SWAZI KING’S CUP A FINANCIAL DISASTER

King Mswati III’s vanity soccer tournament that flopped with fans may have cost millions of emalangeni from public funds.

At least E5.8 million (US$580,000) had been diverted from government department budgets to underwrite the cost of the tournament, but it is unlikely that all this money will be recovered.

Fewer than 10,000 spectators attended the King’s Super Cup at Somhlolo National Stadium on Saturday (18 July 2015), although organisers predicted 30,000 people from Swaziland and abroad would attend. 

The E5.8 million that was diverted from government departments to the Ministry of Sport, Culture and Youth Affairs might be an under-estimate. The Times of Swaziland, the only independent daily newspaper in the kingdom, reported the figure might have been higher. This was denied by Swazi Government spokesperson Percy Similane.  The money was considered a loan and was expected to be repaid from income generated from the tournament. 

Not all costs and income for the tournament are publicly available, but what is available suggests the tournament was a financial disaster.

To break-even financially, the tournament would need to generate E5.8 million to repay government departments, plus a further E1 million, which was widely reported to be the prize money available to the contesting teams.

 

In addition to this E6.8 million, the four participating clubs, which included the Kazier Chiefs and Orlando Pirates, two top teams from South Africa, would presumably require fees to play. The cost of this has not been made publicly available.

In addition to this, there would have been incidental costs for opening up the stadium and paying workers on the day. There were also undisclosed costs ahead of the tournament for such as publicity.

It is impossible to make accurate calculations for all of these costs, but even at a conservative estimate that the tournament needed to recoup only E6.8 million (the government loan plus the prize money), the income for the tournament falls far short.

It was widely reported in the Swazi media that fewer than 10,000 spectators attended the tournament. Reports on social media after the tournament finished suggested that many spectators were allowed to enter the stadium free-of-charge when it was realised attendance was so low and the King, who rules Swaziland as sub-Saharan Africa’s last absolute monarch, would be embarrassed.

Assuming that 10,000 people did attend and they all paid the E250 entrance fee; there would have been E2.5 million generated (assuming that none of the cash receipts were stolen on the day).

The E2.5 million is still E4.3 million short of the E6.8 million combined cost of loans and prize money.

Other reported income for the tournament comprised E750,000 in sponsorship from companies and individuals, including Inyatsi Construction, Stefanutti Stocks and Kukhanya Construction. 

This leaves E3.55 million still to find.

Tickets to attend a dinner prior to the tournament at which King Mswati was guest of honour cost E15,000 per table. It was not publicly reported how many tickets were sold, but it would need 236 tickets to be sold to meet the E3.55 million, shortfall.

Other income for the tournament came from DSTV, the satellite TV channel that broadcasts SuperSport. The fee paid to broadcast the tournament has not been publicly disclosed, but it was unlikely to be high. The matches were broadcast on SuperSport 4, which is not a premium channel and does not require viewers to pay a premium fee to receive. The channel generally broadcasts local soccer from countries across Africa, which has little appeal to viewers across the continent.

It is unlikely, therefore, that the fee for broadcast went too far in recovering the ‘missing’ E3.5 million.

Other income included the E550 each vendor at the tournament was required to pay in order to set up stalls.

Ahead of the tournament, the King’s Super Cup was widely reported inside Swaziland and abroad to be the personal idea of King Mswati.

The King’s Super Cup, which ran for the first time this year, was controversial from the start. Prodemocracy campaigners called on the South African clubs to boycott the tournament as it would be seen as supporting King Mswati, who has a poor record on human rights.

Political parties are not allowed to contest elections and opposition groups are banned under the Suppression of Terrorism Act.

See also

SWAZI KING’S CUP FLOPS WITH FANS

http://swazimedia.blogspot.co.uk/2015/07/swazi-kings-cup-flops-with-fans.html  

CALL TO BOYCOTT KING’S SOCCER CUP

http://swazimedia.blogspot.co.uk/2015/05/call-to-boycott-kings-soccer-cup.html

 

SWAZI KING’S CUP TICKET PRICES SKY HIGH

http://swazimedia.blogspot.co.uk/2015/06/swazi-kings-cup-ticket-price-sky-high.html 

CAMPAIGN TO STOP KING’S CUP SPREADS

http://swazimedia.blogspot.co.uk/2015/06/campaign-to-stop-kings-cup-spreads.html

 

