Swazi Media Commentary: Swazi Media Commentary

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Tuesday, 6 October 2020

Swaziland coronavirus toll rises, economy in freefall, no end in sight, new review shows

The number of deaths from coronavirus (COVID-19) in Swaziland continues to rise and there is no end in sight to the pandemic. The kingdom’s economy is in freefall and the Swazi Government was forced to run to the International Monetary Fund for an emergency loan. It promised to cut public sector jobs and make below inflation wage increases in future to pay back the money. Earlier, the global finance analyst Moody’s warned the pandemic in Swaziland might lead to social unrest because the government was failing to support people living outside of large cities.

Hunger is growing throughout Swaziland and the government seems to have lost control of the situation. International donors and charities have stepped up to help out.

These are some of the main stories from Swaziland over the past three months and contained in Swaziland: Striving for Freedom, volume 39, a compilation of reports posted from July to September 2020 on the Swazi Media Commentary website and is now available to download from Scribd dot com.

Away from the coronavirus pandemic, the United States Ambassador to Swaziland Lisa Peterson called for the kingdom’s constitution to be changed to stop absolute monarch King Mswati III’s lavish spending. She wondered aloud why taxpayers in her country would continue to give financial aid to the kingdom while the King spent so much on himself and his family.

Media freedom is once again under attack. The Ministry of Information, Communication and Technology which is headed by the King’s daughter, Princess Sikhanyiso put forward a Bill that if it becomes law could see people jailed for up to ten years for reporting ‘fake news’. The new law would allow the courts to prosecute in some circumstances Swazi nationals who live outside of Swaziland.

Police and Army assaults against the population continue. In September a video showing two civilians apparently being whipped by soldiers went viral on the Internet.

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.

Tuesday, 14 July 2020

Coronavirus pandemic highlights human rights abuses in Swaziland, new review shows

The coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis dominated events in Swaziland (eSwatini) during the second quarter of 2020. A partial shutdown of the kingdom ordered by absolute monarch King Mswati led to widespread job losses and hunger. The government which is not elected by the people but directly appointed by the King largely failed to bring the virus under control. Police and soldiers were deployed on the streets of towns and cities to force people to obey instructions to stay at home. Roadblocks were set up across the kingdom to stop people travelling. Widespread human rights abuses were reported.

The number of people testing positive and the death rate due to coronavirus in Swaziland is not accurately known. The Ministry of Health has been supervising the collection of test results but it does not give details of who is allowed to be tested and who is not. By 30 June 2020 the Ministry had reported a total of 812 cases and 11 deaths.

Coronavirus is the main topic covered in the period April to June 2020 and contained in Swaziland: Striving for Freedom, volume 38, a compilation of reports posted on the Swazi Media Commentary website and available to download free-of-charge from Scribd dot com.

Elsewhere, the United States’ State Department reported the Swazi Government and its agents committed ‘arbitrary or unlawful killings’. It highlighted cases of police brutality in its annual report on human rights. In June a prisoner was allegedly killed by prison warders during disturbances among gang members at the Sidwashini correctional facility.

Separately, the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) reported Swaziland had one of the worst records on workers’ rights in the world.

The LGBTI group eSwatini Sexual and Gender Minorities continued to fight for recognition in Swaziland and asked the High Court to overturn a decision by a government agency not to register it so that it could operate legally. The case continues.

Swaziland has no media freedom according to Reporters Without Borders in an annual report. Meanwhile, Eugene Dube, a journalist critical of King Mswati was beaten by police, arrested and faced a treason charge for reports published on the Swati Newsweek website. He fled to neighbouring South Africa. Ncamiso Ngcamphalala, President of the Economic Freedom Fighters-Swaziland (EFF), was charged with sedition for criticisms he made of the King on the same website.

Sunday, 3 May 2020

Swaziland: No Press Freedom

Today (3 May 2020) is World Press Freedom Day, when we come together to recognise the importance of journalism in a free society. Swaziland (eSwatini) is not free. It is ruled by an absolute monarch King Mswati III, who picks the Prime Minister, members of the Government, as well as top judges and civil servants.

Political parties are banned from taking part in elections and groups that call for democratic reform are banned under the Suppression of Terrorism Act.

Nearly all broadcast media (radio and TV) are state-controlled. One of the two daily newspaper groups in the kingdom is in effect owned by the king. The other is cowed and practises self-censorship.

There is now a growing number of websites trying to offer independent journalism. They have been under attack from the Swazi state. Police and army have harassed, tortured and arrested journalists. We should support them not only on World Press Freedom Day, but throughout the year.

Below are links to some stories about the lack of media freedom in Swaziland published by the Swazi Media Commentary website over the past month

Richard Rooney

Teacher held by Swaziland police as free speech clampdown intensifies

https://swazimedia.blogspot.com/2020/05/teacher-held-by-swaziland-police-as.html

Wife of Swaziland King’s critic seeks court order to stop police harassing, beating her

https://swazimedia.blogspot.com/2020/04/wife-of-swaziland-kings-critic-seeks.html

‘No media freedom’ in Swaziland, Reporters Without Borders annual report states

https://swazimedia.blogspot.com/2020/04/no-media-freedom-in-swaziland-reporters.html

Swaziland journalist critical of absolute monarch, beaten, arrested, faces treason charge

https://swazimedia.blogspot.com/2020/04/swaziland-journalist-critical-of.html

Swaziland journalist ‘tortured by police after criticising absolute monarch in newspaper articles’

https://swazimedia.blogspot.com/2020/03/swaziland-journalist-tortured-by-police.html

Newspaper editor flees Swaziland for second time after arrest and police torture

https://swazimedia.blogspot.com/2020/03/newspaper-editor-flees-swaziland-for.html

Monday, 6 January 2020

New political grouping in Swaziland dominates human rights agenda

Campaigning against Swaziland’s absolute monarch King Mswati III with renewed calls for democratic reform dominated the final three months of 2019. A new grouping of political parties – some banned in the kingdom – called the PPA – Political Parties Assembly launched and engaged in a number of public meetings and demonstrations.

In a statement the PPA said it wanted to end the kingdom’s form of government, known as Tinkhundla, or monarchical democracy. They want power returned to the people. PPA stated, ‘We unanimously observed that the royal project Tinkhundla has reached a point of no return in dragging down our dignity and stretching beyond limits our patience as a people.’

These were some of the main events in the period October to December 2019 and contained in Swaziland: Striving for Freedom, volume 36, a compilations of reports posted on the Swazi Media Commentary website and uploaded free-of-charge to the Scribd dot com website.

King Mswati received global condemnation when he bought himself and his family at least 15 luxury Rolls-Royce cars (early reports suggested as many as 20 had been purchased). The state then bought 126 BMW cars and motorbikes for ‘escort duties’ in the kingdom. US Ambassador to Swaziland Lisa Peterson criticised the lavish spending in a public speech and unleashed a torrent of criticism from the King’s supporters. There may be attempts to censor her future public statements.

In other events, police attacked workers on legal strikes, using teargas, water cannon and rubber bullets. There were reports of live bullets being fired. Police shot one union leader in the back even though he had his hands raised and pleaded: Don’t shoot.

Police also fired live ammunition and shot a university student with a rubber bullet as class boycotts against the government’s non-payment of allowances swept the kingdom.

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