Tag Archives: Swazi people

Thousands of bare-breasted Swazi virgins dance before the king – Video

September 4, 2012 by IndepthAfrica

Over 80 000 imbali who attended this year umhlanga ceremony yesterday danced before His Majesty King Mswati III and the Queen Mother as well as their guests. The maidens ignored the wind, which blew up a dust storm and was … read more »

Posted in Hottest News, News, Southern Africa, Spotlight, Swaziland | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Swaziland Opposition Criticizes King’s ‘People’s Assembly’

August 8, 2012 by IndepthAfrica

A founding member of Swaziland’s banned opposition People’s United Democratic Movement (PUDEMO) party said Swazis expect King Mswati III to make meaningful democratic reforms rather than hold an insincere “people’s parliament.” Tuesday, the king began a three-day people’s assembly called … read more »

Posted in News, Southern Africa, Spotlight, Swaziland | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

King’s life of luxury enrages Swaziland’s poor

August 6, 2012 by IndepthAfrica

MBABANE, Swaziland: Every day, King Mswati III and his retinue of 13 wives face tough choices. Should they drive the BMW or the Rolls-Royce? Which plush palace to sleep in? Jet off to Dubai for a shopping spree or to … read more »

Posted in Article, News, South Africa, Southern Africa | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

King Mswati III of Swaziland lambasts West for “regime change” hopes

August 6, 2012 by IndepthAfrica

King Mswati III of Swaziland taunted the West and his domestic political opponents on Monday, saying their dreams of a popular uprising in Africa’s last absolute monarchy would not be realised. “Some from the Western world have been waiting patiently … read more »

Posted in News, Southern Africa, Spotlight, Swaziland | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Swaziland Queens jet off to Vegas while Swazis starve

July 27, 2012 by IndepthAfrica

Johannesburg – There has been widespread condemnation for the Swazi royal family after it emerged that three wives of Swazi King Mswati III are planning a lavish Las Vegas gambling holiday. The Mail&Guardian reported that the wives would be part … read more »

Posted in News, Southern Africa, Spotlight, Swaziland | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Swaziland Festival Held Despite Call for Boycott

May 28, 2012 by IndepthAfrica

Swaziland – Swaziland exiles called for a boycott of the 6th annual Bushfire festival this weekend to protest the kingdom’s government policies. But the boycott did not appear to slow the three-day musical and cultural event. Thousands of people happily … read more »

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

A divine royal right to rule?

April 12, 2012 by IndepthAfrica

Though the Swazi opposition wishes otherwise, Thursday’s annual April 12 observation of the day the country was transformed from a democracy to sub-Saharan Africa’s last absolute monarchy will by most predictions be a low-key affair. Security forces have been deployed … read more »

Posted in Article, Southern Africa, Swaziland | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Swazis call for democracy on state of emergency anniversary

April 10, 2012 by IndepthAfrica

By Peter Kenworthy, Africa Contact Last years April 12 protests that called for democratisation of Swaziland’s absolute monarchy, amongst other things by removing the state of emergency that has been in place since April 12 1973, were thwarted by countless … read more »

Posted in Daily News Wrap, News, Southern Africa, Swaziland | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Swaziland Trade Union Demands Democratic Reforms

March 20, 2012 by IndepthAfrica

The newly formed Trade Union Congress of Swaziland (TUCOSWA) has demanded the registration and participation of political parties in next year’s parliamentary election, despite strong government opposition. “Now is the time for the country to allow political parties in terms … read more »

Posted in Daily News Wrap, News, Southern Africa, Swaziland | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Sacked Swazi editor flees to SA

February 27, 2012 by IndepthAfrica

Mbabane – The sacked chief editor of the Swazi Observer newspaper said on Monday that he has fled to South Africa in fear of his life after receiving a tip-off that police wanted to arrest him on terror charges. Musa … read more »

Posted in Daily News Wrap, News, Southern Africa, Swaziland | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Help us help ourselves, say Swaziland’s young single mothers

February 8, 2012 by IndepthAfrica

Women in Swaziland are heavily discriminated against, both by law and by custom. According to the former, women in effect have the status of minors and cannot get a bank loan without the consent of their husbands. According to the … read more »

Posted in Article, Southern Africa, Swaziland | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Swazi student leader’s trial begins with prosecution witness lies

January 18, 2012 by IndepthAfrica

By Peter Kenworthy, Africa Contact The trial of Swazi student leader and political prisoner, Maxwell Dlamini, finally started last week after having been postponed and delayed since last April, where Maxwell Dlamini was apprehended by police and allegedly tortured and … read more »

