Swaziland police comb social media to track down union activists during legal strike

Striking trade unionists in Swaziland (eSwatini) say police are using social media to track them down before taking them in for questioning.

Schoolteachers have been especially targeted, according to union sources.

This is not the first time police have used surveillance and spying against trade unionists.

It happened after a three-day legal strike by public servants who want a 7.8 percent cost-of-living (CoLA) salary increase. The government which was not elected but appointed by absolute monarch King Mswati III says it is broke and has offered nothing.

Some teachers were summoned to the Manzini police station after they were traced on social media platforms. Swaziland National Association of Teachers (SNAT) President Mbongwa Dlamini and Secretary General Sikelela Dlamini accompanied some of them.

The Times of eSwatini reported that police knew details of the teachers, including their nicknames and what subjects they taught. Teachers said they used social media groups to discuss topics including their welfare, the CoLA issue and the strike action.

One teacher told the Times ‘I believe they just pick individuals who post or comment about the strike and CoLA issues.’

The newspaper quoted one teacher saying police said, ‘they were inviting us to the police station for our involvement in the clash between the law enforcers and marchers during the recent civil servants’ public sensitisation march’ on 2 October 2019. 

Police used teargas, rubber bullets and water cannon on strikers.

Meanwhile, the Times also reported that the Ministry of Education and Training had instructed regional educational offices to supply it with details on SNAT leaders in their areas. The information is to include the names of branch leaders and members of the national executive council.

Police in Swaziland have a long history of surveillance and spying. In September 2018 teachers discovered a police spy at their union conference and threw him out. His name and photograph and a picture of the car he was using was published on social media.

A week before the conference police shot and wounded a schoolteacher when they fired into a group of teachers during a protest over pay. 

In July 2018 it was reported that police were video recording and keeping data of protest marches by political parties and labour federations. They then used the information to deprive people of college scholarships, jobs in the army, police, and correctional services or promotions in government departments, the online newspaper Swaziland News reported.

The newspaper said the Police Intelligence Unit had been captured filming a protest march organised by the Trade Congress Union of Swaziland (TUCOSWA) in June 2018.

In September 2017 police in Swaziland disguised themselves as news reporters at a march of public servants in Mbabane. The Sunday Observer in Swaziland at the time called it ‘spying’ and said it had happened before at other public demonstrations, ‘They [police] are always plain clothed and carry traditional journalistic tools including cameras and notebooks,’ the newspaper reported.

The march was legal. A police spokesman said they were not spying because the march took place in a public place.

In August 2017 it was reported that police infiltrated a Pensioners’ Association meeting to make notes on proceedings.

In July 2013 it was reported that police in Swaziland were spying on the kingdom’s members of parliament. One officer disguised in plain clothes was thrown out of a workshop for MPs and one MP reported his phone had been bugged. Ntondozi MP Peter Ngwenya told the House of Assembly at the time that MPs lived in fear because there was constant police presence, in particular from officers in the Intelligence Unit. 

In May 2013 the Media Institute of Southern Africa reported that police spies had infiltrated journalism newsrooms in Swaziland, which had led to a heightened climate of fear. 

It is legal in certain circumstances to tap phones in Swaziland. The Suppression of Terrorism Act gives police the right to listen in on people’s conversations if they have the permission of the Attorney General.

See also

Swaziland police shoot union leader in back as peaceful workers’ protest turns into a ‘battlefield’

https://swazimedia.blogspot.com/2019/10/police-shoot-union-leader-in-back-as.html
 

Swaziland police fire rubber bullets and teargas injuring 15 during national strike

https://swazimedia.blogspot.com/2019/09/swaziland-police-fire-rubber-bullets.html

State police spy on Swazi MPs

http://swazimedia.blogspot.com/2013/07/state-police-spy-on-swazi-mps.html
 

Police spies infiltrate media

http://swazimedia.blogspot.co.uk/2013/05/police-spies-infiltrate-media.html

KING CONTROLS SWAZILAND PARLIAMENT

King Mswati III, Swaziland’s absolute monarch, will pronounce on whether E250 million will be spent on designs for a new parliament building that will itself cost E2.3 billion (US$192 million).

The Speaker of the House of Assembly, Themba Msibi revealed the matter had been ‘brought before His Majesty’s attention’.

