Swaziland: Striving for Freedom

As seen through the pages of Swazi Media Commentary

Vol. 41. January – March 2021
Compiled by
Richard Rooney
 CONTENTS

Introduction 2
1 Coronavirus 3
2 Hunger 24
3 Media 26
4 Human Rights 28
5 Women 33
6 And the rest ... 35
About the editor 38
Other publications 39

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 INTRODUCTION
Swaziland – like most of the world – is in the grip of a coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis. As
usual in the kingdom ruled by absolute monarch King Mswati III, those close to power have
received preferential treatment.
After a stop-start vaccination programme Swaziland (renamed eSwatini by the King) was left
with only 32,000 doses to treat 1.1 million people. First to get their jabs were the Royal
Family. The Acting Prime Minister, the Minister of Health and other Cabinet ministers were
next in line. Health workers, and people with pre-existing serious health conditions, had to
wait.
Finally, people aged 60 or over were told they could be vaccinated, but by this time there
were few doses available and the so-called roll-out of vaccinations descended into chaos.
These were the main highlights in the first three months of 2021 as contained in Swaziland:
Striving for Freedom, volume 41, a compilation of reports posted from January to March
2021 on the Swazi Media Commentary website.
During this time it was also confirmed that Swaziland was not a free country. In its annual
report on human rights in the kingdom, Freedom House scored Swaziland 19 out of 100
points. This was the same score it gave for 2020.
Separately, the latest annual report from Human Rights Watch (HRW) said restrictions on
freedom of assembly and association gripped Swaziland.
A United Nations group investigating Swaziland was told there had been a ‘drastic
deterioration’ in human rights. Human Rights Watch said since the 1973 Royal Decree,
‘political parties are banned, the judiciary is severely compromised, and repressive laws have
been used to target independent organizations and harass civil society activists’.
Elsewhere, Save The Children reported nearly 60,000 people in Swaziland faced starvation or
death unless immediate action was taken. They were among more than 347,000 people in the
kingdom who faced acute food shortage and needed urgent humanitarian assistance. This
included about 180,000 children.

Swazi Media Commentary is published online, updated most weekdays. It is operated entirely
by volunteers and receives no financial backing (or support in kind) from any organisation. It
is devoted to providing information and commentary in support of human rights in
Swaziland.

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 1 CORONAVIRUS
Swaziland coronavirus deaths climb, security forces to arrest rule breakers on sight
3 January 2021

The Swaziland (eSwatini) Government is sending security forces across the kingdom to arrest
people ‘on sight’ who flout tight regulations as deaths from coronavirus continue to climb.
Acting Prime Minister Themba Masuku said it would consider ‘further harsh decisions’
including closing sectors of the economy that do not comply with regulations.
These include a ban on gatherings after 7 p.m., a night time curfew on travelling, and a ban
on community sporting activities.
The number of deaths from coronavirus (COVID-19) has risen sharply in recent days.
According to the Ministry of Health as of 2 January 2021 there had been 227 reported deaths.
As of 6 December 2020, the number had been 123. The population of Swaziland is about 1.1
million.
Masuku, who became Acting Prime Minister after the death from coronavirus of PM
Ambrose Dlamini, said in a statement, ‘People continue to blatantly disregard COVID-19
health protocols, by refusing to wear masks appropriately, allowing reasonable social
distancing and sanitising properly.
‘Gatherings and alcohol consumption continue unabated as if things were still normal.
Swimming pools are teeming with throngs of people. Community sporting activities still
continue in some places. Churches continue to worship beyond the stipulated two and a half
hours and church leaders still pray for people by laying hands, while worshippers refuse to
wear masks.’
Masuku said, ‘We cannot continue like this because if we do, we risk wiping away the entire
eSwatini population and future generations with it.’
The Swazi Government has introduced ‘Operation Bopha’, a campaign including the
Ministry of Health, Ministry of Justice and security forces such as the police and army.
Masuku said the operation tightened the enforcement of the regulations that were recently put
in place. ‘We target all Emaswati and residents who continue to flout the COVID-19 health
protocols and a team of inspectors and security forces are moving around countryside to
arrest, on sight, anyone who continues to put the lives of other people at risk.
‘This operation also covers business establishments, particularly those selling liquor and
allowing people to congregate and consume alcohol at the liquor outlets.’
See also
Tougher coronavirus restrictions in Swaziland as cases increase
Swaziland PM who died of coronavirus was diabetic, his father reveals
Only one in ten people in Swaziland will get coronavirus vaccine in coming year

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Swaziland bans all gatherings as Govt. struggles to stem rise in coronavirus deaths
7 January 2021

All gatherings in Swaziland (eSwatini) have been banned as the government tries to get a grip
on the coronavirus crisis as deaths continue to climb.
Only funerals, with restrictions on numbers of people attending, will be allowed to go ahead.
Church and other religious gatherings are banned.
A new legal notice was issued on Thursday (7 January 2021). The regulations come into
force on 9 January and will be reviewed after 14 days.
The Swazi Acting Prime Minister Themba Masuku announced there would also be a curfew
on travelling between 8 p.m. and 4 a.m. Public transport cannot operate after 7 p.m.
Public transport operators, drivers or conductors must ensure passengers are sanitized and
correctly wear masks.
There will be stricter rules at retailers with social distancing and shorter opening hours.
Alcohol can be sold for home consumption only.
There will be restrictions at the border. Swaziland is a landlocked kingdom with borders to
South Africa and Mozambique. Only essential travel will be allowed for people seeking
medical attention, schooling, work and business purposes. Special permits for cross-border
travel will be needed.
Deaths from coronavirus (COVID-19) in Swaziland have risen sharply over the past month.
The Ministry of Health announced on Thursday there had been a total of 268 deaths and
10,773 cases of people testing positive for the virus since the crisis began in March.
In a statement, Masuku said, ‘We have witnessed the devastating impact of the second wave
of the novel coronavirus. Since the beginning of December 2020, the Kingdom of eSwatini
has experienced a huge surge in the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases and related
deaths. We have recorded 139 deaths over the period and 4120 new infections.’
He added, ‘As the second wave persists to its peak, more people are presenting with
symptoms categorised by rapid deterioration in clinical condition. Evidently, we are at the
belly of a beast and decisive action needs to be taken to save lives and to ease the pressure on
our health system. We need to clearly understand that this pandemic is aggressively
challenging our survivability as a nation.’

Big rises in coronavirus cases predicted in Swaziland by month’s end

11 January 2021

As coronavirus (COVID-19) cases continued to rise in Swaziland (eSwatini) Director of

Health Services Dr Vusi Magagula predicted there could be another 7,000 cases before the
end of the month.
The eSwatini Observer reported on Sunday (10 January 2021) Magagula, who is at the Swazi
Ministry of Health, said a lack of resources especially staffing would be a contributing factor
on the death rate.

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He warned people to take the virus seriously. He said, ‘The number of cases and mortality
from the pandemic in the next three weeks depends on how fast we progress, which is
determined by how communities follow the laid down prevention procedures. If more people
follow the prevention measures the rate will be low but if they behave otherwise the cases
will shoot up.’
New tougher lockdown restrictions were introduced on Saturday with nearly all gatherings,
including religious services, banned. The Times of eSwatini reported on Monday that Swazi
police closed at least six churches that had defied the new regulations. A spokesperson told
the newspaper police would continue to arrest church members if they were found to have
contravened the regulations.
Police continued to teargas and assault people found breaking regulations. In the latest
incident the Swaziland News, an online newspaper, reported that on Saturday police officers
used teargas to disperse a group that was drinking alcohol at kaQobonga. It reported an 80-
year-old woman was left struggling to breathe all night after stray teargas choked her.
Official Ministry of Health statistics released on Sunday showed there had been a total of
11,435 people testing positive for the virus and 295 deaths since the crisis started.
On Friday the Swaziland Communist Party said there was serious under-reporting of
infections and deaths in the kingdom. In a statement it said, ‘Funeral homes have already
reported on the extreme shortage of coffins as well as the lack of space in their mortuaries
due to the increased number of deaths, most of which are Covid related, prompting them to
direct that funerals must be held on daily basis, no longer on a Thursday to Sunday basis.
Clinics and hospitals are also unable to cope with the overwhelming number of patients.’
It added, ‘The facts also show that [King] Mswati helped spread the virus through his annual
ritual, incwala, a super spreader which has already overseen the infection and death of many
of those who attended the ritual.’

Mario Masuku, veteran Swaziland democracy leader, dies, reportedly from coronavirus
12 January 2021

Mario Masuku,the former President of Swaziland’s People’s United Democratic Movement

(PUDEMO), has died. No cause has been given but local media report it was from
coronavirus.
PUDEMO, a prodemocracy group that is banned in Swaziland, made the announcement on
Tuesday (12 January 2012). He was aged 70 and had been a founder of PUDEMO and
President until 2018.
He was one of the best known prodemocracy activists in the kingdom ruled by King Mswati
III as an absolute monarch.
He has been arrested many times and charged, though never convicted, with terrorism and
sedition.
In May 2014, Masuku and Maxwell Dlamini (a student leader and member of the PUDEMO
youth league, the Swaziland Youth Congress, SWAYOCO) were charged under the Sedition

5
and Subversive Activities Act (SSA) and the Suppression of Terrorism Act (STA) for having
addressed workers on May Day in Manzini, and shouting slogans in support of PUDEMO.
Initially denied bail, they were kept in pre-trial detention and were eventually granted
conditional bail and released by the Supreme Court 14 months later.
Masuku was no stranger to the jails and lawcourts. In 2001 he was charged with two counts
under the SSA, accused of allegedly making statements that were seditious. At the close of
the Crown’s case he was acquitted and discharged of the first count and later also acquitted
on the second count.

