Unless Canadians go looking they rarely hear news of Swaziland but the August Reed Dance sometimes does make international news.This is the annual event where the king chooses a teen aged girl who becomes a type of concubine and only gets "wife" status when she becomes pregnant.
This year's Reed Dance may not be such a festive occasion as the atmosphere in the country is far from celebratory. Since Tuesday a raging forest fire has been burning in the north west of the country, last week a two day union strike brought out 3000 people on July 25 and 5000 the following day, and UN agencies have appealed to the international donor community for a timely response to avert a full-blown humanitarian crisis in the drought-struck kingdom.
Surely the people of Swaziland have been patient with the governing aristocracy but life for the majority is unbearable: at 33.4 percent, according to UN estimates, Swaziland has one of the highest HIV/AIDS prevalence rates in the world, 70 percent of the 1.1 million citizens live on less than one dollar a day, 10 percent of the ruling elite enjoy the wealth and 40 percent of the population is facing acute food and water shortages.
In Sept 2006, Ruth Archibald was appointed High Commissioner for Canada in the kingdom. She was in Swaziland on Thursday July 26, the second day of the general strike. Both Swazi news papers reported she was there to present her credentials but no doubt she was aware of the masses in the streets. Your views can reach her at pret@dfait-maeci.gc.ca
July 29 Hundreds left homeless
July 28 ‘Runaway’ fire spreads towards town centre
July 26 Mondi Forest burning
July 25-26 Strike
July 25 UN asks for $15.6 million to save 400,000 people
July 27 His Majesty Upholds Constitution
July 27 King lauds Canadian govt for supporting development
This year's Reed Dance may not be such a festive occasion as the atmosphere in the country is far from celebratory. Since Tuesday a raging forest fire has been burning in the north west of the country, last week a two day union strike brought out 3000 people on July 25 and 5000 the following day, and UN agencies have appealed to the international donor community for a timely response to avert a full-blown humanitarian crisis in the drought-struck kingdom.
Surely the people of Swaziland have been patient with the governing aristocracy but life for the majority is unbearable: at 33.4 percent, according to UN estimates, Swaziland has one of the highest HIV/AIDS prevalence rates in the world, 70 percent of the 1.1 million citizens live on less than one dollar a day, 10 percent of the ruling elite enjoy the wealth and 40 percent of the population is facing acute food and water shortages.
In Sept 2006, Ruth Archibald was appointed High Commissioner for Canada in the kingdom. She was in Swaziland on Thursday July 26, the second day of the general strike. Both Swazi news papers reported she was there to present her credentials but no doubt she was aware of the masses in the streets. Your views can reach her at pret@dfait-maeci.gc.ca
July 29 Hundreds left homeless
July 28 ‘Runaway’ fire spreads towards town centre
July 26 Mondi Forest burning
July 25-26 Strike
July 25 UN asks for $15.6 million to save 400,000 people
July 27 His Majesty Upholds Constitution
July 27 King lauds Canadian govt for supporting development
To follow current events in Swaziland see LATEST NEWS
