.
An editorial in the Swazi Observer, another newspaper in effect owned by the King, on Monday (19 May 2014) said, ‘it was just a matter of time’, before AGOA benefits would be lost.
It added, ‘We are also aware that the AGOA axe has
been hovering above our heads for some time.’
An editorial
in the Times Sunday, an
independent newspaper, gave two reasons why the Swazi Government was to blame for
the loss of AGOA. It said, ‘One; for the first time in the history of Cabinet,
we had ministers in office who were highly incompetent to a point of costing
thousands of people their jobs. Two; there never was any intention to meet the
demands in the first place, because retaining the status quo supersedes the
livelihood of thousands of citizens or even the Constitution.’
In Swaziland the Government is not elected, it is
hand-picked by King Mswati.
See also
SWAZI HUMAN RIGHTS
RECORD KILLS AGOA
KINGDOM FACES HUMAN RIGHTS PROBE
http://swazimedia.blogspot.com/2014/02/kingdom-faces-new-human-rights-probe.html
US PRESSURE FOR SWAZI REFORMS
US PRESSURE FOR SWAZI REFORMS