Mario Masuku

In 2008, following a spate of bombings of some Government buildings and some local
government centres, the STA was enacted. Immediately PUDEMO and three other
organisations were listed as terrorist organizations.
In the same year Masuku was charged under the STA and, alternatively, under the SSA. In
September 2009 he was acquitted and discharged by the High Court of Swaziland, because
the State failed to prove the its case. He had been in jail on remand for 10 months.

See also
Swaziland’s democracy activist is the real ‘Super Mario’
Democracy leaders freed on bail
Terror charge for shouting slogan

Swaziland plea to WHO for urgent help as coronavirus deaths out of control
14 January 2021

Swaziland (eSwatini) has sent an urgent plea to the World Health Organisation (WHO) for
help in getting through the coronavirus crisis as deaths continue to rise.
Swazi Minister of Health Lizzie Nkosi has written requesting for an International Emergency
Medical Team to work in the kingdom for at least four weeks.

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She said Swaziland needed critical care physicians, critical care nurses, biomedical
technicians and epidemiologists. She wanted people in place by 15 January 2021.
She said the kingdom faced unprecedented public health challenges because of the
coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Swaziland was going through a second wave and the
number of deaths was double that of the first wave.
On Wednesday (13 January 2021) she announced a further 13 deaths bringing the total so far
to 332. According to official Ministry of Health figures, there have been a total of 12,124
positive cases since the crisis started. The population of Swaziland is about 1.1 million
people.
In her letter to the WHO Nkosi wrote, ‘The high number of new cases has resulted in health
systems that are now overstretched, including a severe shortage of oxygen supply to the
people who need it. The second wave is also resulting in more client admissions as a majority
of the clients are presenting with symptoms, which rapidly progress to severe and critical
illness. Furthermore, the capacity to manage critically ill patients is not adequate in the face
of the rapidly rising numbers of patients presenting with severe illness.’
She added, ‘The country now has 11 COVID-19 treatment centres, nine public and two
private with a total bed capacity of 437. Bed occupancy rate is rising every week. The
country has 29 beds for critical care with all 29 occupied, giving an occupancy rate of 100
percent.’

Swaziland Govt. tries to calm fears that coronavirus is caused by 5G technology

18 January 2021

The Swaziland (eSwatini) Government has been forced to make a public statement reassuring
people that there is no link between the coronavirus pandemic and 5G mobile phone
technology.
Manqoba Khumalo, Acting Minister of Information, Communications and Technology, said
in a statement on Monday (18 January 2021) a lot of ‘panic and anxiety’ and ‘conspiracy
theories’ had spread among people that 5G technology caused coronavirus (COVID-19).
He said, ‘The theory has no basis and is totally devoid of any truth as there is absolutely no
relationship whatsoever between the technology and the novel coronavirus.’
Trials to introduce 5G technology have yet to start in the impoverished kingdom of
Swaziland.
Deaths from coronavirus continue to rise. As of 17 January 2021 there had been 376 deaths
and 12,944 positive cases recorded by the Swazi Ministry of Health.

Exhausted Swaziland coronavirus nurses picket for better conditions and equipment
19 January 2021

Nurses at a coronavirus quarantine centre in Swaziland (eSwatini) took to the streets to

protest the lack of equipment and poor working conditions.

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More than 20 nurses at the Mavuso Exhibition and Trade Centre in Manzini which has been
turned into a coronavirus (COVID-19) centre picketed and blocked traffic on Monday (18
January 2021). They said they were exhausted with having to treat up to 35 patients at once.
Some have reportedly collapsed with tiredness and others are off work sick.
The Swaziland Democratic Nurses Union (SWADNU) Manzini Regional Chairperson
Nhlanhla Mhlanga said the buildings were unsuitable for coronavirus patients and had no
windows or other ventilation.
He added ‘Most of our patients are diabetic but there are not enough glucometers here. These
things cost less than E400 (US$27) each.’ There is also a shortage of masks and protective
equipment for nurses.
In an editorial comment, the Times of eSwatini said, ‘It is evident to us all that our
understaffed health workers are overwhelmed and overexposed due to an abnormally high
number of COVID-19 infected patients being attended to daily – at times without a consistent
supply of personal protective equipment (PPE). As a result, several nurses engaged in a go-
slow in some health centres around the country, which affected hundreds of innocent patients.
‘They cannot be faulted for feeling unappreciated when their concerns come secondary to the
car allowances and perks paid out to politicians right in the middle of a health crisis. This ill-
timed decision has opened floodgates of demands from numerous sectors that feel equally
important. People are dying but some are more concerned about their allowances. It’s
sickening.’
The Swazi Minister of Health Lizzie Nkosi has already appealed to the World Health
Organisation to send extra healthcare workers to Swaziland. In a letter she said, ‘The high
number of new cases has resulted in health systems that are now overstretched, including a
severe shortage of oxygen supply to the people who need it. The second wave is also
resulting in more client admissions as a majority of the clients are presenting with symptoms,
which rapidly progress to severe and critical illness. Furthermore, the capacity to manage
critically ill patients is not adequate in the face of the rapidly rising numbers of patients
presenting with severe illness.’
On Monday the Ministry of Health announced a further eight deaths from coronavirus
bringing the total to 384. A total 13,187 people have tested positive since the crisis began.

Swaziland tightens coronavirus restrictions as daily deaths hit record high

21 January 2021

Swaziland extended coronavirus restrictions as deaths reached a record daily total.

Alcohol sales will be banned for thirty days, including the sale of traditional homebrew.
In a statement on Wednesday (20 January 2021) Acting Prime Minister Themba Masuku said
there was a ‘galloping spread’ of new coronavirus (COVID-19) infections averaging 205 a
day with recorded deaths averaging 10 a day.

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Separately on Wednesday, Minister of Health Lizzie Nkosi reported 24 deaths, the highest
total in a single day. There have been a total of 427 deaths and 13,789 people have tested
positive for the virus.
Masuku announced the sale of alcohol was banned with immediate effect. ‘Any retailer who
offends this directive will face serious consequences including the suspension of their trading
license as it has happened recently to others.’
He said many people had ignored a previous directive to only consume alcohol at home and
met in groups where they removed masks and shared drinks.
He said, ‘Our law enforcement officers have been assaulted by the groups that were being
dispersed for illegally gathering and drinking alcohol; with police vehicles pelted and
vandalised in the process. We cannot tolerate this behaviour as a nation.’
He added, ‘The ban of alcohol sales is, however, not a ticket for the black market and illegal
homebrews to emerge and thrive during this period. Law enforcement officers, including
community police working with Regional Task Teams, will be very vigilant in monitoring
that this illicit activity does not resurface.’
He asked people to report neighbours illegally selling alcohol, including the traditional
homebrew.
Masuku called on people to stay at home, only travelling when absolutely necessary. There is
a curfew between 8pm and 4am.
He called on people to ‘to pray without ceasing’.

Second Swaziland Cabinet minister dies from coronavirus

25 January 2021

A second Swaziland (eSwatini) Cabinet minister has died of coronavirus.

Makhosi Vilakati, Minister of Labour and Social Security, died in hospital in neighbouring
South Africa on Saturday (23 January 2021), the Swazi Acting Prime Minister Themba
Masuku said in a statement.
In an earlier statement Masuku said Vilakati had been taken to hospital in South Africa ‘for
specialist treatment procedures not available in the country [Swaziland]’.
Masuku confirmed Vilakati suffered health complications due to a coronavirus (COVID-19)
infection. No further details have been released.
Vilakati died on the day that Christian Ntshangase, Minister of Public Service, was buried.
He had died of coronavirus a week earlier.

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 Makhosi Vilakati
In December Prime Minister Ambrose Dlamini also died of coronavirus complications. He
was diabetic.
Former Minister of Information, Communication and Technology Winnie Magagula also
died of coronavirus on 15 January 2021.
Separately, on Thursday Lizzie Nkosi, Minister of Health, reported Swaziland was in the grip
of a second wave of the pandemic; deaths were at an all-time high and the virus was
transmitting at a faster rate during the second wave.
She said in a statement, ‘Yesterday’s report showed 346 new cases and 24 new deaths. Both
figures are at an all-time high since the pandemic begun last year. Projections of the second
wave show that we will continue to experience a rising number of infections and a reduction
is dependent on our behaviour to adhering to the COVID-19 regulations and directives that
have been released in line with the current partial lockdown announced by Government.’
She added, ‘Most of our cases, unfortunately, are in the vulnerable populations i.e. people
living with other pre-existing conditions; which has resulted in the increased fatality rate. It,
therefore, leads to a majority of the deaths occurring in people living with comorbidities;
which include diabetes mellitus, hypertension, or a combination of both, plus other long-term
illnesses that impact negatively on the immune system.’
She said, ‘Families should note that the virus is circulating swiftly among households; since a
majority of households in the Kingdom have more than six persons under one roof.’
As of Sunday there had been 479 deaths from coronavirus in Swaziland and 14,484 people
had tested positive, according to official Ministry of Health figures.