 

This is significant because in Swaziland the King’s word is law. Once he pronounces on a topic no further discussion is allowed. It also demonstrates that the Swazi government and parliament which is made up of a House of Assembly and a Senate has no real powers in the kingdom.

Political parties are not allowed to contest elections and the King chooses the Prime Minister and Cabinet ministers. In Swaziland, people only get to select 55 of 65 members of the House of Assembly; the King chooses the other 10. No members of the Swazi Senate are elected by the people; the King chooses 20 and the other 10 are selected by members of the House of Assembly. 

There has been disagreement among Swazi parliamentarians about a budget for a new parliament building. It is estimated to cost E2.3 billion. The building plans alone are said to cost E250 million.

By contrast the health budget for the coming year in Swaziland is E2 billion; Defence is E1.5 billion and Agriculture, 1.4 billion.

The kingdom’s economy is in freefall. In his speech opening Parliament on 16 February 2018, King Mswati said he wanted a realistic budget ‘based on available resources’. He also gave a list of projects, including a new parliament building, that he said must go ahead.

The Times of Swaziland, the only independent daily newspaper in the kingdom reported on Thursday (15 March 2018), ‘The matter has become a hot potato after MPs raised concerns why there was no money allocated towards the construction of the Parliament building yet the King had clearly pronounced himself on the project during his speech from the Throne last month.’

The Times Sunday reported on 11 March 2018 that a report of the Finance Sessional Committee on why the project had stalled stated, ‘The project costs an amount to the tune of E2.3 billion which is the total annual budget for the capital expenditure hence the proposal to defer it, until proper and due diligence has been done on the project.’

It added E50 million had been budgeted for the project in 2017-2018 but the funds had not been used. 

This is not the first time King Mswati has pronounced on a topic of controversy. In 2012 during a long-running and bitter schoolteachers’ strike the King commanded it should end and all teachers who had been dismissed during it be reinstated. This was against the wishes of the Cabinet.

However, there was a delay in implementing the King’s command and it was thought the Cabinet was defying his order. The Prime Minister Barnabas Dlamini was anxious to set the record straight.

 

At the time, the Times Sunday reported him saying government belonged to His Majesty and it took instructions from him to implement them to the letter, without questioning them.  

He told the newspaper, ‘Government listens when His Majesty speaks and we will always implement the wishes of the King and the Queen mother.’

The PM said Cabinet’s position on the matter was that it respected His Majesty’s position on all matters he spoke about.

He said Cabinet just like the nation, heard what the King said and his wishes would be implemented. 

Timothy Velabo Mtetwa, the then acting Ludzidzini Governor, otherwise known as the ‘traditional’ prime minister, said no one had a right to further deliberate on an issue that the King had already pronounced on.

The Ludzidzini Governor is considered in traditional Swazi society to be more important than the nominal Prime Minister. The Governor is said to speak for the King and his word is law.

Mtetwa told local media, ‘My understanding of Swazi culture and etiquette is that the King’s word is final. Once the King issues an order regarding anything, the order has to be implemented by the relevant structures.’

He told the Times of Swaziland, ‘It doesn’t matter which position you could be occupying, the truth is no one is allowed to defy the King’s order. There is no exception to this long held Swazi cultural ethic.’ 

Richard Rooney

See also

WE MUST OBEY THE KING – SWAZI PM

http://swazimedia.blogspot.com/2012/08/we-must-obey-king-swazi-pm.html

 

‘THE SWAZILAND KING’S WORD IS LAW’

http://swazimedia.blogspot.com/2012/08/the-swaziland-kings-word-is-law.html

 

GOVT BOWS DOWN TO KING’S ORDER

https://swazimedia.blogspot.co.uk/2012/08/govt-bows-down-to-kings-order.html

POLICEMAN BREAKS BATON ON PROTESTORS

A Swaziland policeman broke his baton as he attacked schoolteachers during a peaceful protest march.

‘The baton broke while the police officer used it to restrain the teachers who were pushing the Cabinet gates,’ the Times of Swaziland reported on Thursday (15 June 2017).

Members of the Swaziland National Association of Teachers (SNAT) were trying to deliver a petition during a dispute about a salary review.

The Times reported the policeman lost his ‘cool’ and ‘used it to restrain the teachers who were pushing the Cabinet gates’.

It added, ‘The agitated officer used his baton to beat-up the hands of the teachers who were forcing the gate open.’

The newspaper said the march was peaceful until that point.

