The coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis dominated events in
Swaziland during the second quarter of 2020. A partial shutdown of the kingdom
ordered by absolute monarch King Mswati led to widespread job losses and
hunger. The government which is not elected by the people but directly
appointed by the King largely failed to bring the virus under control. Police
and soldiers were deployed on the streets of towns and cities to force people
to obey instructions to stay at home. Roadblocks were set up across the kingdom
to stop people travelling. Widespread human rights abuses were reported.
The number of people testing positive and the death
rate due to coronavirus in Swaziland is not accurately known. The Ministry of
Health has been supervising the collection of test results but it does not give
details of who is allowed to be tested and who is not. By 30 June 2020 the
Ministry had reported a total of 812 cases and 11 deaths.
Coronavirus is the main topic covered in the period
April to June 2020 and contained in Swaziland: Striving for Freedom, volume
38, a compilation of reports posted on the Swazi Media Commentary website and available to
download free-of-charge from Scribd
dot com.
Elsewhere, the United States’ State Department reported the Swazi Government and its agents
committed ‘arbitrary or unlawful killings’. It highlighted cases of police
brutality in its annual report on human rights. In June a prisoner was
allegedly killed by prison warders during disturbances among gang members at
the Sidwashini
correctional facility.
Separately, the International Trade Union
Confederation (ITUC) reported Swaziland had one of the worst records on
workers’ rights in the world.
The LGBTI group eSwatini
Sexual and Gender Minorities continued to fight for recognition in
Swaziland and asked the High Court to overturn a decision by a government
agency not to register it so that it could operate legally. The case continues.
Swaziland has no media freedom according to Reporters
Without Borders in an annual report. Meanwhile, Eugene Dube, a journalist
critical of King Mswati was beaten by police, arrested and faced a treason
charge for reports published on the Swati Newsweek website. He fled to
neighbouring South Africa. Ncamiso Ngcamphalala, President of the Economic
Freedom Fighters-Swaziland (EFF), was charged with sedition for criticisms he
made of the King on the same website.
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.
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