Sikhumbuzo Phakathi, former Secretary of the Swaziland Association of Students, wrote a stirring letter to the Sunday Times in August. Truly, it is a eulogy to Ngozo Ntokozo, the young man murdered by Royal Swaziland Police.
Phakathi explains Ntokozo fought for the emancipation of the students, demanding the establishment of SRCs in schools, free universal and relevant education and the abolishment of violent punishment against students. He was expelled from the education system and never allow back. Perhaps he had the potential of someone such as Steve Biko but, like the apartheid Boers, the ruling Swazis would not permit this "free thinker" to grow.
After years of struggling for an education Ntokozo said Comrades, I am not going to beg for life. I have fought enough to get my education. The system is refusing me that opportunity. If they don’t want us to go to school what do they want us to do.
Police had branded this man a criminal and in August claimed they had to shoot him as he was running away. A recent postmortem report says Ntokozo was shot dead within a radius of 35 centimetres; he was without a weapon and wearing only jeans. Now the Prime Minister of Swaziland has publicly said he doubts the report. He may be worried about the upcoming Commonwealth meeting in Uganda.
Amnesty International is watching Swaziland closely and the international community is becoming more aware of the contemptible government of that country. The "head boys" who tell the king what to do are advising him to become pals with a miserable lot of kings, sultans and the like. Mswati has enough wives, concubines, cars and cattle to satisfy any 17th century mentality. You see, he's the kind of fellow who believes he's descended from the sun. There are no free men as "subjects" born on his land belong to him; born to serve him.
As the royal government carries on with the royal whims we must ask how many foreign nations are sending funding there? Will our Canadian Foreign Affairs engage in "diplomatic dialogue" as Mswati's monologue continues?
Write to Maxime Bernier our new Minister of Foreign Affairs and let him hear your opinions.
Ntokozo Ngozo
Nov 18 Royal Villas’ $1 million splash for Sultan suite
Nov 17 Govt buys 74 escort cars for $4 million illegally
To follow current events in Swaziland see LATEST NEWS
Sunday, November 18, 2007
Sunday, September 30, 2007
Sept 30 SD 2007
Earlier this week, Swaziland was reported as ranking worse than Zimbabwe in terms of good governance. The fact that political parties are not allowed to participate in national elections is Swaziland's weakness. The government spokesperson claimed "boys" had written the analysis which came from the Mo Ibrahim Foundation. One can never expect an intelligent response from the government spin-doctors!
Sept 6 marks Independence Day in SD so Will Sommer, a American university student in Washington, D.C., celebrated the day by placing flyers in windshields and lampposts around the embassy. The ambassador's car windshield was not missed. Perhaps this will become an ongoing action. Will, thanks for assisting Swazi Solidarity.
The government of SD twists the new Constitution every-which-way so that royalty won't have to lose power. The progressives of the country stated long ago that the public consultation process was flawed and they knew the final produce would be a bogus document. Delay is the name of the game as traditionalist enjoys the status quo.
Sept 27 SD ranked worse than Zimbabwe
Sept 28 Why Sd ranked lower than Zim
Sept 6 '07 Info Flyer
Sept 28 Govt struggling to satisfy constitutional provisions
To follow current events in Swaziland see LATEST NEWS
Sept 6 marks Independence Day in SD so Will Sommer, a American university student in Washington, D.C., celebrated the day by placing flyers in windshields and lampposts around the embassy. The ambassador's car windshield was not missed. Perhaps this will become an ongoing action. Will, thanks for assisting Swazi Solidarity.
The government of SD twists the new Constitution every-which-way so that royalty won't have to lose power. The progressives of the country stated long ago that the public consultation process was flawed and they knew the final produce would be a bogus document. Delay is the name of the game as traditionalist enjoys the status quo.
Sept 27 SD ranked worse than Zimbabwe
Sept 28 Why Sd ranked lower than Zim
Sept 6 '07 Info Flyer
Sept 28 Govt struggling to satisfy constitutional provisions
To follow current events in Swaziland see LATEST NEWS
Monday, August 13, 2007
Aug 13 SD 2007
Perhaps the king of Swaziland got some pointers from the president of the USA about manipulating elections and creating spin as it now looks like there will be a push to delay the May 2008 election. From a distance, it seems the Swazi royalty is inciting a riot.
In October 1992 organisations such as the Law Society, Trade Unions, Civil Servants' Union, Federation of Employers, Council of Churches, Pudemo, the Association of Journalist and several others called for a convention for full democracy in Swaziland - genuine democracy. Government responded 14 years later. In Feb 2006 a half-baked constitution was praised only by those who created it and has been criticized by many sectors of society. Now, it is this same "royal creation" which will be used in justifying the delay of fair and democratic representation for the people of Swaziland.
The recent strike which brought thousands to the streets was not a frivolous exercise. The majority agrees change is necessary if the general population is to be allowed to live a decent life. Scanning the daily newspapers gives a clear impression of the life in Swaziland: girls are rapes every 48 hours, drought has caused severe food shortages for a people who depend on subsistence farming, bread prices and bus fares are constantly on the rise, while orphaned and vulnerable children are left to exist in Mswati's experiment of "survival of the fittest - survival of the richest".
