On Sunday 4 July 2021, two New Frame journalists, Magnificent Mndebele and Cebelihle Mbuyisa, who were on assignment in eSwatini were detained, assaulted and tortured by security forces. Mndebele and Mbuyisa were in eSwatini to report on the pro-democracy protests with a specific focus on the state murder of citizens. While in the country, they […]
On Friday, 2 July 2021, the Southern Africa Litigation Centre supported the filing of an urgent application in the High Court of Eswatini before Honourable Justice Qinisile M. Mabuza (Melusi Simelane v MTN Eswatini, Eswatini Mobile and others). The application was filed to oppose the internet shutdown in the country after the Eswatini Communications Commission […]
Speaking on the ongoing situation in Eswatini, a Commonwealth spokesperson said: “The Commonwealth has been following the situation in Eswatini very closely, and is concerned about the regrettable violence that has led to loss of life and the destruction of property. “The Commonwealth calls for calm and restraint and urges all political and civic leaders […]
A team from the Southern African Development Community will arrive in eSwatini on Sunday, after the kingdom was rocked by pro-democracy protests and claims of a deadly crackdown. Protesters have stepped up their campaign for political reform in recent days in the tiny landlocked country, formerly known as Swaziland. The government deployed the army to […]
The eSwatini government on Friday defended a crackdown on pro-democracy protesters even as acting Prime Minister Themba Masuku denied reports of deaths from the brutal force. In a statement on Friday, Masuku suggested the protesters had descended into “criminality”, arguing they had looted and damaged property, which according to him was no longer within the […]
The insurgency in northern Mozambique should have taught Southern Africa the obvious lesson that it’s safer, cheaper and more effective to resolve conflicts before they explode. Having largely neglected Cabo Delgado crisis for several years, the Southern African Development Community (SADC) has now decided to send a military force into the province. Early warning systems […]
The eSwatini government on Tuesday dismissed reports that King Mswati III had fled the country following the violent, pro-democracy protests that escalated on Monday. Though admitting the protests had caused a “situation” in the country, acting Prime Minister Themba Masuku told a virtual press conference the King, Africa’s last total monarch, was in the country. […]
The United States Embassy in Swaziland (eSwatini) is to stay closed on Wednesday (30 June 2021) in reaction to the civil unrest sweeping the kingdom and a curfew imposed by the Swazi Government. In a ‘security alert’ published on social media it stated, ‘Civil unrest continues in eSwatini, including the burning and looting of stores, […]
A curfew has been imposed across Swaziland (eSwatini) as pro-democracy protests intensify and unconfirmed reports say absolute monarch King Mswati III has fled the kingdom. The Swazi Acting Prime Minister Themba Masuku announced on Tuesday (29 June 2021) there would be an immediate curfew between the hours of 6pm and 5am. He said in a […]
Pro-democracy protests continued across Swaziland (eSwatini) despite a ban on marching imposed by the kingdom’s absolute monarch. Marches took place in at least 10 locations – mainly in rural areas. Police fired teargas and live ammunition in an attempt to disperse protestors. There were many injuries, including to two journalists. Swaziland is ruled by King […]
King Mwati III, the absolute monarch in Swaziland (eSwatini), has banned public pro-democracy demonstrations in the kingdom. Thousands of protestors have marched mainly in rural areas across Swaziland over the past weeks. More marches were planned for the coming days. Political parties are banned from taking part in elections and groups advocating democracy are outlawed […]
Media freedom in Swaziland (eSwatini) is getting worse and a regional campaign group is calling on absolute monarch King Mswati III to respect human rights. The Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) wrote to the King to express ‘concern at the deteriorating media freedom and freedom of expression environment’ in the kingdom. It said that […]
As Swaziland (eSwatini) faces months without adequate numbers of coronavirus vaccines, and with a third wave of the pandemic feared, Acting Swazi Prime Minister Themba Masuku announced further restrictions to everyday life. He said in a statement that the daily number of coronavirus (COVID-19) cases increased since the first week of June 2021, ‘and currently […]
Media reporting of the coronavirus pandemic in Swaziland (eSwatini) was inadequate, according to a new UNESCO report. News concentrated on the statistics and mostly official Swazi Government sources were used in reports. UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) studied nine countries in southern Africa, including Swaziland. Overall, UNESCO reported ‘Most notably, reporting the […]
Only 35,000 of Swaziland’s 1.2 million population have received their first vaccination against coronavirus and the kingdom has run out. The Acting Prime Minister Themba Masuku said more were expected. He said they should arrive in Swaziland (also known as eSwatini) before the end of May 2021. Masuku and Health Minister Lizzie Nkosi have been […]
Statement by the Hon. Mr VF Hlabisa MPL, President of the IFP and Leader of the Official Opposition In Kwazulu Natal: In the midst of a painful time of loss for the Zulu Nation, hope has risen with the naming of an heir to the throne. The IFP welcomes the announcement of His Royal Highness […]
Prince Misuzulu — whose name means “strengthening the Zulus” — will take over as the next Zulu king, according to the will of his mother and regent queen. The announcement led to chaos at the royal palace. Prince Misuzulu Zulu, the eldest son of South Africa’s late Zulu King Goodwill Zwelithini and his recently departed […]
There have been ‘occasional reports’ in Swaziland (eSwatini) that police have inflicted ‘torture and other cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment’, according to a report from the United States Government on human rights in the kingdom. In its annual report covering the year 2020, the US State Department said the constitution and law prohibited […]