Swaziland Govt or agents ‘committed unlawful killings’, new human rights report states

The Swaziland (eSwatini) government and its agents committed ‘arbitrary or unlawful killings’, according to reports, the latest United States report on human rights in the kingdom states.

The annual report, recently released, covered the year 2019.

It stated, ‘There were reports that the government or its agents committed arbitrary or unlawful killings.

‘In June police shot and killed a man suspected for harboring prison escapees and drug dealing. There were no reports that the suspect attacked or otherwise threatened police.

‘In early June a man was found severely injured after being questioned by police. The man’s cousin alleged that the man was beaten by police, and then left to die in a secluded area some 18 miles away. Police stated that they had questioned the person, decided not to charge him, and then gave him a ride to a nearby town. The man died in the hospital almost two months later. REPS [Royal eSwatini Police Service] promised to investigate, but there were no further reports concerning any investigation or disciplinary action by year’s end.’

The report was published by the United States State Department.

It highlighted cases of torture by police. It stated, ‘During the year two officers were charged with homicide in relation to their alleged roles in the 2015 death of a detainee during an interrogation. Three additional officers were investigated for torture in response to a referral from the Commission on Human Rights and Public Administration Integrity.

‘In February the High Court awarded 70,000 emalangeni (US$4,870) damages for pain and suffering to a man who was assaulted by members of the UEDF [the Army] in 2003. There also were scattered 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 August five community police members in Sihhohweni punched, kicked, and beat a man with a broomstick so severely that he needed to be hospitalized. The abuse was reported to the REPS, and the community police members were arrested for assault. The magistrate found them guilty and sentenced each to 10 months’ imprisonment with an option of a 2,000 emalangeni (US$140) fine. In October a UEDF member was sentenced to 10 years’ imprisonment with an option of a 14,000 emalangeni (US$975) fine for an off-duty xenophobic assault on a Mozambican national.’

Under the heading ‘Political Prisoners and Detainees’ the report also highlighted the case of democracy activist Goodwill Sibiya who had been in lengthy pretrial detained ‘for criticism of the king’.

King Mswati III rules Swaziland as an absolute monarch.

The report stated, ‘In May activist Goodwill Sibiya filed an application in civil court accusing the king of embezzlement and lawlessness and demanded that he be arrested. Authorities arrested Sibiya and charged him with belonging to a terrorist group and with violating a section of the Sedition and Subversive Activities (SSA) Act ruled unconstitutional in 2016 by the High Court. 

‘In September the High Court ruled the government could not charge someone under a section of law that had been declared unconstitutional. The government responded by dismissing the SSA charge against Sibiya; however, the activist remained in prison awaiting trial on a Suppression of Terrorism Act charge at year’s end.’

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 police ‘beat teenager to death to make him confess to crime he did not commit’

https://swazimedia.blogspot.com/2019/10/swaziland-police-beat-teenager-to-death.html

Swaziland activist who called for prosecution of King for embezzlement charged under terrorism law

https://swazimedia.blogspot.com/2019/05/swaziland-activist-who-called-for.html

Swaziland to start own coronavirus testing, but only 100 a day for 1.3 million people

The Swaziland (eSwatini) Ministry of Health is preparing to start testing for coronavirus within the kingdom for the first time since the pandemic crisis started last month.

Swazi Health Minister Lizzie Nkosi told a press briefing on Wednesday (8 April 2020) that preparations for testing were ‘progressing well’ at the National Reference Laboratory in Mbabane.

She said the lab would make between 60 and 100 tests per day. Swaziland had been sending tests to neighbouring South Africa for analysis.

She announced the total number of confirmed cases of coronavirus (COVID-19) in the kingdom was now 12. The Ministry of Health is still not releasing figures for how many people have been tested from the 1.3 million population. 

See also

Swaziland armed police, army intimidate people to obey coronavirus lockdown. Woman, 85, dies

https://swazimedia.blogspot.com/2020/04/swaziland-armed-police-army-intimidate.html

Swaziland armed police, army intimidate people to obey coronavirus lockdown. Woman, 85, dies

Armed military police officers in Swaziland (eSwatini) forced members of the public to do press-ups when they were found at a bus rank during the present coronavirus lockdown.

Separately, an 85-year-old woman collapsed and died when security forces raided her home.

These are two of a number of cases being reported in media in Swaziland about intimidation by police, army and other security personnel. A 20-day partial lockdown of the kingdom started on 27 March 2020.

