The main human rights problem in Swaziland is that the
Swazi people are not allowed to choose their government, a report just publish
revealed.
Swaziland is ruled by King Mswati III, the last
absolute monarch in sub-Saharan Africa. He controls the government, parliament
and the judges.
The United States Department of State in its annual
report on human rights in Swaziland stated, ‘There is a parliament consisting
of appointed and elected members and a Prime Minister appointed by the King,
but political power remained largely with the King and his traditional
advisors. International observers
concluded the 2013 parliamentary elections did not meet international
standards.’
The United States has been reviewing human rights
issues in Swaziland for many years. In 2015 it
scrapped a lucrative trade deal with Swaziland called AGOA because King
Mswati would not allow democratic reform in his kingdom.
The 33-page report stated, ‘The principal human rights
concerns are that citizens do not have the ability to choose their government
in free and fair periodic elections held by secret ballot; police use of
excessive force, including torture, beatings, and unlawful killings; restrictions
on freedoms of speech, assembly, and association; and discrimination against
and abuse of women and children.
‘Other human rights problems included arbitrary
killings; arbitrary arrests and lengthy pretrial detention; arbitrary
interference with privacy and home; prohibitions on political activity and
harassment of political activists; trafficking in persons; societal
discrimination against members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and
intersex community and persons with albinism; mob violence; harassment of
labour leaders; child labour; and restrictions on worker rights.
‘The government took few or no steps to prosecute or
punish officials who committed abuses.
In general perpetrators acted with impunity.’
The report added, ‘Civil and political rights were
severely restricted. Citizens did not
have the ability to choose their government in free and fair periodic elections
held by secret ballot, and political parties remained unable to register, contest
elections, or otherwise participate in formation of a government.’
The report determined King Mswat ruled as ‘an absolute
monarch’ with ultimate decision-making authority.
It added, ‘Some prodemocracy organizations were
banned. There is no legal mechanism by
which political parties may compete in elections. The Elections and Boundaries Commission (EBC)
did not permit candidates of political parties to register under the names of
their parties.’
It went on, ‘Under the constitution the King selects
the Prime Minister, the cabinet, two-thirds of the senate, 10 of 65 members of
the house, many senior civil servants, the chief justice and other justices of
the superior courts, members of commissions established by the constitution,
and the heads of government offices.’
See also
SWAZILAND’S
POOR RIGHTS RECORD
SWAZI
TRIALS POLITICALLY MOTIVATED: AMNESTY
KING
EXPLOITS FORCED CHILD LABOUR
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