UK emergency team sent to Swaziland as coronavirus deaths continue to rise

1 February 2021

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The United Kingdom has sent an emergency medical team to Swaziland (eSwatini) to support
the tiny kingdom as coronavirus deaths continue to rise.
The team of 11 set off on Saturday (30 January 2021). It will provide urgent training and use
specialist expertise to provide clinical supervision to those treating patients critically ill with
coronavirus (COVID-19).
A biomedical engineer will also train staff on how to install, use and maintain critical care
equipment, and support the distribution of key supplies including oxygen.
As of 27 January 2021, Swaziland had a total of 15,051 COVID-19 cases and 522 people had
died from the illness. The country had seen a surge of new cases and fatalities since
December 2020, with limited access to testing and treatment for much of the population.
The UK Minister for Africa, James Duddridge, said in a statement, ‘Our UK Emergency
Medical Team will save lives by using their world-leading specialist expertise and skills.’

UK medical aid team extends stay in Swaziland as coronavirus battle continues

1 March 2021

An United Kingdom emergency medical team sent to Swaziland (eSwatini) to help in the
coronavirus crisis is to extend its stay by four weeks.
UK-Med announced on Monday (1 March 2021), ‘As oxygen supplies have been a particular
concern during the most recent wave, the national WHO [World Health Organisation] office
and eSwatini’s Ministry of Health have asked for assistance to review
and advise on a national plan for sustainable oxygen supply.’
It added, ‘Although numbers of COVID-19 cases are now low across the country, the
extension will enable the team to continue to provide vital support to health services at both
the regional and national levels to build the country’s preparedness for any future waves of
the virus.’
The UK Emergency Medical Team has been in Swaziland since 30 January where it has been
strengthening health services through specialist care, technical support and training for
doctors and nurses. The international team of 11 have specialisms that include critical care,
infection prevention and control, risk communications and biomedical engineering.
Over the upcoming weeks the team will continue teaching healthcare staff on case
management and use of oxygen.
As of 28 February there had been 17,014 recorded cases of coronavirus and 652 deaths
recorded by the Swazi Ministry of Health.

Swaziland paramedics stop work on coronavirus response, say they need more
protection
2 February 2021

Paramedics on the coronavirus emergency response team in Swaziland are to stop work
because they do not have proper protective equipment.

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They say they face ‘imminent and serious risk to [their] safety and health’.
The National Public Service and Allied Workers Union (NAPSAWU) said work would stop
from Wednesday (4 February 2021). Paramedics would report for duty but would not go out
on calls.
NAPSAWU President Oscar Nkambule said paramedics had not been paid overtime
allowances and had not been given proper personal protective equipment (PPE).
Paramedics are among the first-line responders during the coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis
that is gripping Swaziland.
Nkambule said a number of members of NAPSAWU had contacted or died with coronavirus,
including paramedics.
Nkambule told the Swaziland News, an online newspaper, ‘[We] tried in vain to engage
government to provide working equipment and allowances hence the decision to down tools.
We apologize to members of the public as services will be limited and it’s unfortunate that
the employees were forced to take decision.’
As of Monday there had been 15,804 reported cases of coronavirus and 574 deaths according
to the Swazi Ministry of Health.

Swaziland hospitals short of body bags as coronavirus deaths rise

3 February 2021

Hospitals in Swaziland (eSwatini) have reported a shortage of body bags for corpses because
of the number of deaths from coronavirus.
Lubombo Referral Hospital and Good Shepherd Mission Hospital (GSMH) are among the
hospitals affected.
Dead bodies are being wrapped in sheet-covers or plastic.
Funeral houses last month also reported a shortage of coffins and problems burying bodies in
a timely fashion because of the numbers who have died of coronavirus (COVID-19).
The Swazi Ministry of Health Director of Services Dr Vusi Magagula, confirmed the
shortage of body bags faced by the hospitals.
GSMH Chief Executive Officer Muzi Dlamini told the Times of eSwatini there had been a
shortage of body bags in some sizes from their suppliers.
The number of positive case and deaths from coronavirus in Swaziland has risen sharply in
the past two months. As of Tuesday (2 February 2021) there had been 15,878 cases and 583
deaths due to coronavirus, according to official Ministry of Health figures.

Swaziland King was secretly hospitalised with coronavirus

21 February 2021

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King Mswati III, the absolute monarch of Swaziland (eSwatini), has revealed that he was
hospitalised for more than 10 days in January after testing positive for coronavirus.
This was not made public at the time.
In December and January the King took part in the annual Incwala ceremony involving
hundreds of people from across Swaziland. It is not reported if he caught the virus at this
event.
The King, speaking at the state opening of the Swazi Parliament on Friday (19 February
2021), said he had taken a drug sent to him by Taiwan and recovered. Minister of Health
Lizzie Nkosi later revealed to the eSwatini Observer it had been Remdezvir.
The King said he did not reveal his status to his people and said after ‘a couple of days’ he
found that he was negative.
‘However, the protocol of the drug requires that you take it for 10 days while the practise for
COVID-19 (coronavirus) says, be on medication for two weeks. I therefore, remained in
hospital after the 10 days to satisfy the doctors that everything was okay, and we thank God
they found that I had fully recovered,” he said.
He has now ordered the government to immediately procure the drug while Swaziland awaits
the arrival of COVID-19 vaccines.
Remdezvir is one of the drugs US President Donald Trump took when he tested positive in
October 2020.
Later, the World Health Organisation said it should not be used in hospitals because there
was no evidence it worked.
See also
Swaziland Prime Minister Ambrose Dlamini dies after testing positive for
coronavirus

Coronavirus badly hits Swaziland economy, could take years to recover: Finance
Minister
26 February 2021

The coronavirus pandemic has hit the Swaziland (eSwatini) economy hard and there is a
danger that it will not easily recover over the coming years, Finance Minister Neal
Rijkenberg warned in his budget speech.
He told the Swazi Parliament on Friday (26 February 2020) that the ‘widespread effects’ of
coronavirus (COVID-19) on the economy had ‘significantly and permanently altered the
course’ of the government’s economic plans.
Looking forward, he said, ‘If we do not get the basics right, we will remain in an
unsustainable fiscal position and we will see the effects of the pandemic persist over the
medium term. This will negatively affect each and every Liswati due to stagnating economic
growth, subdued employment creation, lower revenue receipts and higher debt-servicing
costs.’

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He added, revenues were predicted to decline ‘significantly and steadily over the medium
term’. He said, ‘the next three years are going to be even tougher’.
He told Parliament, ‘As we are focusing on growing out of this situation we are in, we need
to ensure that government is as effective as possible, doing as much as possible with
minimum resources.’
He said, ‘In the domestic economy, the coronavirus pandemic accelerated an economic and
fiscal deterioration that was already under way. The lockdowns and weak external demand
are expected to have triggered an economic recession in 2020 as economic output is expected
to contract by 2.4 percent compared to a growth of 2.2 percent recorded in 2019. The
lockdowns effected since mid-March are expected to have impacted domestic demand,
particularly manufacturing, tourism, construction and other trade sectors.’

Swaziland extends coronavirus lockdown and prepares for third wave to strike
6 March 2021

The Swaziland (eSwatini) Government has extended the partial lockdown of the kingdom as
the coronavirus crisis reaches its first anniversary and the kingdom is no closer to getting life-
saving vaccines.
The 17,000 people testing positive and the 652 deaths in that time were ‘nothing short of
alarming’, Acting Prime Minister Themba Masuku said in a statement.
He said Swaziland expected a third wave of coronavirus (COVID-19) to strike.
He added the situation was ‘simply unimaginable and heartbreaking. These past 12 months
have not only been emotionally draining but have also left us with scars that will take years to
heal as many families lost breadwinners, children and guardians.
‘This is over and above the huge trail of economic destruction caused by the pandemic on
jobs and livelihoods; as many EmaSwati were rendered jobless and businesses closed down.
Our children have also been out of school for just about a year now.’
Masuku said the Swazi Government had previously declared a National Emergency and
introduced several partial lockdown restrictions, increased bed capacity in hospitals and the
number of critical health workers.
He said following a second wave of coronavirus in December 2020, more partial lockdown
restrictions were introduced.
‘It is gratifying to note that since the new restrictions came into effect, there has been a
notable decline in both the number of new infections and fatalities as well as an increase in
the number of recoveries.’
He said it was vital to continue to observe all health protocols in order to manage the
situation. These include wearing face masks correctly at all times in all public spaces,
observing social distancing protocols, washing our hands regularly with running water and
soap and avoiding unnecessary travel.

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Masuku added, ‘It is also crucial that we ensure that all systems are in place to contain the
forthcoming third wave which epidemiologists have warned us might be even more deadlier.’
He said, ‘Government is currently finalising the necessary plans and structures to withstand
the expected severe effects of the projected third wave. We have put in place the necessary
interventions that will ensure EmaSwati are relatively safe from the virus and that our
children can safely return to school and be adequately cared for in case of emergencies.’
Masuku added, ‘When we invoked the last extension two weeks ago, we had also hoped that
we would have received the first batch of COVID-19 vaccines to start vaccinating our health
workers and frontline staff. This process has also been delayed due to unforeseen
circumstances but we have intensified our efforts to access the vaccines as soon as practically
possible to start the vaccination exercise.
He said the Government had extended the partial lockdown restrictions by a further two
weeks.

