People of Swaziland deserve justice over lives lost in recent political unrest, human rights group reports

The people of Swaziland (eSwatini) should exercise their right to choose their political system and justice must be done for lives lost during the continuing unrest in the kingdom, according to a briefing paper from the South Africa-based Helen Suzman Foundation just released.

Swaziland is not a democracy and over the past months protests for reform have been repressed with excessive might from police and security forces.

Political parties are barred from taking part in elections and groups advocating for reform are banned under the Suppression of Terrorism Act. No members of the kingdom’s Senate chamber are elected by the people and the King appoints the Prime Minister, cabinet ministers and top judges among others.

At least 21 protestors had reportedly been killed by 30 June 2021. HSF reports, ‘Video clips surfaced on social media of police officers physically assaulting protesters and using live ammunition at the violent protests. The UN Human Rights Committee on the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) had previously noted its concerns over the use of force by the government of eSwatini.

‘In particular, it raised concerns regarding the permissive conditions in Article 41 of the Criminal Procedure and Evidence Act and provisions of the Public Order Act which leaves it to the discretion of individual police officers to decide whether it is expedient to use force. In essence, the police force have violated the right to security of the person using this legal provision.

‘Around the 30 June 2021, the government ordered an internet shutdown to make it difficult for the people of eSwatini to communicate within its borders and with the outside world. For instance, MTN admitted to shutting down the internet following a directive from the eSwatini Communications Committee. This led to an urgent application in the High Court of eSwatini by the Southern Africa Litigation Centre (SALC).’

SALC said the said internet shutdown led to violation of freedom of expressions, information and association. The matter has yet to be heard.

On 2 July 2021, The Southern African Development Community (SADC) started a fact-finding mission in Swaziland through the SADC Organ Troika on Politics, Defence and Security. This was criticised by civil society organisations as being too late and out of touch.

HSF said, ‘The government’s response to the political demands of the people for a reform of the current monarchy into a democratic government ought not to have been the use of force or limitation and infringement of freedom of expression, and sharing and attaining of information. This violated its domestic laws and international obligations.’

See also

Swaziland prodemocracy protesters take their case to UN

https://swazimedia.blogspot.com/2021/09/swaziland-prodemocracy-protesters-take.html

 

Security forces set up roadblocks across Swaziland to hinder prodemocracy protests https://swazimedia.blogspot.com/2021/09/security-forces-set-up-roadblocks.html

 

Police, army block political protests across Swaziland  https://swazimedia.blogspot.com/2021/09/police-army-block-political-protests.html

Swaziland human rights abuses attacked in third global report this year

Swaziland (eSwatini) suffers ‘significant’ human rights abuses including ‘cases of cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment by the government; political prisoners or detainees; serious restrictions on free expression and the press; restrictions on political participation; and serious acts of corruption,’ according to the United States’ State Department.

It is the third substantial global organisation this year (2021) to highlight significant abuses in the kingdom ruled by King Mswati III.

In its latest annual report on human rights in Swaziland, covering 2020, the State Department stated the Swazi Government was ‘inconsistent in its investigation, prosecution, and punishment of officials who committed human rights abuses’.

On conditions in prisons, the report stated they ‘did not always meet international standards due to overcrowding and, in certain locations, facilities that required repair or modernization’.

It stated the total prison population was 3,796, but there was only capacity for 958 inmates. ‘Prisoner-on-prisoner violence remained a concern due to increased gang activity among inmates as prison populations expanded and diversified.’

The State Department report followed one from Freedom House in February 2021. It found Swaziland was ‘not free’. It awarded the kingdom 19 points out of a possible 100.

In an overview of the kingdom, Freedom House reported, ‘The king exercises ultimate authority over all branches of the national government and effectively controls local governance through his influence over traditional chiefs. Political dissent and civic and labor activism are subject to harsh punishment under sedition and other laws. Additional human rights problems include impunity for security forces and discrimination against women and LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender) people.’

Also in February 2021, Human Rights Watch (HRW) in its annual report highlighted restrictions on freedoms of assembly and association.

It reported King Mswati continued to rule as an absolute monarch and political parties remained banned from taking part in elections and had held supreme executive power since the 1973 State of Emergency decree.