PUBLIC FUNDS TO SUPPORT KING’S CUP

http://swazimedia.blogspot.co.uk/2015/07/public-funds-to-support-kings-cup.html

 

ELDERLY UNPAID AS CASH GOES TO SOCCER

http://swazimedia.blogspot.co.uk/2015/07/elderly-unpaid-as-cash-goes-to-soccer.html

 

ORGANISERS TALK-UP SWAZI KING’S CUP

http://swazimedia.blogspot.co.uk/2015/07/organisers-talk-up-swazi-kings-cup.html  

SWAZI KING’S CUP FLOPS WITH FANS

King Mswati III’s vanity soccer tournament was a flop with fans as the national football stadium at Somhlolo was under a third full.

Organisers had claimed 10,000 Swazi fans would attend and another 20,000 would come from outside the kingdom.

In fact, when the tournament that included two of South Africa’s top soccer clubs took place on Saturday (18 July 2015), fewer than 10,000 spectators were in the ground.

The attendance figure was reported by the Sunday Observer, a newspaper in effect owned by King Mswati himself. It reported, ‘An estimated 30,000 supporters was expected to be part of this much anticipated tournament but the games attracted a crowd of less than 10,000.’

Media, which is strictly controlled in the kingdom ruled by King Mswati, who is sub-Saharan Africa’s last absolute monarch, had been reporting for the past three weeks that the soccer-loving Swazi people would flock to the tournament.

The tournament’s Public Relations Officer, Dumsani ‘DU’ Sibandze had previously been reported by the Swazi Observer, a newspaper also owned by the King, saying 10,000 tickets would be made available to local soccer fans while the rest would be sold to South Africa and neighbouring countries.

The Times of Swaziland, the only independent daily newspaper in the kingdom, had reported ahead of the tournament that, ‘major hotels within Ezulwini has been sold out as the King’s Super Cup draws a number of visitors to the country’.  This proved to be false reporting.

The newspaper had also reported designated borders between Swaziland and South Africa would have their hours of operation extended to accommodate the ‘influx of soccer fans’.

The competition, which ran for the first time this year, included the Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates from Soweto, South Africa. Two local soccer teams also took part in the tournament.

The competition was said by organisers to be in honour of King Mswati.

It was previously reported that E5.8 million (US$580,000) had been taken from various government ministries to fund the tournament.

 

Tickets for the tournament cost a minimum E250 (US$25). In Swaziland seven in ten of King Mswati’s subjects live on less than US$2 a day.

Prior to the tournament a campaign ran to try to persuade the two South African clubs not to take part in the tournament because it would be seen as supporting the King who has been criticised globally for the poor human rights in his kingdom. In Swaziland, political parties are banned from taking part in elections and pro-democracy campaigners are arrested under the Suppression of Terrorism Act.

The People’s United Democratic Movement (PUDEMO), in a statement said, ‘Almost 70 percent of Swazi citizens live under the poverty line of less than a dollar a day, while Mswati III’s preoccupation is buying private jets, luxury cars and touring the world with his throng of wives at the expense of the Swazi people.’

See also

CALL TO BOYCOTT KING’S SOCCER CUP

http://swazimedia.blogspot.co.uk/2015/05/call-to-boycott-kings-soccer-cup.html

 

SWAZI KING’S CUP TICKET PRICES SKY HIGH

http://swazimedia.blogspot.co.uk/2015/06/swazi-kings-cup-ticket-price-sky-high.html

           

CAMPAIGN TO STOP KING’S CUP SPREADS

http://swazimedia.blogspot.co.uk/2015/06/campaign-to-stop-kings-cup-spreads.html

 

PUBLIC FUNDS TO SUPPORT KING’S CUP

http://swazimedia.blogspot.co.uk/2015/07/public-funds-to-support-kings-cup.html

 

ELDERLY UNPAID AS CASH GOES TO SOCCER

http://swazimedia.blogspot.co.uk/2015/07/elderly-unpaid-as-cash-goes-to-soccer.html

 

ORGANISERS TALK-UP SWAZI KING’S CUP

http://swazimedia.blogspot.co.uk/2015/07/organisers-talk-up-swazi-kings-cup.html  

ELDERLY UNPAID AS CASH GOES TO SOCCER

As E5.8 million (US$580,000) of public money is diverted to underwrite King Mswati III’s personal soccer tournament, news is emerging from Swaziland that elderly people have not been paid their state pensions.