The Swazi Observer newspaper reported that a court order banning the march had been delivered ‘a minute too late’. 

It reported, ‘By the time the judgement was made, teachers were already at the public service ministry to deliver their petition.’

The newspaper estimated more than 1,500 teachers took part in the march. 

See also

POLICE ATTACK ANOTHER UNION MEETING

http://swazimedia.blogspot.com/2015/03/police-attack-another-union-meeting.html

SWAZI POLICE HALT DEMOCRACY MEETING

http://swazimedia.blogspot.com/2015/03/swazi-police-halt-democracy-meeting.html

 

POLICE INTIMIDATION CONTINUES

http://swazimedia.blogspot.com/2014/11/police-intimidation-continues.html

GOVT BOWS DOWN TO KING’S ORDER

The Government of Swaziland has buckled under pressure from King Mswati III and reinstated teachers it sacked for striking for more pay.

Two weeks ago King Mswati, sub-Saharan Africa’s last absolute monarch, ordered teachers to return to work after a six-week strike. He also ordered the Swazi Government, which he handpicks, to negotiate a settlement with teachers. The teachers immediately returned to work, but the government refused to reinstate about 200 teachers who had been sacked for taking part in the strike.

This led to a crisis in Swaziland because once the king pronounces on a subject no one - not even his government ministers – is allowed to discuss the matter further. In this case the Swazi cabinet of ministers met and decided that the king had not meant to allow the sacked teachers back to class.

Timothy Velabo Mtetwa, who is known in the kingdom as the ‘traditional prime minister’ and who speaks for the king, publicly criticised the government for defying the king’s wishes. It was even said that the Minister of Education Wilson Ntshangase might be forced to pay a fine for disobeying the king.

The government responded by claiming its actions had been misinterpreted by the media.

Now, the King, through his advisors, has made it known that he wants the sacked teachers reinstated and meekly the government has followed his instructions.

The Deputy Prime Minister Themba Masuku told a press conference, ‘The government has decided that all the sacked teachers should report back to work with immediate effect.’

Masuku, who is acting PM, added there had been, ‘regrettable misinterpretation of the government’s actions’ towards implementing the ‘Royal Command’.

He said, ‘We are all grateful as a nation to have a revered monarch who listens to his people and continues to display unique leadership qualities.’

He went on to say pronouncements made by the king were beyond reproach. He said government embraced this custom and was, therefore, collectively obligated to observe and implement each and every pronouncement.

This is an embarrassing climb-down for the government, but it is trying to pretend it was always going to reinstate the sacked teachers.  It has been blaming news media for misinterpreting its actions.

The about-turn by the government also puts to rest the claim from supporters of King Mswati that he is not an absolute monarch. The teachers demonstrate clearly that the king is willing and able to overturn any government decision as he chooses. It also shows that no one dares to contradict the king once the ‘Royal Command’ has been made.

See also

WE MUST OBEY THE KING – SWAZI PM

http://swazimedia.blogspot.com/2012/08/we-must-obey-king-swazi-pm.html

‘THE SWAZILAND KING’S WORD IS LAW’

http://swazimedia.blogspot.com/2012/08/the-swaziland-kings-word-is-law.html

GOVERNMENT IGNORES KING’S RULING

http://swazimedia.blogspot.com/2012/08/government-ignores-kings-ruling.html

WE MUST OBEY THE KING – SWAZI PM

Swaziland’s Prime Minister has confirmed that King Mswati III is an absolute monarch whose word has to be obeyed to the letter.

Barnabas Dlamini, who was not elected to office but personally appointed PM by the king, was reacting to news that his cabinet of ministers had defied the king who instructed all schoolteachers who were on strike to return to work. King Mswati also ordered his government to talk with teachers and solve their dispute over pay.

But, the cabinet reportedly refused to allow teachers who had been sacked for going on strike return to work, thereby going against the king.

Now, Dlamini has denied that his cabinet went against the king’s word and instead blamed the heavily-censored media in Swazi for misreporting the situation.

The Times Sunday newspaperin Swaziland reported him saying government belonged to His Majesty and it took instructions from him to implement them to the letter, without questioning them. 

He told the newspaper, ‘Government listens when His Majesty speaks and we will always implement the wishes of the King and the Queen mother.’

The PM said Cabinet’s position on the matter was that it respected His Majesty’s position on all matters he spoke about.

He said Cabinet just like the nation, heard what the King said and his wishes would be implemented.