Swaziland relaxes coronavirus lockdown amid confusion over vaccines and fear of third
wave
19 March 2021

The Swaziland (eSwatini) Government has announced the reopening of schools and a
relaxation of coronavirus restrictions, even though vaccinations have been delayed and there
continues to be a threat of a third wave of the virus in the kingdom.
Themba Masuku, the Swazi Acting Prime Minister, on Thursday (18 March 2021) announced
the reopening of schools; reopening of religious gatherings; resumption of community
gatherings; reopening of low-contact sports and the resumption of the sale of alcohol.
Schools would start to reopen on 29 March, but Masuku did not announce details of how this
would happen. But he did say testing, treating and isolation centres had been set up in all
regions of the kingdom to be accessed by pupils and teachers.
Religious gatherings can restart on 19 March. Weddings of up to 100 people under
coronavirus (COVID-19) protocols would also be allowed from the same date.
In a statement he said, ‘Sporting codes being allowed to resume operations are: angling,
athletics, cricket, cue sports, cycling, darts, equestrian, golf, shooting, tennis, teqball, chess,
gymnastics, swimming as well as Premier League and National First Division football. The
reopening of football also covers the operations of all junior and senior football national
teams.’
The sale of alcohol would be allowed from 22 March 2021. Liquor outlets would be allowed
to operate from Monday to Thursday between 9am and 5pm. Alcohol consumption remained
strictly for home consumption.
Public transport would be allowed at 100 percent seating capacity with no passengers
standing with effect from Friday 19 March 2020.
The Swaziland Government had issued mixed messages in recent days about the use of the
AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine. Countries across the world had suspended its use after

15
fears it could cause blood clots. At first Swaziland said it would continue to use it and then
quickly changed its mind and suspended use.
Now, Masuku has changed the decision again. In his statement he said, ‘Let me take the
opportunity to inform the nation that government has consulted widely with scientists and
health experts who have all spoken with one voice that the AstraZeneca vaccine is safe for
use.’
He added, ‘The vaccination exercise is completely voluntary. Health workers will be
inoculated in the first phase followed by the elderly, those living with co-morbidities and
essential workers. Government continues to source more vaccine candidates such as Pfizer,
Johnson & Johnson, Sputnik V and Mordena to cover all Emaswati above the age of 18.’
The relaxation comes less than two weeks after they were extended amid fears that a third
wave was about to hit Swaziland. On 6 March 2021 Masuku had said the 17,000 people
testing positive and the 652 deaths in the previous year were ‘nothing short of alarming’.
He added Swaziland expected a third wave of coronavirus (COVID-19) to strike. He called
the situation ‘simply unimaginable and heart-breaking’.

Teachers’ leaders fear Swaziland schools not ready to reopen as Govt. eases coronavirus
lockdown
22 March 2021

The Swaziland National Association of Teachers wants at least 5,000 permanent new teacher
posts to be created before schools can reopen safely following the coronavirus crisis.
The Swaziland (eSwatini) Minister of Education and Training Lady Howard Mabuza has
ordered schools to reopen on 29 March 2021.
Sikelela Dlamini, SNAT Secretary General, said the Swazi Government must also provide
materials, including adequate water supplies and personal protective equipment in all the 933
public schools in the kingdom.
In a statement Dlamini said, ‘The Government must employ at least 5,000 teachers (on a
permanent basis) to ensure full compliance regarding the number of learners that each teacher
should handle at a particular time (teacher-pupil ratio).
Dlamini said teachers should handle a maximum of 20 pupils in a class.
SNAT is also calling for the urgent vaccination of teachers.
The Education Minister said that not all pupils would attend schools full-time when they
reopened.
In a statement, Mabuza said schools had ‘not experienced any effective learning since March
2020’.
She added, ‘Government’s decision to re-open schools is not because the virus has been
contained but this is done in consideration of the socioeconomic impact of prolonged school

16
closure. The rate of teenage pregnancy, sexual abuse, child labour and early child marriages
has notably increased since the closure of schools.’
She called on schools to develop plans for safe reopening that included ‘the thermo scanning
of learners, demarcating floors in classrooms for social distancing, cleaning schedules,
monitoring of COVID-19 (coronavirus) guidelines, ensuring hand washing stations are
operational and ensuring learners do not mix during breaks.’
Separately, Minister of Education and Training principal secretary Bertram Stewart told a
press conference that parents should pay school fees for the past year even though schools
had been closed.
The Saturday Observer reported Stewart said, ‘We cannot as government give a directive but
the position is that parents have an obligation to pay for their children’s education.’

Swaziland Parliament forces Education Minister to drop school fees during coronavirus
lockdown
24 March 2021

Members of the Swaziland (eSwatini) House of Assembly forced the Minister of Education
and Training, Lady Mabuza, to halt plans to make parents pay school fees even though
classes had been stopped for a year because of the coronavirus pandemic.
They threatened her with a motion of no confidence if she did not comply.
Schools are due to start reopening on 29 March 2021 and parents are expected to pay fees for
both last year and the present one.
Moving an emergency motion, Phila Buthelezi told the House children only had five weeks
schooling last year. He said there was no justification to make parents pay fees because
children were at home.
He said, ‘As we speak, some parents have failed to register their children for the current
academic year, which is supposed to begin next week because the head teachers had stated
that there was an instruction from the ministry that they should demand last year’s
outstanding fees first.’
The motion was carried and Mabuza was given until Tuesday afternoon (23 March 2021) to
comply. Mabuza said she would implement the motion.

Confusion as Swaziland schools try to reopen after coronavirus shutdown

31 March 2021

There was confusion across Swaziland (eSwatini) as schools attempted to reopen after an
almost one-year closure because of the coronavirus pandemic.
The Ministry of Health and Training had issued a staggered timetable for reopening but many
pupils turned up when they were not scheduled.
There was also confusion about whether school fees needed to be paid.

17
Staff and pupils were required to wear masks and to keep social distancing. Many had their
temperatures screened before they were allowed into school. Many were unsure how they
were supposed to behave.
The Times of eSwatini reported, ‘It was a bad start to the reopening of schools as a lot seemed
to have gone wrong. Teachers had a tough time while trying to arrange pupils who had no
clue which classrooms they had to occupy.’
It added, ‘Meanwhile, some of the pupils in Grade IV, V and VI had to be turned back as they
had attended school yet they were not supposed to.’
The eSwatini Observer reported several schools in the Shiselweni region were expected to
open without teachers. There are over 140 primary schools and over 70 high schools in the
region.
It quoted Regional Education Officer Siboniso Gumbi saying, ‘The only serious challenge I
have received from a number of principals it is that of the shortage of teachers. There are
schools that will open with only five teachers. Other schools are likely to open with fewer
teachers than that.’
Separately, the Swaziland National Association of Teachers and the Swaziland Association of
Schools Administrators said that there would be no lessons until the number of teachers was
doubled.

Vaccines
Swaziland coronavirus deaths climb but vaccines might be three months away
4 January 2021

As deaths from coronavirus continue to climb in Swaziland (eSwatini) Acting Prime Minister
Themba Masuku hinted vaccines might not be available for up to three months.
He said the Swazi Government planned to vaccinate the whole population of about 1.1
million people. Swaziland is relying on outside help to get the vaccines.
In a media conference on Sunday (3 January 2021) he said Swaziland was relying on the the
COVAX Advanced Market Commitment that was coordinating the availability of vaccines to
low and middle income countries.
He said the government was preparing a kingdom-wide programme of vaccination. There
was a budget of at least E200 million (US$14 million) towards securing coronavirus
(COVID-19) vaccines.
No timetable for the arrival of vaccines is in place. Masuku said, ‘The first batch of the
COVID-19 vaccines is expected to be made available in the first quarter [of 2021].’
In December 2020, The People’s Vaccine Alliance, a coalition of global and national
organizations, forecast nine out of ten people in Swaziland would not be able to get a
coronavirus vaccine in 2021. This was because the kingdom was poor and richer nations had
made deals with manufacturers and will get vaccines ahead of others.

18
Deaths from coronavirus continue to rise in Swaziland. On Sunday the Ministry of Health
reported a further four deaths, bringing the total to 231.
Separately, the Times of eSwatini reported Dups Funeral Home and Crematorium was at full
capacity. It reported Chief Operations Officer Mzingaye Ndlovu, ‘said the funeral parlour’s
storage capacity was slightly over 100 bodies; however, due to the increase in the number of
people succumbing to COVID-19-related illnesses daily, they had stretched their resources
and could no longer afford to meet the demand’.
Previously the Times reported Dr Simon Zwane, Principal Secretary at the Ministry of
Health, said Swaziland was under strain for space for beds to accommodate severely critical
patients. Zwane said currently there was no space at the Lubombo Referral Hospital and at
the Luke Commission at Sidvokodvo.
In a statement Masuku said there was not enough oxygen available to treat patients but an
effort had been made to double local production in December 2020. He said there were
sufficient ventilators but these needed volumes of oxygen.
He said, Government intended to hire an additional 70 health workers. These would include
people who had recently graduated from local health training institutions.
See also
Only one in ten people in Swaziland will get coronavirus vaccine in coming year

Slow roll out of coronavirus vaccines in Swaziland, health workers to get priority
4 February 2021

Only 3 percent of the Swaziland (eSwatini) population are likely to get coronavirus vaccines
in the first phase of inoculations, according to the kingdom’s Minister of Health Lizzie Nkosi.
In a statement she said no firm date for the arrival of the first vaccines had been given but she
hoped it would be before the end of February 2021.
There are about 1.2 million people in Swaziland.
Nkosi said frontline healthcare workers would be the first to get the vaccine. It had previously
been reported in local media that Swazi politicians would be given first priority.
Phase two would see the elderly aged 60 years and above and people living with pre-existing
illnesses. Phase three would be other essential workers outside of the health service,
including security forces and teachers.
She said the government had formed several committees to distribute the coronavirus
(COVID-19) vaccine and that the AstraZeneca / Oxford University vaccine was its preferred
choice, but other vaccines could be imported.
Nkosi said about 108,000 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine were expected in the Kingdom
by the end of February. Since two doses are needed that would be enough to only vaccinate
54,000 people.