The money, which is paid every three months, should have been delivered on 10 June 2015.

The pensions, worth E240 a month and known as ‘elderly grants’ are given to people aged 60 and over.  They are paid in lump sums of E720 quarterly.

If the E5.8 million diverted from a number of government departments to underwrite the controversial King’s Super Cup had been used to pay the grants, more than 8,000 could have been paid.

In Swaziland seven in ten of the population have incomes of less than US$2 a day. For many elderly people the grants are their only source of income.

Earlier this month (July 2015), it was revealed that the Swazi Ministry of Sport, Culture and Youth Affairs had been given E5.8 million to support the Super Cup, which is the initiative of King Mswati III, who rules Swaziland as sub-Saharan Africa’s last absolute monarch. The money had been diverted from a number of other government departments.

Two of South Africa’s top teams, Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs, are taking part in the tournament on 18 July 2015.

See also

PUBLIC FUNDS TO SUPPORT KING’S CUP

 http://swazimedia.blogspot.co.uk/2015/07/public-funds-to-support-kings-cup.html

 

CALL TO BOYCOTT KING’S SOCCER CUP

http://swazimedia.blogspot.co.uk/2015/05/call-to-boycott-kings-soccer-cup.html
 

SWAZI KING’S CUP TICKET PRICES SKY HIGH

http://swazimedia.blogspot.co.uk/2015/06/swazi-kings-cup-ticket-price-sky-high.html

           

CAMPAIGN TO STOP KING’S CUP SPREADS

http://swazimedia.blogspot.co.uk/2015/06/campaign-to-stop-kings-cup-spreads.html

ORGANISERS TALK-UP SWAZI KING’S CUP

Organisers of the football tournament arranged to honour Swaziland’s autocratic monarch King Mswati III expect 20,000 spectators to attend from outside the kingdom.

They expect a further 10,000 of the King’s subjects from Swaziland to attend.

This was reported by the Swazi Observer, a newspaper in effect owned by King Mswati himself.

Tickets costing a minimum E250 (US$25) are presently on sale, even though more than seven in ten of the King’s 1.3 million subjects have incomes of less than US$2 per day. It would take most Swazi people more than a month to earn the price of a ticket.

The tournament called the King’s Super Cup is to be held on 18 July 2015. Two of South Africa’s top football sides, Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates have agreed to play in the one-day competition.

This is the first time the tournament has run and organisers say the competition is to honour the King.

In Swaziland King Mswati rules as sub-Saharan Africa’s last absolute monarch. Political parties are banned from taking part in elections and pro-democracy campaigners are arrested under the Suppression of Terrorism Act.

A campaign is running to attempt to persuade the two South African clubs not to take part in the tournament because it would be seen as supporting the King who has been criticised globally for the poor human rights in his kingdom.

Campaigners say if the clubs took part in the tournament it would be a ‘mockery to the many activists that have died at the hands of the government and those who are presently languishing in jail for having dared to talk against the atrocities obtaining in Swaziland’.

The People’s United Democratic Movement (PUDEMO), in a statement said, ‘Almost 70 percent of Swazi citizens live under the poverty line of less than a dollar a day, while Mswati III’s preoccupation is buying private jets, luxury cars and touring the world with his throng of wives at the expense of the Swazi people.’

The tournament’s Public Relations Officer, Dumsani ‘DU’ Sibandze was reported by the Swazi Observer saying 10,000 tickets would be made available to local soccer fans while the rest would be sold to South Africa and neighbouring countries. 

The tournament will take place at the Somhlolo National Stadium, which the newspaper reported would accommodate 30,000 spectators on the day.

It was previously reported that E5.8 million (US$580,000) had been taken from various government ministries to fund the tournament.

 

See also

CALL TO BOYCOTT KING’S SOCCER CUP

http://swazimedia.blogspot.co.uk/2015/05/call-to-boycott-kings-soccer-cup.html

 

SWAZI KING’S CUP TICKET PRICES SKY HIGH

http://swazimedia.blogspot.co.uk/2015/06/swazi-kings-cup-ticket-price-sky-high.html

           

CAMPAIGN TO STOP KING’S CUP SPREADS

http://swazimedia.blogspot.co.uk/2015/06/campaign-to-stop-kings-cup-spreads.html

 

PUBLIC FUNDS TO SUPPORT KING’S CUP

http://swazimedia.blogspot.co.uk/2015/07/public-funds-to-support-kings-cup.html

PUBLIC FUNDS TO SUPPORT KING’S CUP

Nearly E6 million of public money is to be pumped into the controversial football tournament in Swaziland created to honour the kingdom’s absolute monarch King Mswati III.