See also

‘THE SWAZILAND KING’S WORD IS LAW’

http://swazimedia.blogspot.com/2012/08/the-swaziland-kings-word-is-law.html

GOVT BECOMING ISOLATED FROM KING

Swaziland’s Queen Mother the Indovukazi has turned up the heat in a dispute between King Mswati III and his government over sacked teachers.

Last week, during a ‘people’s parliament’ session, the King, sub-Saharan Africa’s last absolute monarch, ordered teachers who had been on strike for more than five weeks to return to work. He also told his government to talk to the teachers and solve the dispute over pay.

The teachers did as they were told, but, the Swazi Cabinet refused to reinstate more than 200 teachers who had been sacked for striking. The Minister of Education Wilson Ntshangase said the king had not meant that sacked teachers could have their jobs back.

This caused a crisis in the kingdom where nobody is allowed to dispute the king’s rulings and it put the government on a collision course with the monarch.

Now, the Indovukazi is reported in the Times of Swaziland saying that the king did mean the striking teachers should have their jobs back. 

The Indovukazi, who is considered by many observers to be the real power behind King Mswati’s throne, met a delegation from the teachers’ union, SNAT.

Timothy Mtetwa, the traditional Prime Minister, who speaks for the king, was at the meeting.

He later told the Times that the Indlovukazi said all teachers should return to class in accordance with the king’s order.

‘His Majesty said during Sibaya that all teachers, including the fired ones, should return to work. This is what the Queen Mother said she heard the king pronouncing during the People’s Parliament,’ Mtetwa said.

The President of SNAT, Sibongile Mazibuko, who was also at the meeting told the newspaper, ‘The Queen Mother cordially welcomed us. We were overwhelmed. We then reported to her that we were shocked that there were people who were ignoring His Majesty’s call that all teachers should return to work to end the impasse in schools.’

She added, ‘The Queen Mother was equally shocked that there were people defying the King’s pronouncement. Her Majesty said she did not know where those people were getting that mandate from. She promised she would warn those people to stop expelling teachers.’

Earlier in the week it was reported that Ntshangase could face a fine from a traditional court for defying the king.

See also

GOVERNMENT IGNORES KING’S RULING

http://swazimedia.blogspot.com/2012/08/government-ignores-kings-ruling.html

GOVERNMENT ‘IGNORES KING’S RULING’

Swaziland’s government could be on a collision course with King Mswati III over the sacking of striking teachers.

King Mswati pronounced last week that a national teachers’ pay strike that has crippled schools for more than five weeks should end; that teachers should go back to work and the government should enter into talks to end the dispute.

In Swaziland, where King Mswati is sub-Saharan Africa’s last absolute monarch, his word is law. When he pronounces on something there is no further discussion, people are expected to just do as they are told.

The teachers union, SNAT, immediately told its members to go back to work and classes resumed on Monday (13 August 2012).

But, Education Secretary Wilson Ntshangase said that teachers who had been sacked by the government for striking would not be allowed to go back to work.

Traditional authorities, led by Timothy Velabo Mtetwa, who is known as the ‘traditional Prime Minister’, and who is said to speak for the king, rebuked the minister, and said no individual had the right to overturn anything promulgated by the king.

Mtetwa, told local media, ‘We cannot afford to have a Kingdom where citizens will act against the orders of the authorities.’ 

 

It was earlier suggested that Ntshangase might be brought before a traditional court where he could face a fine.

Then, Swazi Attorney General Majahenkhaba Dlamini said only Cabinet had the authority to reinstate the teachers. 

Yesterday, the Cabinet met and confirmed the sacked teachers would not be allowed back to work. This was despite an Industrial Court ruling earlier this month that the teachers were fired illegally.  

The Swazi Government is saying it listened to a recording of the king’s speech in which he told the teachers to go back to work and cannot find where he said the dismissed teachers could have their jobs back.

King Mswati is presently on an official trip to Sri Lanka and cannot be asked to confirm his position.

The government ministers, all appointed by the king, are taking a risk in second-guessing what the king really meant. It may all be semantics, because what is clear is that the king wanted the teachers’ dispute ended now. By not reinstating the sacked teachers, the government has gone against the king’s wishes.

