The monarch believes Swaziland belongs to him personally and all the country’s resources belong to him
Swaziland
Posted inNews/Politics
Swazi court strikes the balance between protecting freedom of expression and national security
Last Friday, the Swaziland High Court handed down a significant judgment on the rights to freedom of expression in the context of the protection of national security. The court struck down a number of provisions in the Sedition and Subversive Activities and Suppression of Terrorism Acts on the grounds that they unjustifiably limited the rights […]
Posted inNews/Politics
Swazis deserve to know why controversial judge Ramodibedi got away
By Caroline James In April 2015 Swaziland’s judiciary was rocked by a scandal involving its chief justice, two high court judges, the registrar of the high court, and the minister of justice. Bizarre scenes followed as the judges appeared in the dock in court to apply for bail, and the chief justice, Michael Ramodibedi, spent […]
Posted inMedia, News/Politics
Under fire SADC media must build alliances with citizens
The recent release of veteran journalist and editor Bheki Makhubu from a Swaziland jail should have been a momentous occasion for media freedom and freedom of expression activists in southern Africa. Instead, it has turned out to be a missed opportunity to inspire confidence, re-energise practitioners and consumers alike, and call the bluff on repressive […]
Posted inNews/Politics
Ahead of the Bushfire Festival: Five things you might not know about Swaziland
Swaziland is a small mountain kingdom neighboured by South Africa and Mozambique. Reporting about the tiny country usually focuses on its beautiful landscapes — highly favoured by South African tourists — and the actions of its head of state, King Mswati III. But behind its picturesque beauty lie a few ugly truths. Here are five […]
Posted inEquality, News/Politics
Growing up with a political activist
By Mzwandile Masuku The first time I saw an assault rifle was on television in an American movie as a small child. I would then see one in real life shortly after at home, in the living room. These were days when the Royal Swaziland Police Force and the army would raid our home. During […]
Posted inEquality, News/Politics
Swaziland: External-led revolution needed
By Ntombenhle Khathwane On Sunday April 12, Swaziland will be marking the 42nd year since democracy ended after a brief five years through the decree passed by King Sobhuza in 1973 that concentrated power in the monarch and flung Swazis a few centuries back in terms of political and social development, basically back into a […]
Posted inEquality
Anti-gay attacks on the rise in Swaziland
By Jabu Pereira Kaylo Glover a young lesbian from Nhlangano, Swaziland, stepped into a bar with her friends on the early hours of Sunday morning. She was killed by an enraged man who did not want to be in the presence of lesbians. He left the bar, fetched an axe from his car, returned and […]
Posted inNews/Politics
What’s with the heavy-handed crackdown on free speech in Swaziland?
By Caroline James Remembering Thulani Maseko and Bheki Makhubu — one year on… Can you remember what you were doing 365 days ago? It was the day after St Patrick’s Day, so that might jog some memories, but for most of us, it was just another day. For Thulani Maseko, Bheki Makhubu and their families, […]
Posted inNews/Politics
Will SADC let Swaziland descend into war?
Last week Wednesday Swaziland woke up to shocking news of a 28-year-old activist who was sentenced to 85 years in prison after confessing to a spree of petrol bomb attacks that targeted mainly police officers and government officials. We all missed the story because Swaziland only makes headlines when King Mswati III, Africa’s last absolute […]
Posted inGeneral
Gauging Swaziland’s ‘cultural boycott’
By Nondumiso Hlophe The Swaziland Solidarity Network (SSN) believes that a “cultural boycott” – by musicians invited to perform in the Kingdom of Swaziland – is an effective way to address political opinions in Swaziland. Do you? Last year, the South-African based organisation SSN called on artists to boycott Swaziland by refusing to perform in […]