The Swazi Ministry of Sport, Culture and Youth Affairs has been given E5.8 million (US$580,000) by government to fund the so-called King’s Super Cup.

The money will be diverted to the tournament scheduled for 18 July 2015 that features two of South Africa’s top clubs, the Orlando Pirates and the Kaizer Chiefs.

The money has been diverted from a number of government departments in the cash-strapped kingdom, where seven in ten of the 1.3 million population have incomes of less than US$2 a day.

According to local media in Swaziland the money will have to be repaid after the tournament, but this would only be possible if the event is a financial success.

The winner of the tournament will reportedly take E1 million prize money. The cheapest tickets will be E250, which is out of the reach of most Swazi people.

Meanwhile, one of the groups opposing the tournament on the grounds that it would be seen as supporting the King who has been criticised globally for the poor human rights in his kingdom, has promised what it calls a ‘revolution’ in Swaziland if the tournament goes ahead.

The Swaziland Solidarity Network (SSN) was widely reported in South African media saying it had ‘underground’ plans to dispatch a revolution if the South African clubs went ahead.

Lucky Lukhele, the SSN spokesperson, was reported saying ‘All systems are in place underground and overground in South Africa and in Swaziland should they [Pirates and Chiefs] decide to ignore us.’

He added, ‘Our revolution will not be peed on by ignorant people. We have a network of people who are helping us and we are ready for anything.’

See also

CALL TO BOYCOTT KING’S SOCCER CUP

http://swazimedia.blogspot.co.uk/2015/05/call-to-boycott-kings-soccer-cup.html

 

SWAZI KING’S CUP TICKET PRICES SKY HIGH

http://swazimedia.blogspot.co.uk/2015/06/swazi-kings-cup-ticket-price-sky-high.html

           

CAMPAIGN TO STOP KING’S CUP SPREADS

http://swazimedia.blogspot.co.uk/2015/06/campaign-to-stop-kings-cup-spreads.html

SWAZI KING’S CUP TICKET PRICE SKY HIGH

Spectators will be charged E250 (US$25) to attend matches at the tournament set up to honour King Mswati III of Swaziland – at least two weeks’ income for seven in ten of his subjects.

The controversial tournament called the King’s Super Cup includes the two giant South African teams Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates.

Pro-democracy campaigners have urged the two clubs not to attend the tournament scheduled for 18 July 2015 because it would be seen as supporting the King who has been criticised globally for the poor human rights in his kingdom.

Political parties are banned from taking part in elections and the King, who rules as sub-Saharan Africa’s last absolute monarch, choses the government and top judges. Groups advocating democracy are banned under the Suppression of Terrorism Act and people advocating for reform are jailed.

The tournament’s organising committee chairman Zakhele Lukhele said that a special dinner would be arranged on the eve of the tournament and the price to attend would be E15,000 per table.

In Swaziland, seven in ten people have incomes of less than US$2 per day.

The announcement was made at the Royal Swazi Spa Convention Centre, Mbabane, on Wednesday (24 June 2015).

The Supersport website, based in South Africa, reported, ‘The King’s Super Cup is an initiative of Swaziland’s King Mswati III. “The number one football supporter in this country,” as one guest said it.’

A campaign started by pro-democracy activists in Swaziland has been reported by news organisations globally.

Campaigners say if the two South African football clubs took part in the tournament it would be a ‘mockery to the many activists that have died at the hands of the government and those who are presently languishing in jail for having dared to talk against the atrocities obtaining in Swaziland’.

The People’s United Democratic Movement (PUDEMO), in a statement said, ‘Almost 70 percent of Swazi citizens live under the poverty line of less than a dollar a day, while Mswati III’s preoccupation is buying private jets, luxury cars and touring the world with his throng of wives at the expense of the Swazi people.’

The statement added, ‘PUDEMO implores the two soccer giants to reconsider their decision to be involved in a tournament that seeks to put a human face on a government that has made it its prime occupation to govern the people with fear and dispossession. 