19
However, Nkosi said Swaziland would eventually receive more than 230,000 doses through
the African Union. The Swazi Government was also looking for ways to obtain vaccines
independently.
As of Wednesday (3 February 2021) 15,974 people had tested positive for coronavirus and
585 had died, according to the Ministry of Health.

Swaziland coronavirus recovery in jeopardy as purchase of vaccine halted

10 February 2021

Swaziland’s coronavirus recovery strategy has been derailed after Minister of Health Lizzie
Nkosi announced the tiny kingdom would no longer use the AstraZeneca vaccine.
Only last week she announced the vaccine would play the major tole in the first phase of the
recovery plan for kingdom (also known as eSwatini).
Swaziland, which borders South Africa, was due to receive AstraZeneca doses from the
COVAX Facility, the global vaccine distribution scheme co-led by the World Health
Organisation (WHO).
South Africa has stopped the rollout of AstraZeneca shots, after researchers published
preliminary data showing the vaccine was less effective against the new variant of
coronavirus (COVID-19) that is spreading in southern Africa.
The eSwatini Observer newspaper reported close to 90 percent of coronavirus cases in South
Africa have the variant.
Nkosi told state television on Tuesday (9 February 2021) the Swazi Government would
consider getting doses from Pfizer or any other supplier endorsed by the WHO.
Swaziland had expected to receive 108,000 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine by the end of
February. Frontline healthcare workers would have been the first to get the vaccine.
As of Tuesday 16,288 people had tested positive for coronavirus and 610 had died, according
to Ministry of Health figures.

Swaziland Govt. misses target to deliver first coronavirus vaccines

2 March 2021

The Swaziland (eSwatni) Government has missed its own deadline for delivering the first
coronavirus vaccines into the kingdom.
Swazi Minister of Health Lizzie Nkosi had promised they would be in Swaziland by the end
of February at the latest.
Now, in a statement, she says 108,000 doses will ‘be delivered anytime soon’.
On Monday (1 March 2021) she said ‘transportation logistics’ had still to be overcome by
UNICEF.

20
She said enough doses were expected to cover 20 percent of the kingdom’s population which
is about 1.2 million people. She added the balance of the vaccines were expected in the
second quarter of 2021.
The Oxford University / AstraZeneca vaccines are coming through the COVAX Facility. She
said the African Union had secured a provisional 270 million doses of coronavirus (COVID-
19) vaccines to distribute across the continent, including Swaziland.

Swaziland continues to use AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine, despite global health

scare
17 March 2021

Swaziland (eSwatini) is to continue distributing the AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine even

though its use has been suspended in countries across the world after a health scare.
About 32,000 doses of the vaccine were thought to be available in the kingdom with
donations received from India and the COVAX facility, which is partly funded by the
European Union.
Meanwhile, countries including France, Germany, Italy, Spain, the Netherlands, Denmark,
Bulgaria, Thailand and Indonesia temporarily suspended distribution of the AstraZeneca
vaccine following reports that it might have caused blood clots in some users.
In a statement, AstraZeneca said that as of 8 March there had been 15 events of deep-vein
thrombosis and 22 events of pulmonary embolism reported among the 17 million people
given its vaccine in the EU and UK, which it said ‘is much lower than would be expected to
occur naturally in a general population of this size’.
The European Medicines Agency and the World Health Organization both said that there was
no evidence the drug was causing clots.
The Swaziland Ministry of Health Principal Secretary (PS) Dr Simon Zwane said the vaccine
was safe and it would continue to be used. He added test would be undertaken if a person
who had been injected with the vaccine shows unhealthy symptoms.
As of 15 March 2021 – one year after the pandemic began – there had been 663 deaths from
coronavirus (COVID-19), according to the Swazi Ministry of Health.
Thursday, 18 March 2021
Swaziland U-turn on use of AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine
The Swaziland (eSwatini) Government has done an about turn and decided to halt purchases
of the controversial AstraZeneca coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine.
Many counties across the world have suspended use of the vaccine after reports that it could
cause blood clots.
The Swazi Government had said it would continue to use AstraZeneca. Now, according to a
media report in Swaziland, it will not use the AstraZeneca vaccine for now.

21
The Times of eSwatini reported, ‘Following the latest findings that the Oxford AstraZeneca
COVID-19 vaccine was less effective against the South African COVID-19 variant, South
Africa stopped the enrolment of the vaccine.
‘The eSwatini Ministry of Health also decided to halt buying the Oxford AstraZeneca
COVID-19 vaccine because of the close proximity between eSwatini and South Africa while
still doing studies to determine how much of the variant is in local shores.’
Minister of Health Lizzie Nkosi said Swaziland was turning to the Johnson & Johnson and
Pfizer BioNTech vaccines.
The Times quoted Nkosi saying, ‘The country did not totally depend on the Oxford
AstraZeneca.’
World Health Organisation Health Promotion Officer Dr Kevin Makadzange said it also
advised the delay of securing the Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine until a risk benefit assessment
was completed.
‘A country should make tests, to assess the probability of the South African variants against
the COVID-19 known strains. If the probability of having the South African variant is low,
then they could consider using the Oxford AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccines,’ Dr
Makadzange said.
On Wednesday (17 March 2021) the Swazi Government released photographs of Nkosi being
vaccinated with the AstraZeneca vaccine.

Swaziland top dogs get their coronavirus vaccines ahead of frontline health staff
23 March 2021

The Swaziland (eSwatini) Acting Prime Minister, cabinet ministers, the chief of police, and
top judiciary have been first to receive coronavirus vaccines although there are only enough
doses in the kingdom to fully protect 16,000 people.

22
The Swazi Government had announced front-line health workers would be first in line to
receive jabs. About 32,000 doses recently arrived in the kingdom which is ruled by King
Mswati III as an absolute monarch. A person needs two doses to be fully protected.
Announcing what he called the ‘launch of the national COVID19 Vaccine programme’,
Acting Prime Minister Themba Masuku said in a speech at the Men’s Wellness Centre,
Mbabane, ‘This launch and the vaccination rollout that will follow mark a step up in our fight
against COVID-19, underpinned by His Majesty’s Government’s immovable commitment to
protecting Emaswati [the people of Swaziland].’
In the past few days the Swazi Government has been publicising on Twitter the vaccination
of top politicians and judiciary.
Masuku said, ‘As we have been told by health experts countless times before, these vaccines
will save lives. The vaccines will help prevent us from falling seriously ill and in the process,
they will greatly lower death rates while also relieving the pressure exerted on our health
system.’
Despite the evidence that prominent people were getting priority treatment with the vaccine,
the Acting Prime Minister said, ‘As has been said before, the vaccination program will be
administered in a phased approach.’ He said Phase 1 Stage A would cover all healthcare
workers.
Phase 1 Stage B would cover the elderly and those with pre-existing serious illnesses.
Separately, Director of Health Services at the Ministry of Health Dr Vusi Magagula warned
Swaziland could get a third wave of the virus at the end of April / beginning of May 2021. He
said this was the time of year when cases of flu usually increased in the kingdom.
The eSwatini Observer reported Dr Magagula stated that once the number of infections
recorded daily reached 40 the ministry would take that as a sign of the wave having started to
increase.
The number of daily new cases has been fewer than 10 in recent days.

Acting Prime Minister Themba Masuku receives his coronavirus jab, ahead of frontline
health workers

23
 2 HUNGER
‘Urgent action needed to save lives’ as hunger grips Swaziland
16 February 2021

Nearly one in three of the Swaziland (eSwatini) population require ‘urgent humanitarian
assistance’ as they experience ‘high levels of acute food insecurity’, according to an analysis
just released.
This amounts to about 347,000 people.
Urgent action is required to save lives and livelihoods of populations, according to the IPC
Acute Food Insecurity Analysis covering January to September 2021. It said the problem was
made worse by measures to control coronavirus (COVID-19), high commodity prices and
erratic rainfall.
It said the loss of jobs due to the pandemic led to a loss and/or reduction of income, which
meant people could not afford to buy food.
It added, ‘The unusually high commodity prices further restricted food access and
exacerbated the already compromised food availability in the poorest households, further
heightening their poverty levels.’
In the Manzini urban area which includes Swaziland’s main commercial city about 20
percent of the population 26,336 people) were estimated to be facing high levels of acute
food insecurity.
‘The Manzini urban area mainly consists of people dependent on employment, therefore, the
impact of COVID-19 on households in this region has had a great impact on sources of
income and livelihoods,’ the report stated.
The closure of a number of industries as a result of lockdown measures to try and curb the
spread of the virus resulted in job losses in the region.
‘The region hosts the majority of industrial area in the country, and loss of employment has
had a bigger impact on the people’s livelihoods. High food prices and an increase in other
basic commodities have put a strain on households with lost or reduced employment, pushing
more into vulnerability to acute food insecurity.’
It said the increase in the number of deaths ‘will impact more households, especially with the
deaths of breadwinners and spending on health during this period’.
It said there was some hope in the future and the number facing high acute food insecurity
across Swaziland will likely fall to 209,000 after crops are harvested.
See also
One in three people in Swaziland in urgent need of food, Deputy PM reports
No let up on hunger in Swaziland – World Food Programme