For anyone who looks beyond the bare-breasted girls at the Reed Dance, the talk of Swazi culture or the quaint Swazi Village for the tourist there is no question of responsibility for the social ills in this tiny country. The majority of citizens are pushed far away from the discussions, the wealth, and the choices. Self-determination is not a reality when you are simply a king's subject who gets shoved around by these royal whims.
In Malaysia last week the king told the media that political parties were not banned in Swaziland and as soon as he got home the local papers reported The king said such statements would always be there but since we were Swazis and have been in this country, we know that nothing has changed about political parties. Perhaps Mswati should get some advise from a king in Asia.
Aug 13 Swaziland: Changing for the worse (Editorial)
Aug 13 Frequent price hikes hit the public hard
Aug 12 Assaulted by cops at rally
Aug 11 GENERAL ELECTIONS IN 2009
Aug 11 Milk ‘drought’ hits Swaziland
Aug 11 UN goes cap in hand for E100million to save 410000 starving Swazis
Aug 9 Young girl raped every 48 hours
Aug 8 Money for OVCs will not be enough again
Aug 6 Consumers against increase of bread price/Bread price higher in SD than in Lesotho
Aug 1 Child prostitution: Hard Times Raise Levels of Abuse
Aug 8 Swazi king promises democracy
Aug 13 Status quo regarding parties remains the same, says king
Aug 11 Comparing Kings- Bhutan vs Swaziland
To follow current events in Swaziland see LATEST NEWS
In October 1992 organisations such as the Law Society, Trade Unions, Civil Servants' Union, Federation of Employers, Council of Churches, Pudemo, the Association of Journalist and several others called for a convention for full democracy in Swaziland - genuine democracy. Government responded 14 years later. In Feb 2006 a half-baked constitution was praised only by those who created it and has been criticized by many sectors of society. Now, it is this same "royal creation" which will be used in justifying the delay of fair and democratic representation for the people of Swaziland.
The recent strike which brought thousands to the streets was not a frivolous exercise. The majority agrees change is necessary if the general population is to be allowed to live a decent life. Scanning the daily newspapers gives a clear impression of the life in Swaziland: girls are rapes every 48 hours, drought has caused severe food shortages for a people who depend on subsistence farming, bread prices and bus fares are constantly on the rise, while orphaned and vulnerable children are left to exist in Mswati's experiment of "survival of the fittest - survival of the richest".
For anyone who looks beyond the bare-breasted girls at the Reed Dance, the talk of Swazi culture or the quaint Swazi Village for the tourist there is no question of responsibility for the social ills in this tiny country. The majority of citizens are pushed far away from the discussions, the wealth, and the choices. Self-determination is not a reality when you are simply a king's subject who gets shoved around by these royal whims.
In Malaysia last week the king told the media that political parties were not banned in Swaziland and as soon as he got home the local papers reported The king said such statements would always be there but since we were Swazis and have been in this country, we know that nothing has changed about political parties. Perhaps Mswati should get some advise from a king in Asia.
Aug 13 Swaziland: Changing for the worse (Editorial)
Aug 13 Frequent price hikes hit the public hard
Aug 12 Assaulted by cops at rally
Aug 11 GENERAL ELECTIONS IN 2009
Aug 11 Milk ‘drought’ hits Swaziland
Aug 11 UN goes cap in hand for E100million to save 410000 starving Swazis
Aug 9 Young girl raped every 48 hours
Aug 8 Money for OVCs will not be enough again
Aug 6 Consumers against increase of bread price/Bread price higher in SD than in Lesotho
Aug 1 Child prostitution: Hard Times Raise Levels of Abuse
Aug 8 Swazi king promises democracy
Aug 13 Status quo regarding parties remains the same, says king
Aug 11 Comparing Kings- Bhutan vs Swaziland
To follow current events in Swaziland see LATEST NEWS
Sunday, July 29, 2007
July 29 SD 2007
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
Sunday, June 17, 2007
June 17 SD 2007
As we watch the situation in Swaziland deteriorate from one week to the next, it is hard to find a healthy segment in this perverse kingdom.
The medical system is ready to crumble with inadequate equipment, drugs and supplies.
Educational needs are not being met as children and orphans are excluded while teachers are transfered throughout the country even when there are no accommodations available.
Socially, the country is in chaos. Stories appear in the paper about young girls who are raped by their own brothers and teen aged girls passed over as sex-slaves to men outside the country.
All the while government keeps talking as their hands go from the public purse to their own pockets. The PM talks about their "good looking king" who attracts foreigners and the residents of the capital begin to notice the EMAZIMU - the cannibals!
Plutocracy is government ruled by the wealthy - Democracy is ruled by the people. Change is coming to Swaziland.
To follow current events in Swaziland see LATEST NEWS
The medical system is ready to crumble with inadequate equipment, drugs and supplies.
Educational needs are not being met as children and orphans are excluded while teachers are transfered throughout the country even when there are no accommodations available.
Socially, the country is in chaos. Stories appear in the paper about young girls who are raped by their own brothers and teen aged girls passed over as sex-slaves to men outside the country.