HRW reported, ‘The country’s courts have upheld the legality of the decree despite the fact that the 2005 constitution provides for three separate organs of state—the executive, legislature and judiciary. The prime minister theoretically holds executive authority, but in reality, the king exercises supreme executive power and controls the judiciary. The 2005 constitution provides for equality before the law while simultaneously elevating the king above the law.’

See also

Swaziland police ‘inflict torture’ on suspects: U.S. Govt. human rights report

https://swazimedia.blogspot.com/2021/05/swaziland-police-inflict-torture-on.html

 Swaziland still ‘not free,’ human rights group Freedom House reports 

https://swazimedia.blogspot.com/2021/03/swaziland-still-not-free-human-rights.html

Swaziland gripped by human rights abuses, annual report states https://swazimedia.blogspot.com/2021/02/swaziland-gripped-by-human-rights.html

Swaziland police ‘inflict torture’ on suspects: U.S. Govt. human rights report

There have been ‘occasional reports’ in Swaziland (eSwatini) that police have inflicted ‘torture and other cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment’, according to a report from the United States Government on human rights in the kingdom.

In its annual report covering the year 2020, the US State Department said the constitution and law prohibited torture and other cruel treatments but there were ‘occasional reports that government officials employed them’.

The report stated, ‘In February, Bongani Kunene of Moyeni alleged that during an interrogation police beat him and placed a plastic bag over his head.

‘During the year there were scattered reports of police brutality towards those alleged to have violated COVID lockdowns. In one pending case, a police officer was arrested and charged with attempted murder for shooting a teenager in the arm after having fired his weapon to disperse a group of teens who were contravening COVID [coronavirus] regulations by playing soccer during the partial lockdown.

‘There were isolated reports throughout the country of cruel, inhuman, and degrading treatment by “community police”– untrained, volunteer security personnel who exist outside the country’s formal legal structures and are empowered by rural communities to act as vigilantes, patrolling against rural crimes such as cattle rustling.

‘In November 2019 a group of community police severely beat five suspected thieves on their buttocks and paraded them naked through the street as punishment.’

See also

Swaziland still ‘not free,’ human rights group Freedom House reports

https://swazimedia.blogspot.com/2021/03/swaziland-still-not-free-human-rights.html

Swaziland gripped by human rights abuses, annual report states

https://swazimedia.blogspot.com/2021/02/swaziland-gripped-by-human-rights.html

Swaziland still ‘not free,’ human rights group Freedom House reports

Freedom House, the global group that works to defend human rights and promote democratic change, has once again declared that Swaziland (eSwatini) is ‘not free’.

In its annual report on human rights in the kingdom ruled by absolute monarch King Mswati III, Freedom House scored Swaziland 19 out of 100 points. This was the same score it gave for 2020.

Freedom House awarded Swaziland one point out of 40 for ‘political rights’ and 18 out of 60 for ‘civil liberties’ in its 2021 Freedom in the World report.

It will release a full report on human rights in Swaziland at a later date.

In an overview of the kingdom, Freedom House reported, ‘The king exercises ultimate authority over all branches of the national government and effectively controls local governance through his influence over traditional chiefs. Political dissent and civic and labor activism are subject to harsh punishment under sedition and other laws. Additional human rights problems include impunity for security forces and discrimination against women and LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender) people.’

It added, ‘Freedom in the World assesses the real-world rights and freedoms enjoyed by individuals, rather than governments or government performance per se.’

Last month (February 2021), Human  Rights Watch in its annual review of Swaziland said the kingdom was gripped by restrictions in freedoms of assembly and association.

In 2020, Reporters Without Borders ranked Swaziland 141 out of 180 countries on media freedom, based partly on constraints that journalists faced in working freely under the absolute monarchy, and because courts were not permitted to prosecute representatives of the monarchy.  

In June 2020, the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) published results of an annual survey indicating that Swaziland had one of the worst workers’ rights records in the world.

 

See also

No let-up in restrictions of freedom of association and assembly in Swaziland: Human Rights Watch

https://swazimedia.blogspot.com/2020/01/no-let-up-in-restrictions-of-freedom-of.html

 

Swaziland gripped by human rights abuses, annual report states

https://swazimedia.blogspot.com/2021/02/swaziland-gripped-by-human-rights.html

Swaziland gripped by human rights abuses, annual report states

Restrictions on freedom of assembly and association grip Swaziland (eSwatini), according to the latest annual report from Human Rights Watch (HRW).