24
Nearly 60,000 people in Swaziland face looming starvation and death: Save The
Children
26 March 2021

Nearly 60,000 people in Swaziland (eSwatini) face starvation or death without immediate
action, Save The Children reported.
They are among more than 347,000 people in the kingdom who face acute food shortage and
need urgent humanitarian assistance. This includes about 180,000 children.
The population of Swaziland is about 1.2 million people.
Save The Children said ‘nearly 60,000 people [are] experiencing emergency levels of hunger,
meaning that without immediate action, they could face starvation or even death’.
In a statement, Save The Children said, Swaziland had experienced a rapid deterioration in
food availability over past months due to coronavirus (COVID-19)-related job losses, high
food prices, and erratic rainfall leading to a poor harvest at the end of 2020.
It reported, ‘The latest figures show that 31 percent of the population is now suffering from
the food crisis, a markedly worse situation than the last hunger assessment in 2019, when 18
percent of the population was experiencing severe hunger.’
Save the Children has launched an emergency programme with the Swazi National Disaster
Management Agency and plans to scale up its response to ensure critical food packages and
nutritional supplements reach children and their families.
The agency is urgently calling on donors to release funds to support the emergency response
and stave off a hunger crisis.
Save the Children’s Executive Director in eSwatini, Dumisani Mnisi, said, ‘The situation in
eSwatini has been rapidly deteriorating and it’s finally reached a tipping point.’
Mnisi added, ‘We are calling on the international community for support as we rally together
to face this challenge.’

25
 3 MEDIA
Swaziland absolute monarch sets lawyers on critical online newspaper
16 March 2021

King Mswati III, the absolute monarch of Swaziland (eSwatini) has engaged lawyers in an
attempt to get an online newspaper to stop publishing critical articles about him.
The Swaziland News, is published on a website hosted in South Africa. In the past the King
has simply ordered the closure of newspapers and the arrest of journalists that criticise him.
The Swaziland News reported it had received a letter from South African law-firm Brian
Kahn Inc Attorneys on behalf of the King, Swazi Government ministers and other public
officials.
The Swaziland News reported, ‘The articles cited in the letter include among others: “King
Mswati, Stem Holdings and the multi-billion dagga cold war”, “King Mswati defrauded the
Swazi Nation in a multi-billion shareholding deal, to take over Sun International Hotels”,
“How King Mswati grabbed multi-billion Pension Fund after seizing Tibiyo TakaNgwane
and Provident Fund”’.
The newspaper reported, ‘The King through his lawyers demanded that this publication
should at least give him three (3) days to respond before publishing anything about him, he
said this should be done through the office of the Government Spokesperson Sabelo
Dlamini.’
Swaziland News editor Zweli Martin Dlamini told the newspaper, ‘This is just a desperate
attempt by the King to try and undermine access to information and freedom of the media but
he won't succeed.’
Ziphozonke Ngubeni, a South African national whose company Avulekhamazulu provides
website hosting services to the Swaziland News and was also cited in the letter said he would
not be told by the King how to provide services.
‘The King is a dictator and thinks he can just come here, hire lawyers and intimidate us, this
is South Africa and he is just exposing himself. We provide services to the Swaziland News
and we cannot dictate to the editor what to publish, we just provide hosting,’ the Swaziland
news reported him saying.
In August 2020 the Swazi Government said it would pursue Dlamini using ‘legal channels’
after he wrote and published several articles stating that the King had entered into a multi-
billion cannabis deal with a foreign company for his own benefit.
This was not the first time Zweli Martin Dlamini has been in trouble with the absolute
monarch. In April 2020 he wrote and published reports that King Mswati had tested positive
for the coronavirus (COVID-19) and had been taken to hospital with breathing problems.
He had reportedly fled to neighbouring South Africa in March 2020 for the second time. He
said he had been arrested and tortured by Swazi police who accused him of sedition.

26
Also, on 7 February 2020, The Swaziland News reported Dlamini was being harassed and
receiving death threats from King Mswati’s first born daughter Princess Sikhanyiso, who is
the Minister of Information Communication and Technology.
Dlamini had previously fled to South Africa in fear of his life in 2017. He had received death
threats from a local businessman before his newspaper Swaziland Shopping was shut down
by the Swazi government when the newspaper’s registration under the Books and
Newspapers Act 1963 was declined by the Swazi Ministry of Information, Communication
and Technology.
See also
‘No media freedom’ in Swaziland, Reporters Without Borders annual report states
Swaziland journalist critical of King flees, hides in forest five days

27
 4 HUMAN RIGHTS

Swaziland police halt democracy march, ‘torture’ leader

2 January 2021

Police in Swaziland (eSwatini) blocked a march for democracy and arrested leaders, torturing
at least one of them, according to reports.
A group called The New Parliament tried to hold a march in Manzini, the kingdom’s main
commercial city, but two leaders Phila Fakudze and Sibongile Mazibuko, President of the
Ngwane National Liberatory Congress (NNLC), were arrested and taken to Sigodvweni
Police Station.
Swati Newsweek, a news website, reported, ‘Mazibuko was questioned and released after
spending over five hours with the police officer who grilled her for calling for multiparty
democracy.’
Swaziland News, an online newspaper, reported Fakudze was arrested on 24 December 2020
and ‘was tortured the whole night and later taken back to Manzini police station for further
torturing’.
Fakudze told the Swaziland News, ‘While suffocating me, one of the police officers told me
to pray and tell my God that I'm coming, he said we can kill you and then said you were
trying to escape.’
Swati Newsweek reported Fakudze saying, ‘I was suffocated with a plastic bag by 12 police
officers. I was tied to a bench and assaulted. I was kept in police custody for 48 hours. The
police told me to pray and tell God that I am coming. They forced me to admit to being a
robbery suspect. I was forced to name innocent people. However, they released me after their
evidence crumbled.’
Swaziland is not a democracy and is ruled by King Mswati III as an absolute monarch. One
of the aims of The New Parliament is that the king hands back power to the people.
Separately, Swati Newsweek reported Thulani Motsa, the Swaziland Peoples Liberation
Movement (SPLM) Deputy President, was allegedly assaulted and suffocated by police. It
said it had a copy of a doctor’s report detailing injuries.
Swati Newsweek quoted Motsa saying, ‘Police officers from Sigodvweni and Manzini came
to my home, accompanied and confiscated my cellphone before bundling me into a police
van without any warrant of arrest. When we arrived in the police station I was tightly tied by
a black rope and suffocated by 10 male cops.’
Swati Newsweek reported Swazi police made a number of raids on homes of activists during
the recent holiday period.
See also
Swaziland journalist ‘tortured by police after criticising absolute monarch in
newspaper articles’
Swaziland police hold and ‘torture’ students after protest march on Govt ministry

28
Swaziland gripped by human rights abuses, annual report states
9 February 2021

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

29
Swaziland still ‘not free,’ human rights group Freedom House reports
25 March 2021

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.

‘Drastic deterioration’ in Swaziland human rights, United Nations’ investigation told

29 March 2021

There has been a ‘drastic deterioration’ in human rights in Swaziland (eSwatini), a United
Nations group investigating the kingdom, ruled by absolute monarch King Mswati III, was
told.
Human Rights Watch said since the 1973 Royal Decree, ‘political parties are banned, the
judiciary is severely compromised, and repressive laws have been used to target independent
organizations and harass civil society activists’.
In a submission to the UN Universal Periodic Review of Swaziland, Human Rights Watch
said, ‘There has been no progress on essential rights reforms, including the removal of all

30
legislative and practical restrictions to free exercise of civil and political rights, in particular
those related to freedom of association and expression to allow the registration and operation
of political parties; introducing greater political freedoms through free, fair, transparent
democratic elections; ensuring the right to health without discrimination on the basis of
sexual orientation or gender identity; abolition of the death penalty; and decriminalization of
same-sex relations and prevention of discrimination based on marital status and sexual
orientation.
‘The government has yet to ratify the Optional Protocol to the Convention Against Torture,
despite previously agreeing to do so.’
Human Rights Watch added, ‘The government has yet to repeal, or amend as appropriate, a
number of repressive laws that restrict basic rights to freedom of association and assembly,
despite these rights also being guaranteed in eSwatini’s 2005 constitution.
‘Police have sweeping powers under the Public Order Act. The king’s 1973 decree banning
political parties remains in force despite repeated calls from local political activists to have it
revoked. The constitution does not address the formation or role of political parties. Section
79 of the constitution provides that eSwatini practices an electoral system based on individual
merit and excludes the participation of political parties in elections. Traditional leaders and
chiefs have powers to restrict access to their areas, and have often used these powers to bar
civil society groups and political groups like the Ngwane National Liberatory Congress
(NNLC) and the People’s United Democratic Movement (PUDEMO).’
It added, ‘Restrictions on freedom of association and assembly continue. On October 20,
2020, the High Court heard a challenge by the eSwatini Sexual and Gender Minorities
(ESGM), a human rights community-based advocacy organization which aims to advance the
protection of human rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual transgender and intersex persons. In
September 2019, the eSwatini Registrar of Companies had refused to register ESGM as a
company saying that “ESGM’s objectives were unlawful because same-sex sexual acts are
illegal in the country.”’
Human Rights Watch is calling on the Swazi Government to guarantee freedoms of
association, assembly, and expression, including freedom of association on the basis of
sexual orientation and to revoke the king’s 1973 decree on political parties, allow the
registration and operation of political parties, and introduce multi-party democratic elections.
Earlier this month (March 2021) Freedom House in its annual report declared Swaziland was
‘not free’.
It 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.’
The Universal Periodic Review is a process through which all UN Member States are
provided the opportunity to review the human rights records of all other Member States. At
the same time, each State under review has the opportunity to report on human rights

31
conditions within their own borders, including actions that have been taken to address
concerns detailed by other States.