The military police were at the bus rank in Manzini, the kingdom’s main commercial city, on Monday (6 April 2020). Public buses are restricted to early morning and late afternoon and were not running at the time of the incident.

The Times of eSwatini reported eyewitnesses saw the police ordering people to leave because buses were not operating. ‘Others were ordered to do push-ups in full view of the people present, including vendors. They alleged that this was after the men failed to give the military police satisfactory answers on why they were at the bus rank at that time,’ the Times reported.

It added, ‘As the men did the push ups with fists on the tarred bus rank surface, the witnesses said some people used their mobile phones to take pictures and videos. They said their actions landed them in trouble and the military men ordered them to delete the pictures and videos before joining those who were doing the push-ups.’

Elsewhere, An 85-year-old woman collapsed and died at her home on the outskirts of the Swazi capital Mbabane when police and correctional services forces raided her home.

The eSwatini News reported that the woman sold alcoholic beverages for a living. Bars have been closed during the present coronavirus lockdown.  

The woman’s son said three police officers and about four Correctional Services officers arrived on Thursday (2 April 2020) just when he and his mother had locked themselves inside their separate flats and were preparing for bed. He heard banging on doors but thought it might be customers looking for alcohol.

He then realised they were police. He told the News,  ‘They also threatened to arrest me and I could hear that they were slapping some people and even ordering them to tell the truth.’

The woman collapsed and died. Deputy Police Information and Communications Officer Inspector Nosipho Mnguni confirmed the incident.

On Sunday police ‘invaded and forcefully closed’ two churches in Mbabane during services, according to the Times of eSwatini. Regulations ban gatherings of more than 20 people.

Separately, Lawyers for Human Rights in Swaziland urged police and other security personnel not to mistreat businesspeople and the public during the lockdown. It came after reports from all regions of Swaziland that they were harassing and assaulting people in order to enforce the lockdown regulations.

Some businesses previously claimed they were being asked to pay bribes to police and army in order to remain open.

Police were also reportedly stopping people on the streets of Mbabane and demanding proof of residence.

See also

King puts Swaziland into partial lockdown in bid to beat coronavirus. Army and police on standby

https://swazimedia.blogspot.com/2020/03/king-puts-swaziland-into-partial.html

 

More businesses in Swaziland to close as Govt tightens coronavirus lockdown

https://swazimedia.blogspot.com/2020/04/more-businesses-in-swaziland-to-close.html

Swaziland Govt steps up search for coronavirus victims, nurses say they still lack vital equipment

The Ministry of Health in Swaziland (eSwatini) is sending teams of people door-to-door to check if people have the coronavirus.

The kingdom is currently in partial lockdown with many businesses closed and travel severely restricted.

Minister of Health Lizzie Nkosi told a press briefing on Monday (6 April 2020), ‘As of last Saturday, the Ministry went out on an active case finding. That means we sent team of people out to come knock on your door, call you, come and check you and see if you have a fever and check your family as well. We are still following a number of people that arrived into the country between the 24 and 26 March.’

About 2,000 people are expected to be visited. The population of Swaziland is about 1.3 million and the vast majority live in rural areas.

Nkosi also said there had been a tenth confirmed case of coronavirus (COVID-19) in Swaziland. This was a woman aged 31 who had been in South Africa. So far there are no reported deaths in the kingdom.

Meanwhile, Bheki Mamba, President of the Swaziland Democratic Nurses Union (SWADNU) said the E100million approved by the Swazi Parliament to fight the coronavirus had not been spent. He said the situation in public hospitals where doctors, nurses and workers were without basic protective equipment such as masks, gowns and gloves was critical.

Mamba told the Swaziland News, an online newspaper, ‘The situation is getting worse in the various hospitals and might reach a critical stage without the money being made available to buy the necessary equipment. It should be noted here that we are owing the suppliers and definitely, they will demand that government pay upfront before they supply the equipment. 

‘Another major challenge is that, we might not be able to manage the situation as it reaches the critical stage because we don’t have enough quarantine space, Intensive Care Units (ICU) are less than 10 around the country with no relevant equipment.’ 

The Swaziland Ministry of Health issued the following details about the confirmed coronavirus cases on 6 April 2020.

