These were some of the main events in the period July
to September 2019 and contained in Swaziland: Striving for Freedom,
volume 35 of the compilations of reports posted on the Swazi Media Commentary website and available to download
free-of-charge from Scribd.
The kingdom continues in financial meltdown, with
health and educational services crippled. Schools and hospitals have run out of
supplies and staff have been sacked and other vacancies left unfilled. Up to
200 teachers had reportedly died from stress-related illness over the past two
years as a result. Cancer patients have been refused treatment because the
government has not paid hospital bills. At least 11 children died of diarrhoea
because of drug shortages.
Elsewhere, Lisa Peterson, United States Ambassador to
Swaziland renewed her call for the Royal Decree that keeps King Mswati in power
as an absolute monarch to be scrapped. Oxfam, the international
anti-poverty charity, named Swaziland as the country with most income
inequality in Africa. Human Rights Watch reported restrictions
on freedom of association and assembly continued in Swaziland although the
kingdom had signed the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance
in January.
An extensive survey revealed LGBTI
people in Swaziland suffer mental health issues and many have attempted suicide
because of the way they are discriminated against in the kingdom.
Swazi Media
Commentary is published online, updated most weekdays. It is operated
entirely by volunteers and receives no financial backing from any organisation.
It is devoted to providing information and commentary in support of human
rights in Swaziland.
See also
Swaziland
public services in meltdown and corruption goes unchecked: new report surveys
the kingdom
Swaziland
in economic freefall with human rights failings, report shows
King
Mswati in complete control as another year of human rights struggle ends in
Swaziland
Swaziland Striving for Freedom Vol 35 July to Sept 2019 by Richard Rooney on Scribd
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