 See also

‘THE SWAZILAND KING’S WORD IS LAW’

http://swazimedia.blogspot.com/2012/08/the-swaziland-kings-word-is-law.html

TEACHERS MARCH ON MINISTRY

http://swazimedia.blogspot.com/2012/08/teachers-march-on-ministry.html

GOVT SACKS TEACHERS’ STRIKE LEADER

http://swazimedia.blogspot.com/2012/08/govt-sacks-teachers-strike-leader.html

‘THE SWAZILAND KING’S WORD IS LAW’

If anyone is in doubt that King Mswati III is the absolute ruler of Swaziland and his word cannot be challenged look at the events this weekend surrounding the striking teachers.

At the Sibaya (‘people’s parliament’) held last week King Mswati made it clear that teachers who have been on strike for five weeks should return to work and government must start talks with them to solve the 4.5 percent wage claim that is at the heart of the dispute. The King ordered all teachers to go to school today (13 August 2012).

The Swaziland National Association of Teachers (SNAT) immediately announced it would obey the king and ordered teachers to return to the classrooms.

But, yesterday (12 August 2012), Minister of Education and Training, Wilson Ntshangase, said teachers who had been sacked for taking part in the strike should not return to work. It was up to the Swazi Cabinet to decide their fate.

Now, Timothy Velabo Mtetwa, acting Ludzidzini Governor, otherwise known as the ‘traditional’ prime minister, has said no one has a right to further deliberate on an issue that the king has already pronounced on.

Mtetwa is considered in traditional Swazi society to be more important than the nominal Prime Minister Barnabas Dlamini. Mtetwa is said to speak for the king and his word is law.

Upon hearing of the Education Minister’s statement Mtetwa told local media, ‘My understanding of Swazi culture and etiquette is that the king’s word is final. Once the king issues an order regarding anything, the order has to be implemented by the relevant structures.’

He told the Times of Swaziland, ‘It doesn’t matter which position you could be occupying, the truth is no one is allowed to defy the King’s order. There is no exception to this long held Swazi cultural ethic.’

TEACHERS MARCH ON MINISTRY

Teachers in Swaziland are marching in the streets of the capital Mbabane today (3 August 2012) following their successful court action to stop the government sacking striking teachers.

The Industrial Court ordered the immediate reinstatement of the fired teachers and the restraint of government from continuing with the dismissals. The court ruled that the government did not follow legal procedure before firing the striking teachers.

The Centre for Human Rights, Swaziland, reports that close to 200 teachers are singing and chanting struggle songs as they march from the Industrial Court to the Ministry of Education. They want to deliver a petition calling on the Swazi Government to stop further sackings and to hold talks with the teachers.

The teachers were fired for participating in a strike for a 4.5 percent salary increase.

STRIKING TEACHERS WIN COURT CASE

NEWS FLASH: Teachers win their court case against dismissals by government. Government interdicted from firing teachers for strike – the Swazi Diaspora Platform is reporting this morning (3 August 2012).

GOVT SACKS TEACHERS’ STRIKE LEADER

The President of the Swaziland Association of Teachers (SNAT) Sibongile Mazibuko has been fired by the Swaziland Government.

Mazibuko who was deputy principal of SOS Primary in Mbabane was together with more than 100 other SNAT members dismissed for engaging in the teachers’ pay strike that has just entered its fifth week.

The sacking comes as the Swazi Government cracks down on the strikers. Despite the intimidation of the Ministry of Education, teachers have refused to be forced back to work. They want a 4.5 percent pay increase.

The Centre for Human Rights, Swaziland, reports that in some schools in Swaziland the majority of teachers have been fired and the schools have been closed. Minister of Education Wilson Ntshangase said he had newly-qualified and unemployed teachers ready to take the place of the sacked workers.

Meanwhile, a hearing to get the Industrial Court to order the government to halt the dismissals was postponed today (2 August 2012) and will resume tomorrow, when teachers are also expected to march on the Ministry of Education to demand the reinstatement of all sacked teachers.

See also

STRIKING SWAZILAND TEACHERS SACKED

http://swazimedia.blogspot.com/2012/08/striking-swaziland-teachers-sacked.html

STRIKING SWAZILAND TEACHERS SACKED

Teachers in Swaziland are to march on the Ministry of Education tomorrow (3 August 2012) to demand the reinstatement of 110 teachers who were sacked by the government for taking part in a pay strike.

The Swazi Ministry of Education made good on its threat to sack teachers if they did not stop their five-week old strike and return to work.