‘The fact that the tournament’s namesake is to honour an individual who uses fear and corruption to accumulate riches which he then uses to further suppress freedoms and curtail human rights, should be an indicator enough that the good game of soccer is being taken to the sewers, and this tournament will forever taint the good name of these two soccer giants for having dared to give credibility to a king who sits executive over cold blooded murder and the incarceration of innocent citizens.’

The Communist Party of Swaziland in a statement said the participation of the two football giants in the tournament undermined the efforts of democrats to isolate the King.

In an open letter to Irvin Khoza, Chairman of Orlando Pirates Football Club and Kaizer Motaung, Executive Director, Kaizer Chiefs Foodball Club, the Swaziland Solidarity Network said, ‘It is clear from the name of the event that this is not just a sporting event meant to promote goodwill but rather a political event meant to legitimise a despot who has lost credibility in the eyes of the world and the country that he rules with an iron fist.’

See also

CALL TO BOYCOTT KING’S SOCCER CUP

http://swazimedia.blogspot.co.uk/2015/05/call-to-boycott-kings-soccer-cup.html

CAMPAIGN TO STOP ‘KING’S CUP’ SPREADS

News of the campaign to stop two top South African football clubs taking part in a tournament to honour King Mswati III of Swaziland is spreading globally.

South African newspapers, wire services and Internet sites across the world are reporting opposition to Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates taking part in the King’s Super Cup in honour of King Mswati, who rules Swaziland as sub-Saharan Africa’s last absolute monarch.

The tournament, to be played this year for the first time, is due to take place on 18 July 2015 at the Somhlolo National Stadium in Lobamba.

In Swaziland political parties are barred from taking part in elections, the King chooses the government and top judges and opposition groups are labelled ‘terrorists’ under the Suppression of Terrorism Act.

Swazi campaigners for democracy said if the two football clubs took part in the tournament it would be a ‘mockery to the many activists that have died at the hands of the government and those who are presently languishing in jail for having dared to talk against the atrocities obtaining in Swaziland’.

The People’s United Democratic Movement (PUDEMO), in a statement that has been reported by news organisations across the world, said, ‘Almost 70 percent of Swazi citizens live under the poverty line of less than a dollar a day, while Mswati III’s preoccupation is buying private jets, luxury cars and touring the world with his throng of wives at the expense of the Swazi people.’

The statement added, ‘PUDEMO implores the two soccer giants to reconsider their decision to be involved in a tournament that seeks to put a human face on a government that has made it its prime occupation to govern the people with fear and dispossession. 

‘The fact that the tournament’s namesake is to honour an individual who uses fear and corruption to accumulate riches which he then uses to further suppress freedoms and curtail human rights, should be an indicator enough that the good game of soccer is being taken to the sewers, and this tournament will forever taint the good name of these two soccer giants for having dared to give credibility to a king who sits executive over cold blooded murder and the incarceration of innocent citizens.’

The Communist Party of Swaziland in a statement said the participation of the two football giants in the tournament undermined the efforts of democrats to isolate the King.

In an open letter to Irvin Khoza, Chairman of Orlando Pirates Football Club and Kaizer Motaung, Executive Director, Kaizer Chiefs Foodball Club, the Swaziland Solidarity Network said, ‘It is clear from the name of the event that this is not just a sporting event meant to promote goodwill but rather a political event meant to legitimise a despot who has lost credibility in the eyes of the world and the country that he rules with an iron fist.’

See also

CALL TO BOYCOTT KING’S SOCCER CUP

http://swazimedia.blogspot.co.uk/2015/05/call-to-boycott-kings-soccer-cup.html

CALL TO BOYCOTT KING’S SOCCER CUP

Swazi democrats are urging two of South Africa’s premier soccer teams Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates not to take part in a football tournament to honour King Mswati III.

A new tournament which is variously being called the Super King’s Cup  or the King’s Super Cup is due to be played on 18 July 2015 at the Somhlolo National Stadium in Lobamba.

The two Sowetan soccer clubs have announced they will take part in the tournament named in honour of King Mswati, who rules Swaziland as sub-Saharan Africa’s last absolute monarch.

The Swaziland Solidarity Network (SSN), a non-violent pro-democracy group banned in Swaziland under the Suppression of Terrorism Act, has called on both clubs to withdraw from the tournament.