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 5 WOMEN
Stigma against women with HIV in Swaziland rife, human rights review told
30 March 2021

The stigma faced by people with HIV in Swaziland (eSwatini) continues to be widespread
with a particularly damning effect upon women and girls, according to a submission to a
United Nations group’s investigation into human rights in the kingdom.
‘It can affect the number of women and girls seeking treatment,’ the Birmingham City
University, School of Law (UK), said in a written submission to the UN Universal Periodic
Review of Swaziland.
It added, Swaziland had ‘particularly deep-rooted gender roles and cultural norms, which
often lead to negative consequences for women and girls, including in the context of HIV’.
It reported Swaziland had the highest rate of HIV across the world. It was estimated that
around 200,000 adults and children were living with HIV – about 17.4 percent of the
kingdom’s total population.
While the number of people currently living with HIV was still steadily increasing, the
number of new infections was decreasing. There were several reasons for this, including a
rise in the general population, and an expansion of access to antiretrovirals (HIV medication)
in Swaziland, meaning that more people infected with HIV were living longer lives.
Around 95 percent of those infected with HIV could access antiretrovirals. ‘However, there is
still much work to be done in eSwatini, particularly in terms of women and girls, as over 60
percent of those aged over 15 and living with HIV are women. This is a particularly sensitive
issue, as women in Eswatini are often considered to be “subordinate to men,” with gender
inequality being pervasive across the country.’
It reported, ‘ A study carried out in 2016-17 in the region of Shiselweni found that, in some
cases, “asymptomatic people living with HIV were motivated to start ART (antiretrovirals) in
order to prevent them from developing symptoms that would visibly show them to be HIV-
positive.”’
It added, ‘The study also found that in other cases, “engaging with treatment and care
services was also seen as having the potential to expose someone as HIV-positive and thereby
open to stigmatisation.” In these cases, “[w]hen the risk of exposure through clinic attendance
was deemed too great, people were found to disengage from care and take treatment
intermittently.”’
The Birmingham University report stated statistics also showed that this stigmatisation
particularly affected women and girls aged 15 to 24.
It added a practical way of tackling this stigmatisation was through education. ‘It is widely
agreed that the education provision in eSwatini regarding HIV and AIDS is poor,’ it added.
Statistics from 2014 showed that only 49 percent of young women (ages 15-24) and 51
percent of young men demonstrated adequate knowledge on this subject.

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The Birmingham University report said public programming explicitly designed to reduce the
existing stigma had helped create a supportive environment which was more tolerant and
understanding. To some extent, the Swazi Ministry of Health was already seeking to
implement this, through radio and television shows about HIV.
The university recommended Swaziland should extend its current Health Promotion
Programme using different types of accessible media, including creative and dramatic
presentations, and information campaigns for tolerance and inclusion and interactive
educational workshops.
It commended civil society and non-governmental organisations in Swaziland for efforts
made towards engaging projects and strategies to tackle stigma and foster inclusivity.

Swaziland near bottom in Africa for gender equality in the economy

8 March 2021

Swaziland (eSwatini) came third from bottom in sub-Saharan Africa in a global survey of
women in the economy.
The report called Women, Business and Law 2021 was published by the World Bank.
According to the report it ‘identifies the laws and regulations that restrict women’s economic
opportunity in 190 economies. From the basics of movement in the community to
the challenges of working, parenting, and retiring, the data offer objective, measurable
benchmarks for global progress toward gender equality. They also emphasize the policy
actions that could be taken to improve economic opportunity for women.’
In the survey Swaziland scored a total of 46.3 out of a hundred and was placed third from
bottom in a list of 46 countries in sub-Saharan Africa.
The kingdom, ruled by King Mswtati III as an absolute monarch, scored zero points in the
entrepreneurship indicator which explores the differences between men and women in that
area.
In other indictors the Swazi score was: mobility (100); workplace (25); pay (50); marriage
(40); parenthood (20); assets (60) and pension (75).
The report stated, ‘Gender equality is a fundamental human right. More important, it can
boost economic growth and improve development outcomes. There has never been a more
important time to ensure women’s economic empowerment. As economies adapt to difficult
circumstances, the World Bank Group will continue striving to improve conditions for their
most vulnerable populations. By recognizing barriers to success and highlighting solutions,
Women, Business and the Law 2021 is an important tool in that effort.’
See also
Swaziland Gender Links launches women in local economic development network

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 6 AND THE REST . . .
Swaziland King admits kingdom fails to be a First World nation
20 February 2021

King Mswati III, the absolute monarch of Swaziland (eSwatini), has admitted his poverty-
stricken kingdom will not attain ‘First World’ status by 2022. He had been claiming this was
possible for many years.
The King in a speech opening the Swazi Parliament on Friday (19 February 2021) blamed the
coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic for the failure.
He said, ‘We are now in 2021 and there are no clear signs, as yet, that we are going to make
much progress without eliminating COVID-19. There are, however, positive signs that it is
being brought under control.
‘Since we earmarked the year 2022 as the year to attain first world status, it is clear that we
are not going to reach this target. We hope it will not take us too long to get back on track and
attain it.’
In fact, Swaziland was never “on track” to achieve First World status.
The United Nations Development Program (UNDP) in Swaziland issued a report in 2014 that
received no publicity in the kingdom at the time, that said if Swaziland were to achieve First
World status it would have to be ‘among high human development countries like Norway,
Australia, United States, Netherlands and Germany to name a few’.
UNDP went on to give these statistics comparing Swaziland with Norway, the United States
and Germany.
Life expectancy: Swaziland (48.9 years); Norway (81.3); United States (78.7); Germany
(80.6).
Mean average years of schooling: Swaziland (7.1); Norway (12.6); United States (13.3);
Germany (12.2).
Percentage of population with at least secondary school education: Swaziland (48);
Norway (95.2); United States (94.5); Germany (96.6).
The UNDP was not alone in this. In 2012 a report published by 24/7 Wall St in the United
States, and based on data from the World Bank, identified Swaziland as the fifth poorest
country in the entire world.
It said 69 percent of King Mswati’s 1.3 million subjects lived in poverty.
Its report stated, ‘[T]he country’s workforce is largely concentrated in subsistence
agriculture, even though the country faces serious concerns about overgrazing and soil
depletion. While these factors harm the nation’s economy, health concerns are likely one of
the major factors preventing Swaziland’s population from escaping poverty.’
In 2017, the global charity Oxfam named Swaziland as the most unequal country in the world
in a report called Starting With People, a human economy approach to inclusive growth in
Africa that detailed the differences in countries between the top most earners and those at the

35
bottom. The Oxfam report stated the government, which is handpicked by King Mswati,
‘failed to put measures in place to tackle inequality, with poor scores for social spending and
progressive taxation, and a poor record on labour rights’.
Richard Rooney

Cyclone Eloise hits Swaziland leaving six deaths and devastation in its wake
8 February 2021

Six people were killed and more than 2,000 others were affected by Tropical Cyclone Eloise
when it hit Swaziland (eSwatini).
In a report Acting Prime Minister Themba Masuku said the cyclone ‘resulted in the
devastation of critical infrastructure such as roads and facilities, property, livelihoods,
agriculture and the natural environment as well as disruption in the provision of essential
services.’
Cyclone Eloise, developed in the Indian Ocean, landed in neighbouring Mozambique and
reached Swaziland with above average rainfall but without strong winds.
He reported at least 2,015 people from 500 homes were directly affected by the cyclone. A
total of 105 people were displaced and evacuated from their homes to a safer place to stay
temporarily. They were provided with food, water and home amenities.
In addition to affected homes, critical infrastructure was damaged such as roads covering at
least 775 km and 53 bridges.
Mudslides and rock falls along roads and in some homes were experienced, 66 water pumps
and several water reticulation facilities were damaged affecting irrigation capacity and access
to potable water in some of the country’s urban areas, including the Swazi capital Mbabane.
Masuku said, ‘Sadly, six people died while attempting to cross flooded rivers. It is clear that
the deaths could have been avoided had we all heeded to the alerts and warnings issued by
various government departments including the Police, National Disasters Management
Agency and the Meteorology department that no attempts should be made to cross flooded
rivers.’
He said government would need to reconsider settlement patterns in the kingdom to reduce
the risk of future loss of life particularly along river banks.
He said government would assist households without the coping capacity to rebuild their
damaged houses.

Swaziland people face forced eviction from homes in middle of coronavirus pandemic
15 March 2021

More than 100 people in Swaziland (eSwatini) face forced eviction from their homes with
nowhere to go in the middle of the coronavirus pandemic, Amnesty International reported.