See also

Number of passengers in private cars in Swaziland to be restricted during coronavirus crisis

https://swazimedia.blogspot.com/2020/04/number-of-passengers-in-private-cars-in.html

More businesses in Swaziland to close as Govt tightens coronavirus lockdown

https://swazimedia.blogspot.com/2020/04/more-businesses-in-swaziland-to-close.html

Number of passengers in private cars in Swaziland to be restricted during coronavirus crisis

The number of people allowed to travel in private cars in Swaziland (eSwatini) will be restricted as part of the fight against the coronavirus (COVID-19).

Chief Ndlaluhlaza Ndwandwe, Minister of Public Works and Transport, said all public transport vehicles would be expected to carry no more than 70 percent of their full capacity while private vehicles will be required to carry no more than 60 percent from Saturday 4 April 2020.

Minister Ndwandwe told a press briefing on Friday (3 April 2020) : ‘Government shall assist public transport with supplies for sanitising passengers and disinfecting their vehicles. When those supplies are depleted, public transport operators shall provide accordingly.’

At the same briefing Lizzie Nkosi, the Swazi Health Minister, said Swaziland hoped to be able to analyse coronavirus tests at the kingdom’s own laboratory in Mbabane ‘from next week’.

She said an engineer would arrive at the laboratory on Sunday to upgrade facilities.

At present tests are sent to South Africa. More than 350 tests have been returned to date and there have been nine positive cases recorded. No deaths have been reported.

Nkosi has also announced that her ministry would embark on an ‘active case finding exercise’ from Saturday. ‘About 2,000 people were ordered to self-isolate last week. We will be going out to screen those people and we request for their cooperation,’ she said.

See also

More businesses in Swaziland to close as Govt tightens coronavirus lockdown

https://swazimedia.blogspot.com/2020/04/more-businesses-in-swaziland-to-close.html

 

King puts Swaziland into partial lockdown in bid to beat coronavirus. Army and police on standby

https://swazimedia.blogspot.com/2020/03/king-puts-swaziland-into-partial.html

More businesses in Swaziland to close as Govt tightens coronavirus lockdown

The Swaziland (eSwatini) Government announced that all non-essential businesses in the kingdom should close down from Friday (3 April 2020) as measures to tackle the coronavirus pandemic are stepped up.

The kingdom has been on a 20-day partial lockdown since 27 March. 

Manqoba Khumalo, Minister for Commerce, Industry and Trade, announced, ‘All businesses and entities that are not involved in the manufacturing, supply or provision of essential goods or services shall, cease to operate for the duration of the partial lockdown.’

Regulations published after the lockdown was announced only covered the closure of bars, and restaurants but said nothing about other shops.

Only ‘essential services’ will be allowed to operate.

Khumalo issued a long list of those businesses that would be allowed to continue. They are:

1. Food and Agriculture; which includes:

Those involved in the food value chain

2. Retail and consumer goods suppliers, which include:

Consumer Goods suppliers

Food Retailers e.g. food outlets, raw material suppliers and farmers

Those involved in the transportation, logistics and packaging of consumer goods

Other Retail Goods that support the medical industry e.g. bedding, linen and emergency clothing for hospitals, health workers and those caring for the sick

3. Network Infrastructure; which include:

Water, waste water and sanitation

Electricity suppliers

Renewable Energy suppliers

Gas suppliers

Fuel suppliers

Law enforcement

Defence, Safety and Security

Waste disposal

Fire and Emergency services

Mining and power stations

4. Medical and Health; which include:

Hospitals

Devices and Equipment

Pharmaceuticals

Funders

Doctors, nurses, paramedics etc.

5. Forestry and Sawmills

For the production of disposable, health and hygiene products including toilet paper as well as for packaging for food and the health supply chain.

6. IT Systems and Telecommunications

7. Finance and Insurance

8. Tourism and Hospitality

9. Communications e.g. Media

10. Hardware Shops

11. Public Transport and cross-border trade transport 

These will operate under the guidelines that Government has issued.

For cross-border transport, this will be restricted to essential services as defined in Eswatini, South Africa and Mozambique 

There had been a lot of confusion in Swaziland about which businesses had been allowed to stay open during what is being described by the Swazi Government as a ‘partial lockdown’.

Businesses in Manzini, the main commercial city in Swaziland, claimed police and soldiers were demanding bribes to allow them to stay open.

Manzini was reportedly in chaos on Monday after new regulations restricting public transport to early mornings and late afternoons came into force. The eSwatini Observer reported 5,000 people were left stranded. 