All the while government keeps talking as their hands go from the public purse to their own pockets. The PM talks about their "good looking king" who attracts foreigners and the residents of the capital begin to notice the EMAZIMU - the cannibals!
Plutocracy is government ruled by the wealthy - Democracy is ruled by the people. Change is coming to Swaziland.
May 23 Health crisis
May 28 Govt fails to increase OVCs school fees
June 4 Swazi girl (14) sex slave in SA
June 6 Rabies-infected girl dies
June 7 National strike to demand parties in 2008
June 15 Our handsome king attracts tourists - PM
June 16 Emazimu!May 28 Govt fails to increase OVCs school fees
June 4 Swazi girl (14) sex slave in SA
June 6 Rabies-infected girl dies
June 7 National strike to demand parties in 2008
June 15 Our handsome king attracts tourists - PM
To follow current events in Swaziland see LATEST NEWS
Monday, May 21, 2007
May 21 SD 2007
In May 2005, Paul Boateng was appointed the UK High Commissioner to Swaziland, as well as South Africa. In Feb 2006, he caused a stir as he called for the unbanning of political parties when presenting his credentials at Lozitha Royal Palace in Swaziland. Two weeks ago he spoke of multi-party elections; he understands democratic principles and is a rare politician for speaking out so clearly on this matter.
Currently in Swaziland there is concern about housing for police officers. Earlier this month a single officer allegedly raped his house mate's teenage daughter. Single and married officers share accommodations and it seems male and female officers are also sharing their quarters. Clearly there is a problem and the government will no doubt set up a commission or inquiry but the situation is plain to all. To keep a tight grip of control on the people of Swaziland, the government increases the number of police but is unconcerned over the basis needs of these individuals. At the same time, police are not able to organize and form a union in Swaziland and recently two members have been fired from the police service for doing so!
To follow current events in Swaziland see LATEST NEWS
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Boateng
Feb 17, 2006 Unban political parties says UK
May 10, 2007 British call for parties by 2008
May 14, 2007 Constitution implementation needs to move rapidly
Feb 17, 2006 Unban political parties says UK
May 10, 2007 British call for parties by 2008
May 14, 2007 Constitution implementation needs to move rapidly
Currently in Swaziland there is concern about housing for police officers. Earlier this month a single officer allegedly raped his house mate's teenage daughter. Single and married officers share accommodations and it seems male and female officers are also sharing their quarters. Clearly there is a problem and the government will no doubt set up a commission or inquiry but the situation is plain to all. To keep a tight grip of control on the people of Swaziland, the government increases the number of police but is unconcerned over the basis needs of these individuals. At the same time, police are not able to organize and form a union in Swaziland and recently two members have been fired from the police service for doing so!
May 4 Cop rapes housemate’s daughter
May 18 Police to probe female cop who shared with male
May 8 Cop union angered by continuous victimisation
May 21 Unions march to PM on ‘victimised’ cops
May 18 Police to probe female cop who shared with male
May 8 Cop union angered by continuous victimisation
May 21 Unions march to PM on ‘victimised’ cops
To follow current events in Swaziland see LATEST NEWS
Monday, May 7, 2007
May7 SD 2007
It's a pleasure to receive feedback from these newsletters. After April's issue a question was asked about the use of the phrase "eradicate affluence" and here's a reply:
...at a recent Make Poverty History meeting the organizer mentioned a fund raising event at Western University. The young folks there were talking about the concept of "Make Affluence History" which seems an interesting twist of ideas....
...in the context of Swaziland, the king has since the early 1990s made public statements about how he would "eradicate poverty in Swaziland this year". He is a fool and a huge part of all the social, health, & education issues in Sd; yet owns millions of dollars worth of cars, palaces.....
The phrase was used to provoke thought and discussion. Thanks for your comments.
Yesterday the Prime Minister returned to Sd after seeking funds from Europe. How long will Europe continue to aid and abet Mswati's exclusively narrow government?
May 7 PM meets with European stakeholders over economy
May 5 Poverty drives residents to eat rubbish
May 4 PUDEMO to march to Cabinet
May 2 Corruption high in SD
May 2 Country has high tax rates
To follow current events in Swaziland see LATEST NEWS
...at a recent Make Poverty History meeting the organizer mentioned a fund raising event at Western University. The young folks there were talking about the concept of "Make Affluence History" which seems an interesting twist of ideas....
...in the context of Swaziland, the king has since the early 1990s made public statements about how he would "eradicate poverty in Swaziland this year". He is a fool and a huge part of all the social, health, & education issues in Sd; yet owns millions of dollars worth of cars, palaces.....
The phrase was used to provoke thought and discussion. Thanks for your comments.
Yesterday the Prime Minister returned to Sd after seeking funds from Europe. How long will Europe continue to aid and abet Mswati's exclusively narrow government?
May 7 PM meets with European stakeholders over economy
May 5 Poverty drives residents to eat rubbish
May 4 PUDEMO to march to Cabinet
May 2 Corruption high in SD
May 2 Country has high tax rates
To follow current events in Swaziland see LATEST NEWS
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