36
In Madonsa town more than 100 people have been living under the threat of forced eviction
for years, to make way for the eSwatini National Provident Fund, a national pension fund
administrator. Residents are anxious and have nowhere to go after they were served with a
legal notice by the Fund to vacate their homes by 5 March 2021.
In a statement Amnesty said, ‘Forced evictions drive people into poverty and destroy
livelihoods.’ It added the Swazi Government ‘utterly disregard their human rights in the
pursuit of patronage and commercial interests’.
Muleya Mwananyanda, Amnesty International’s Deputy Director for Southern Africa, said
Swaziland had a grim history of not observing due process when evicting people, including
failing to consult communities or offering alternative places of accommodation when
carrying out evictions.
Mwananyanda said it was ‘especially appalling’ that the government was attempting to make
people homeless during a pandemic.
In a 2018 report, Amnesty International revealed that many Swazis were vulnerable to forced
evictions because they lacked security of tenure, due to the kingdom’s ‘deeply flawed land
governance system’.
Most of the kingdom’s land is Swazi Nation Land, held in ‘trust’ by King Mswati III who
rules Swaziland as an absolute monarch. The remainder of the land is Title-Deed Land,
owned by private entities or the government.
Amnesty reported, ‘The residents of Madonsa maintain that they obtained the land through
the traditional process of kukhonta, in which allegiance is offered to the chief who in turn
admits that individual into his chiefdom and allocates them land.’
The threat of eviction began in 2012, and since then thousands of people have been evicted
and are living in desperately poor conditions. Despite this, more people have continued to
build homes on the Madonsa land on the basis that that they felt to be secure following the
allocation of the land by the chief.
Amnesty said, ‘The people of Madonsa have not been adequately consulted or offered
alternative accommodation. Despite this some people have already started dismantling their
homes to avoid brutal forced evictions.’
On 6 March 2021, the Masvingo Magistrates Court granted an interim interdict barring the
arbitrary eviction of the villagers.
Amnesty reported, ‘The Court reaffirmed that no one can just decide to evict people from
their place of habitation without following the law. Villagers are devastated and continue to
live in fear due to a history of intimidation on those resisting eviction.’
See also
Amnesty says Swazi Govt failing to help people forcibly evicted from their homes a
year ago
Evicted farmers take on Swaziland absolute monarch to get their land back
Bulldozers move in to evict families
Homes destroyed for King’s vanity project

37
 ABOUT THE EDITOR

Richard Rooney was associate professor at the University of Swaziland 2005 – 2008, where
he was also the founding head of the Journalism and Mass Communication Department.

He has taught in universities in Africa, Europe and the Pacific. His academic research which
specialises in media and their relationships to democracy, governance and human rights has
appeared in books and journals across the world.

His writing regularly appears in newspapers, magazines and on websites. He was a full-time
journalist in his native United Kingdom for 10 years, before becoming an academic.
He has published the blog Swazi Media Commentary since 2007 and also has other social
media sites that concentrate on human rights issues in Swaziland.

He holds a Ph.D in Communication from the University of Westminster, London, UK.

38
 OTHER PUBLICATIONS

Swaziland: Striving for Freedom, Vol. 40, October to December 2020 is available free of
charge here
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.
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 30th 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.

Swaziland: Striving for Freedom, Vol. 39, July to September 2020 is available free of
charge here
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.

39
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.
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.

Swaziland: Striving for Freedom, Vol. 38, April to June 2020 is available free of charge
here
The coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis dominated events in Swaziland 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.
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.

40
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.

Swaziland: Striving for Freedom, Vol. 37, January to March 2020 is available free of
charge here
Although there were no reported deaths and only nine reported cases of coronavirus
(COVID-19) by the end of March, King Mswati III, the absolute monarch of Swaziland
(eSwatini) declared a state of emergency.

Many civil liberties were suspended; school, colleges and universities were closed
indefinitely. Many businesses were forced to close and severe travel bans were placed on
people. Gatherings, including attendance at churches and other places of worship, were
curtailed.

Almost immediately, members of the police, army and other security forces were beating and
intimidating ordinary civilians. Some businesses reported they also demanded bribes to allow
them to stay open.

The response to the coronavirus was the main topic in the period January to March 2020.
Elsewhere, even before coronavirus struck, the Swaziland economy continued in freefall. In
the annual budget spending on internal security was increased as, ‘Support to our security
forces as we pursue economic stability and growth in the country.’

As in previous years, the Auditor General highlighted shortcomings in the way government
departments recorded their spending, with billions of emalangeni not properly accounted for.

The education sector continued in crisis as government ran out of money. Many pupils were
unable to attend primary school because the government did not pay fees.

King Mswati continued to exert his power over his subjects. University lecturers were forced
to weed his fields; his chief of police threatened social media users with the wrath of the law
if they dared to criticise the king; in February the King told his parliament to ignore calls for
democracy and to stick with him.

Swaziland: Striving for Freedom: Vol. 36 October to December 2019 is available free of
charge here
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.

41
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.’

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.

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 Freedom Vol. 35 July to Sept 2019 is available free of charge here
Police in Swaziland attacked striking public servants with live ammunition, rubber bullets,
teargas and water cannon as a long-running dispute over pay dragged on. The police
behaviour has become typical in the kingdom ruled by King Mswati III as an absolute
monarch. The number of injured was initially estimated as 15, but that more than doubled as
more information became available. Separate from this there were new fears that police had a
‘shoot-to-kill’ policy after three men who escaped from a correctional facility were gunned
down.

These were some of the main events in the period July to September 2019 and contained in
Swaziland: Striving for Freedom, volume 35.
The kingdom continues in financial meltdown, with health and educational services crippled.
Schools and hospitals have run out of supplies and staff have been sacked and other
vacancies left unfilled. Up to 200 teachers had reportedly died from stress-related illness over
the past two years as a result. Cancer patients have been refused treatment because the
government has not paid hospital bills. At least 11 children died of diarrhoea because of drug
shortages.
Elsewhere, Lisa Peterson, United States Ambassador to Swaziland renewed her call for the
Royal Decree that keeps King Mswati in power as an absolute monarch to be scrapped.
Oxfam, the international anti-poverty charity, named Swaziland as the country with most
income inequality in Africa. Human Rights Watch reported restrictions on freedom of

42
association and assembly continued in Swaziland although the kingdom had signed the
African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance in January.
An extensive survey revealed LGBTI people in Swaziland suffer mental health issues and
many have attempted suicide because of the way they are discriminated against in the
kingdom.

Swaziland: Striving for Freedom Vol. 34 April to June 2019 is available free of charge
here
Public services throughout Swaziland are close to meltdown as the government, handpicked
by absolute monarch King Mswati III, fails to get a grip on the economy. Health services
have been especially hit over the past three months with reports that people have died as
medicines run out because the government did not paid suppliers. Drugs for HIV are in short
supply, even though the kingdom has the highest rate of infection in the world. Patients in
public hospitals have also gone unfed.
These are some of the reports that have appeared on the Swazi Media Commentary website in
the second quarter of 2019 and are contained in this compilation, Swaziland: Striving for
Freedom Vol 34. Also included: the International Trade Union Confederation placed
Swaziland near the bottom of countries across the world for workers’ rights. It said in the past
year ‘police brutality reached unprecedented levels’ and ‘security forces fired live
ammunition at protesting workers’. Elsewhere, public service unions marched on the
government demanding cost-of-living salary increases.
The absolute monarch King Mswati maintained his grip on power by appointing 28 members
of his family to the kingdom’s committees and boards, including 10 princes and princesses to
the 23-member Liqoqo, a supreme traditional advisory body which is also known as the
Swazi National Council Standing Committee. This was in addition to the eight members of
his Royal Family he appointed to the Senate and six to the House of Assembly last year.
Meanwhile, the United States in its annual report on human rights in Swaziland found there
was no appetite to investigate human rights abuses or corruption. Swaziland was controlled
by the King and ‘political power remained largely vested with the king and his traditional
advisors,’ the report, stated.

Swaziland: Striving for Freedom Vol. 33 January to March 2019 is available free of
charge here
The gap between rich and poor is widening and the kingdom faces ‘an unprecedented
economic crisis’: these were two of the main concerns of Finance Minister Neal Rijkenberg
in his national budget for Swaziland where the ‘economic outlook remains subdued’. He went
on to threaten to cut public service jobs if workers did not fall into line and accept his
programme to reduce debts.
Meanwhile, the Auditor General Timothy Matsebula in his annual report stated the finances
of the Government were in such a mess that billions of emalangeni could not be accounted
for.

43
Public service across Swaziland are in freefall with hospitals and clinics short of vital drugs.
Schools are unable to feed vulnerable children. All because the government has not paid
suppliers.
These were some of the major themes from Swaziland over the first three months of 2019 and
published in Swaziland: Striving for Freedom: volume 33, the latest quarterly compilation
from the pages of Swazi Media Commentary.
The international spotlight has been shone on Swaziland, where King Mswati III rules as sub-
Saharan Africa’s last absolute monarch. The kingdom continues to be riddled with
corruption, according to Transparency International. Freedom House once again declared
Swaziland ‘not free’ in its annual Freedom in the World Index.
Closer to home, the Law Society of Swaziland Secretary Thulani Maseko criticised recent
appointments of judges, saying there was no transparency in the choices and the Swazi
Constitution was ignored.

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 Swazi Media Commentary

Containing information and commentary in

support of human rights in Swaziland

Click Here

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