In an open letter to Irvin Khoza, Chairman of Orlando Pirates Football Club and Kaizer Motaung, Executive Director, Kaizer Chiefs Foodball Club, the SSN said, ‘It is clear from the name of the event that this is not just a sporting event meant to promote goodwill but rather a political event meant to legitimise a despot who has lost credibility in the eyes of the world and the country that he rules with an iron fist.’

Political parties are banned from contesting elections in Swaziland, the King choses the government and top judges. Pro-democracy campaigners are jailed, often for more than a year before coming to trial.

In its letter, SSN said, ‘It has long been widely known in South Africa and beyond that Swaziland’s government has no respect for human rights and that the country has no political freedom. Swaziland is a dictatorship. It continues to evade the international media radar mainly because the country is so miniscule, with even less prestige internationally. 

‘The country has no democracy at all. All power is vested in the monarchy, which rules by decree despite the existence of a worthless constitution which was imposed on the citizens ten years ago. As an absolute monarch the King only delegates his judicial, executive and legislative powers to powerless institutions which may make one believe that the country is run like modern state when it is in fact run like the king’s personal farm.

‘While there is no law that explicitly bans the formation and functioning of political parties, they are effectively rendered useless by the fact that they cannot contest state power as that power is vested exclusively in the King who appoints the prime minister, deputy prime minister, all cabinet ministers, a third of parliament, all senior civil servants and members of the diplomatic corps. As another King’s appointee, the country’s Senate President recently pointed out, the king is the state.

‘With all this power vested in him, the King of Swaziland has not held back on abusing it to fulfill his selfish personal greed. This has resulted in him forcing all major investments in the country to guarantee him and his family’s trust fund, Tibiyo, shares in their businesses. As a result of this he owns virtually half the country’s economy. Despite his hold on so much personal wealth the King still draws royal emoluments from the state which is over a fifth of the nation’s budget.

‘It is these kleptocratic tendencies which have resulted in the country’s economy growing sluggishly while the rest of the region’s economies make major strides. It is worth pointing out for example that the country remains the only one in the region with a sole mobile phone operator, MTN Swaziland, a company that retains its monopoly primarily because the King has substantial shares in it. All attempts by other companies to break into the market have been futile. This is perhaps the reason why some mobile phone operators may wish to sponsor an event like the Super King’s Cup in order to gain favour with the country’s despot.

‘Human rights abuses in Swaziland are endemic because the people have no government of their own. At every level of society people are denied basic human rights. Political dissenters are detained arbitrarily or with spurious charges levelled against them. 

‘Like the Apartheid regime, King Mswati’s regime has gone to great lengths to tarnish the image of those who call for democracy in the country and there are legal instruments that are used to achieve this end such as the infamous Suppression of Terrorism Act, which gave the country’s government legal authority to declare any entity as a terrorist organisation. Once declared terrorist organisations such formations are proscribed and any association with them results in severe sanction including harsh prison sentences.

‘It was due to this act that one political activist by the name of Sipho Jele was arrested in 1 May 2010 for merely wearing a T-shirt inscribed with the name of one proscribed entity, PUDEMO. He never lived to see his day in court as he died in custody possibly from police torture.

‘There are other oppressive laws also used to suppress dissent such as the law against sedition. The president of the same organisation (PUDEMO), Mario Masuku, and the Secretary General of its youth league, Maxwell Dlamini, were also arrested in 2014 for what the state claims were seditious statements made at a Workers’ Day rally.

‘In the same year their arrest was followed by that of two columnists, Bheki Makhubu and Thulani Maseko who were charged and later convicted for criticizing the manner in which the then country’s Chief Justice had handled the detention of a government cars inspector. 

‘They remain behind bars while ironically the Chief Justice and the presiding judge in that case have been arrested by the country’s authorities for abuse of power and corruption. The manner in which this arrest was conducted was also flawed as it saw the country’s prime minister appointing himself the state prosecutor withdrawing and reinstating charges against those who had been arrested in the state’s publicity stunt.

‘Political activists are not the only ones denied basic human rights as even those who choose to shy away from political involvement end up on the wrong end of the country’s suppressive institutions. Poor Swazis are evicted annually for one reason or another without compensation from their ancestral lands. All their attempts to seek redress from the courts are futile as the King is effectively above the law and therefore immune from prosecution or civil charges.’