See also

King puts Swaziland into partial lockdown in bid to beat coronavirus. Army and police on standby

https://swazimedia.blogspot.com/2020/03/king-puts-swaziland-into-partial.html

Swaziland King declares state of emergency over coronavirus. Schools closed, foreign travel suspended

https://swazimedia.blogspot.com/2020/03/swaziland-king-declares-state-of.html

More than 40 arrested in Swaziland for defying coronavirus lockdown during first weekend

https://swazimedia.blogspot.com/2020/03/more-than-40-arrested-in-swaziland-for.html

Swaziland police and soldiers ‘demand bribes’ to let businesses stay open during coronavirus lockdown

Police and soldiers in Swaziland (eSwatini) have been accused of demanding bribes from businesses to allow them to stay open during the coronavirus lockdown.

It happened in the main commercial city of Manzini, according to a media report in the kingdom.

Elsewhere in Swaziland police have been accused of illegally forcing businesses to close. Police with batons reportedly threatened workers.  

Swaziland is on a 20-day lockdown in response to the coronavirus.

The Times of eSwatini reported that members of the Royal Eswatini Police Service (REPS), His Majesty’s Correctional Services (HMCS) and Umbutfo Eswatini Defence Force (UEDF) had been accused. It reported, ‘The business owners alleged that some of the security personnel had offered to let them operate their businesses as long as they gave them money.’

One businessman told the newspaper three police officers in uniform had offered to let him trade as long as he paid them E700. 

It reportedly happened on Saturday (28 March 2020), the first day of the lockdown.

There were also reports that small businesses such as hairdressing salons, dressmaking and retail outlets in the capital Mbabane had been illegally forced to close. 

The Times of eSwatini reported, ‘ A group of police officers forced hairdressers out of their workplaces at the Commercial Centre in the capital city [on Monday] and were carrying batons while shouting at the frightened employees. What seemed to be the gripe, according to the small business owners, was that neither government nor the law enforcers had notified them that they should close, but the police came to their businesses and ordered them to close shop.’

A hairdresser told the newspaper, ‘eSwatini declared a partial lockdown and we seek clarity on what exactly it entails as it now appears that all shops are being closed and everyone is chased home.’

Regulations published after the lockdown was announced cover the closure of bars, and restaurants but say nothing about other shops.

In a statement issued on the first day of the lockdown Prime Minister Ambrose Dlamini said business were ‘expected to scale down their operations and, most importantly, meet the appropriate health and hygiene standards, failing which they risk closure. 

‘We continue to engage business to cushion the effects of this partial lockdown on their businesses, and more especially, to ensure full compliance to the partial lockdown measures,’ he said.

Police were also reportedly out in force on the streets of Mbabane on Monday stopping people and demanding proof of residence. 

See also

More than 40 arrested in Swaziland for defying coronavirus lockdown during first weekend

https://swazimedia.blogspot.com/2020/03/more-than-40-arrested-in-swaziland-for.html 

Swaziland Govt publishes coronavirus regulations 

https://swazimedia.blogspot.com/2020/03/swaziland-govt-publishes-coronavirus.html

Swaziland coronavirus partial lockdown Day1 – P.M. statement 

https://swazimedia.blogspot.com/2020/03/swaziland-coronavirus-partial-lockdown.html

Swaziland King declares state of emergency over coronavirus. Schools closed, foreign travel suspended

https://swazimedia.blogspot.com/2020/03/swaziland-king-declares-state-of.html

Total number of coronavirus test results received by Swaziland Ministry of Health tops 320

The Swaziland (eSwatini) Health Ministry has received 324 results of coronavirus tests sent to South Africa in total since 15 March 2020.

The information has dribbled out from the Swaziland Government through press briefings and social media posts. The Ministry of Health has not announced a running total of cases, causing confusion in the kingdom.

The total of 324 was announced in social media posts as follows: 15 March (12); 19 March (32); 20 March (27); 21 March (37); 23 March (62); 26 March (74); 31 March (80).

The population of Swaziland is about 1.3 million.

No information has been released about which individuals are being tested and why. The Ministry of Health had said that some samples sent to South Africa were not tested because they were not from people who had travelled or had been in close contact with positive patients.

The numbers in the Ministry of Health briefings are only those tested and analysed through the Ministry of Health. It is not recorded how many others may have been tested.

It was reported in news media that King Mswati III, the absolute monarch of Swaziland, was in self-isolation and that some of his children who had returned to the kingdom after studying abroad had been tested. It is not known if these were included in the Ministry of Health statistics.

Nine people have tested positive, according to Ministry of Health figures. It has not reported any deaths.