Let them eat cake, Princess Sikhanyiso
“Most people have the Internet on their phones – I think almost everyone in Swaziland is on Facebook.” Princess Sikhanyiso, the eldest daughter of Swaziland’s absolute monarch, King Mswati III, is speaking about the telecommunications industry in Swaziland at her graduation at Sydney University, where she also told the Australian tabloid, The Daily Telegraph, that she [...]
The role of Swazi democrats in the cultural boycott
First let send a public message of encouragement to all members of the Mass democratic Movement in Swaziland and to thank the Swaziland solidarity Network for continuing to support our initiatives to create a democratic Swaziland. In particular, I wish to address the issue of the Cultural Boycott against Swaziland’s undemocratic regime. This boycott is very [...]
New strategy for Swazi democratic movement?
“I would say there is a strong feeling that we need to revisit our strategy.” Swaziland National Union of Students activist Ace Lushaba is speaking of the clamp down on recent protests against king Mswati III’s undemocratic, brutal, cleptocratic regime. There have historically been two main strategies used by the democratic movement in Swaziland. The first [...]
The con wolf who wrote nonsense
There are times when something is stated that is so outrageously far from the truth that one simply lacks the energy to respond to it. One such case is that involving an article in Newstime Africa Improving by one of the Africa Contact personnel whose name is not even worth mentioning. This article is an [...]
The democratic movement that cried wolf
Messages proclaiming the final days of King Mswati’s absolute monarchy in Swaziland, or the revolutionary uprising of thousands of Swazis, have been conveyed many times by individuals and organisations within Swaziland’s democratic movement. Here are a few examples from the past year: “The people of Swaziland are convinced that no muti or ritual will ever [...]
Swazis vow to continue pro-democracy demonstrations after police crackdown
“As we wind down the day, it would be folly for the government to think we’ve retreated. We’re going to reenergize ourselves, to regroup and to mobilise more so that we come back stronger,” Mary Pais Da Silva of the Swaziland Democracy Campaign said in a press statement about today’s protests and strikes for democratic [...]
Swazis call for democracy on state of emergency anniversary
Last years April 12 protests that called for democratisation of Swaziland’s absolute monarchy, amongst other things by removing the state of emergency that has been in place since April 12 1973, were thwarted by countless road blockades, detainments and police violence. Swaziland’s democratic movement insists that this year’s protests will be different, however. “From the 11th [...]
Swazi students demand justice
“Life without scholarships is impossible. The socio economic situation in Swaziland dictates that no parent can afford to pay tertiary fees. Denying students scholarships is denying them a future.” President of Swaziland’s Students’ Representative Council, Sibusiso Nhlabatsi, is talking about the planned cuts in education funding and students’ scholarships that will leave many already struggling [...]
Swazi student leader Maxwell: I was tortured
“I was tied to a bench with my face looking upwards and they suffocated me with the black plastic bag with a huge police officer on my stomach. They [Swazi police] asked me where the guns were and who was going to come to Swaziland to overthrow the king. They did that over and over [...]
Help us help ourselves, say Swaziland’s young single mothers
Women in Swaziland are heavily discriminated against, both by law and by custom. According to the former, women in effect have the status of minors and cannot get a bank loan without the consent of their husbands. According to the latter, women can be fined for wearing trousers by traditional authorities, nearly half of Swazi [...]