Reviewing the year 2020, the group said, ‘On October 20, the eSwatini High Court heard a challenge from eSwatini Sexual and Gender Minorities (ESGM) against the eSwatini Registrar of Companies’ refusal to register ESGM as a company. 

ESGM is a human rights community-based advocacy organization working to advance the protection of the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex persons in the kingdom of Eswatini. The registrar argued that ESGM could not be registered as a company because “ESGM’s objectives were unlawful because same-sex sexual acts are illegal in the country.” 

‘ESGM responded by arguing that eSwatini’s constitutional rights apply to everyone, that everyone in the kingdom has a right to their dignity, and that freedom to associate should not be denied based on arbitrary grounds, including one’s sexual orientation. At time of writing, the court had yet to issue its ruling.’

King Mswati III continues to rule as an absolute monarch and political parties remain banned from taking part in elections and he has held supreme executive power over parliament and the judiciary since the1973 State of Emergency decree.

HRW reported, ‘The country’s courts have upheld the legality of the decree despite the fact that the 2005 constitution provides for three separate organs of state—the executive, legislature and judiciary. The prime minister theoretically holds executive authority, but in reality, the king exercises supreme executive power and controls the judiciary. The 2005 constitution provides for equality before the law while simultaneously elevating the king above the law.  

In 2020, Reporters Without Borders ranked eSwatini 141 out of 180 countries on media freedom, based partly on constraints that journalists face in working freely under the absolute monarchy, and because courts are not permitted to prosecute representatives of the monarchy.  

In June 2020, the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) published results of an annual survey indicating that Swaziland has one of the worst workers’ rights records in the world. Swaziland scored five on the Global Rights Index—five being worst on the scale—capturing its failure to respect workers’ rights and the fact that Swazi workers are exposed to repression and unfair labour practices. According to the ITUC, countries with the five rating provide no guarantees for rights and are among the worst countries in the world in which to work.   

See also

No let-up in restrictions of freedom of association and assembly in Swaziland: Human Rights Watch

https://swazimedia.blogspot.com/2020/01/no-let-up-in-restrictions-of-freedom-of.html

 

As coronavirus deaths rise, Swaziland Royal Family remain indifferent, new review finds

As the coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis in Swaziland intensified, the numbers of positive cases and deaths rose. Prime Minister Ambrose Dlamini died of the virus. He had an underlying diabetes condition.

Large numbers of people ignored the Swazi Government’s lockdown regulations to try to curb the spread of coronavirus. As in the past, police and other security forces violently attacked those who did not obey orders.

These are some of the main stories from Swaziland over the past three months and contained in Swaziland: Striving for Freedom, volume 40, a compilation of reports posted from October to December 2020 on the Swazi Media Commentary website.

It can be downloaded here.

Despite the rise in the death toll, members of the Swazi Royal Family continued their lavish lifestyles. Video of the Prince Majaha being showered with cash at his 30^th birthday party was widely distributed on the Internet.

King Mswati III, who rules Swaziland as an absolute monarch, appointed at least nine members of his family to top positions in government and on influential committees. In 2018, following national elections at which political parties were banned, he appointed 36 members of his family to top posts.

Elsewhere, the World Food Programme (WFP) helped feed 109,449 people in a month, about one in ten of the population, as hunger continued to grip the kingdom. Separately, Deputy Prime Minister Themba Masuku revealed one in three people were in need of immediate food aid.

The kingdom’s universities and college were once again in turmoil as the government failed to pay students allowances and more than 1,500 of them were refused scholarships.

There were again reports of community police officers abusing their power and physically assaulting suspects. Also, armed riot police used teargas and rubber bullets to break up a peaceful gathering called to ‘clean-up’ a township and arrest its leaders.

 

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.

 

Swaziland Striving for Free... by Richard Rooney

 

See also 

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

https://swazimedia.blogspot.com/2020/10/swaziland-coronavirus-toll-rises.html

 

Coronavirus pandemic highlights human rights abuses in Swaziland, new review shows https://swazimedia.blogspot.com/2020/07/coronavirus-pandemic-highlights-human.html

 

Assault on human rights follows coronavirus lockdown in Swaziland https://swazimedia.blogspot.com/2020/04/assault-on-human-rights-follows.html