The Southern Africa Litigation Centre through the support of the Hivos SRHR fund published a policy brief focusing on the harmful practice of child marriage and the opportunity for law reform in Eswatini. This is in line with the Day of the African Child, commemorated on 16 June 2022, whose theme was “Eliminating Harmful practices […]
Tag: Eswatini
SADC should distinguish between this sideshow and the people of Eswatini’s long struggle for democracy and human rights. Recent allegations that Eswatini’s July 2021 ‘winter revolution’ involved foreign-funded protest action aimed at regime change have put the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the country’s pro-democracy movements in a bind. They have also emboldened King […]
Two southern African countries, South Africa and Eswatini, are undergoing important reforms. South Africa is reviewing its electoral system while Eswatini is revisiting the powers of the monarch through a national dialogue. South Africa and Eswatini can look to Lesotho for lessons. It’s a fellow member of the Southern African Development Community and has grappled […]
Taiwan’s President Tsai Ing-wen has wrapped up a visit to eSwatini, Taipei’s only diplomatic ally in Africa, after signing a string of development agreements. But will the relationship hold? eSwatini is one of only 13 countries worldwide that officially recognise Taiwan over China, which claims the self-ruled island as its own territory. As such the […]
The people of Eswatini head to the polls Friday for elections – despite the fact that political parties are banned. In the last absolute monarchy of Africa, formerly known as Swaziland, all powers are vested in King Mswati III. Elected members of parliament serve as his advisors. More than 580,000 registered voters will elect 59 […]
The elections were quite well run, say the African Union and SADC. But to what end? Eswatini – or Swaziland as some of its citizens still call it – held last Friday what should be called a reasonably competent charade of a legislative election. The polls were essentially meaningless as Parliament has no power in […]
London — Thulani Maseko knew speaking out in Eswatini was a risky business. An activist and well-known human rights lawyer, he’d previously spent 14 months in jail for criticising the country’s lack of judicial independence. Now he’s dead, shot in his home by unknown assailants. Among those Maseko litigated against was the country’s tyrannical ruler, […]
Without Maseko’s leadership, the Multi-Stakeholder Forum that pushes for democratic change shows signs of falling apart. Seven months after his murder, it is evident how much the absence of political activist and human rights lawyer Thulani Maseko has weakened Eswatini’s chances of a genuine transition to democracy. Maseko, who headed the Multi-Stakeholder Forum (MSF), a […]
It is an oft-repeated fact that the deadliest creature on earth is the mosquito, a terrifying transmitter of the malaria parasite. According to the most recent World Malaria Report 2022, there were 619 000 deaths in 2021, with 90% of these occurring in sub-Saharan Africa. Those most likely to die are children under five years […]
On Tuesday, 5 September, Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen will visit Eswatini, Taipei’s only remaining diplomatic ally in Africa. Meanwhile, Beijing’s political influence on the continent continues to grow. Tsai will head to Eswatini on 5 September, and attend celebrations marking the African nation’s independence day and King Mswati III’s birthday during the visit, her spokeswoman […]