Members of the Swaziland National association of Teachers (SNAT) are defying orders to return to work and the strike is continuing. They are seeking a 4.5 percent pay rise.

In the past month peacefully-protesting teachers have endured teargas, rubber bullets and baton charges from police and state forces in the kingdom ruled by King Mswati III, sub-Saharan Africa’s last absolute monarch.

The government is now sending local chiefs and headmen into schools to spy on teachers. They are required to report names of teachers who are not working normally.

Wilson Ntshangase, the Minister of Education, told local media that so far 110 teachers have been fired for not teaching between Monday and Tuesday. The figure is expected to rise as information is collected about Wednesday. Ntshangase said a pool of newly-qualified teachers was ready to take over the classes of the sacked teachers.

See also

POLICE ON STREETS AS STRIKE GOES ON

http://swazimedia.blogspot.com/2012/07/police-on-streets-as-strike-goes-on.html

TROOPS ON STANDBY TO BREAK STRIKE

http://swazimedia.blogspot.com/2012/07/troops-standby-to-break-strikes.html

POLICE ON STREETS AS STRIKE GOES ON

A heavy presence of armed police was reported on the streets of Manzini in Swaziland today (30 July 2012) as teachers defied a government ultimatum to end their two-month long strike or be sacked.

Democracy activists from the Centre for Human Rights, Swaziland, reported they visited six schools in Manzini and found children playing outside classrooms and some loitering in the streets of the city.

‘The city of Manzini is marred with the presence of armed police officers and other law enforcement state agents,’ the Centre said in a statement.

The government of King Mswati III, sub-Saharan Africa’s last absolute monarch, gave striking teachers until today to return to work. It said they would be fired if they did not. Already teachers have had their pay stopped for striking, but the Swaziland National Teachers Association has challenged this in the High Court.

Teachers have been on strike for two months in an attempt to get a 4.5 percent pay increase.

The Centre for Human Rights said, ‘The governments’ position came at a time when local media reports that the government will hire 130 more police officers and spend about E 8.2 million. Teachers at a meeting held on Friday 27 July 2012 resolved to stay away from work until the government gives them the 4.5 % wage increase.’

It added that in recent week, ‘Sporadic protests have seen protesters being heavily assaulted by members of the police force and some being pelted with rubber bullets and tear-gassed. The government of Swaziland continues to condone violent acts by security personnel despite calls from both local and internationally for the government to ensure the protection and enjoyment of all civil and political rights.’

STRIKE CONTINUES DESPITE INTIMIDATION

Swazi teachers continue strike despite regime intimidation

Stiffkitten blog July 29, 2012

SOURCE 

“The struggle for the public servants is still on. We had a SNAT [Swaziland National Union of Teachers] mass meeting on Friday and the teachers resolved to press on for yet another week,” Swaziland National Union of Teachers Secretary General, Muzi Mhlanga, told Africa Contact yesterday.

The public employees have been on strike for five weeks now, demanding a pay rise of 4.5 per cent, well below the rate of inflation in Swaziland and a mere fraction of the 30 per cent pay rise that Swaziland’s parliamentarians have given themselves.

On top of this, Swaziland’s royal family has an annual allowance of 20 million Euros and its absolute monarch, King Mswati III, has increased spending on his security forces and continues to spend lavishly on everything from private jets, sending his wives on a recreational trip to Las Vegas, and unnecessary prestige projects.

Swaziland is subsequently on the brink of economic ruin with growth rates plummeting, also due to the overall economic mismanagement of King Mswati’s government, which he in effect controls. Over two thirds of the population lives in absolute poverty, half the population receive some sort of food aid and the country has the highest HIV and Tuberculosis rates in the world.

Until now the strikers have been met by regime threats of salary reductions or being sacked, riot police and armed forces intimidation and beatings, tear gas and rubber bullets. Probably because the regime also understands that the strike is about more than a simple pay rise.

“In my opinion the teachers have broken all the barriers and have given all pro-democrats a challenge in that we should never give up but be determined so that we achieve our goal of democratisation of our country,” student activist Sibusiso Nhlabatsi tells Africa Contact.

“The teachers have refused to bow down to the threat of the brutal regime. I believe that with the enthusiasm and courage the teachers have shown we can push [Swaziland’s feudal] tinkhundla [system] to the chasm and replace it with a new system. They say a revolution will not be televised: the Teachers in Swaziland have started it. We believe that democracy in Swaziland is certain.”