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Mswati’s 12th wife not expelled

November 21, 2011 by benim

Mbabane – A senior official in the Swazi palace Monday denied reports that King Mswati’s 12th wife Nothando Dube had been banished from the royal household after quarrelling with a guard. The disgraced queen, who has been under house arrest … read more »

Posted in News, Southern Africa, Swaziland | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Swazi civil servants get paid on time

November 15, 2011 by benim

Mbabane – Cash-strapped Swaziland has pulled together enough loans from local banks and private businesses to pay government workers on time this month, a spokesperson said on Tuesday. The announcement came after emergency meetings to raise the $43m reportedly needed … read more »

Posted in News, Politics, Southern Africa, Swaziland | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Students protest at Swaziland festival

August 25, 2011 by benim

Mbabane – Students in Swaziland protesting against the closure of their university threatened to derail a traditional festival on Wednesday, leading to seven arrests. The demonstrators tried to breach a police cordon in Ezulwini at the start of the annual … read more »

Posted in Education, Miscellaneous, News, Southern Africa, Swaziland | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Swaziland Needs $11 Million to Reopen Only University

August 11, 2011 by benim

Swaziland’s education minister says the country’s only university need Learn more here s $11 million to resume classes. The University of Swaziland was set to begin its academic year this week, but failed to open as the country’s government deals … read more »

Posted in Education, News, Southern Africa, Swaziland | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Cash-strapped Swazi university closed

August 8, 2011 by benim

Mbabane – Swaziland’s cash-strapped university failed to re-open for the new academic year on Monday, officials said, adding it would remain closed indefinitely. “The registration process is suspended, and the commencement of the first semester lectures is postponed… to a … read more »

Posted in News, Southern Africa, Swaziland | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

S.Africa lends Swaziland $355 mln: report

August 3, 2011 by benim

South Africa has agreed to a 2.4 billion rand bailout for Swaziland to help the impoverished southern African nation through a chronic cash crisis, the Times of Swaziland said on Wednesday. The paper cited King Mswati III, Africa’s last absolute … read more »

Posted in News, South Africa, Southern Africa, Swaziland | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Swazi democracy talks stumble

July 31, 2011 by benim

Mbabane – Talks on democratic reforms in Africa’s last absolute monarchy stumbled Saturday as the Swaziland Federation of Trade Unions, the country’s largest labour group, walked out of a civil society meeting. The “national convention”, which opened on Friday, aimed … read more »

Posted in News, Southern Africa, Swaziland | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Swaziland sees 1 000s protest for 2nd day

July 28, 2011 by benim

Mbabane – Thousands of people are participating in a second day of demonstrations in the small kingdom of Swaziland over the king’s handling of an economic crisis. More than 3 000 demonstrators gathered across the country on Thursday, accompanied by … read more »

Posted in News, Southern Africa, Swaziland | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Activists call for reforms ahead of Swaziland loan

July 13, 2011 by benim

THE LOAN proposal directed at President Jacob Zuma by the Swazi government has taken a twist as activists plead with South Africa to hold on to its money until King Mswati III introduces political reforms. “Getting a loan will not … read more »

Posted in News, Southern Africa, Swaziland | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Swaziland cancer treatment funds exhausted

June 30, 2011 by benim

Mbabane – Swaziland’s health minister says the government has run out of money to send its cancer patients to better equipped clinics and hospitals in neighboring South Africa. Swaziland is in economic crisis linked to a drop in customs revenues … read more »

Posted in News, Southern Africa, Swaziland | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Swazi Aids drugs running low

June 28, 2011 by benim

Mbabane – State media are quoting Swaziland’s health minister as saying the cash-strapped country’s state hospitals have only two months’ supplies of Aids drugs. Health Minister Benedict Xaba was quoted as telling parliament on Monday that the country’s economic crisis, … read more »

Posted in AIDS / Humanitarian, AIDS/HIV, News, Southern Africa, Swaziland | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Do not grant loan to Swaziland – local NGOS

June 25, 2011 by benim

According to a statement issued by the three NGOs, namely the Swaziland Democratic Front, Swaziland Coalition of Concerned Civic Org-anisations (SCCCO) and the Coordinating Assembly of Non-Governmental Orga-nisations (CANGO), the NGOs appealed to the people of South Africa, the South … read more »

Posted in News, Southern Africa, Swaziland | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Bishops call for reform in Swaziland

June 10, 2011 by benim

Johannesburg – Catholic bishops are urging reforms in Swaziland, calling sub-Saharan Africa’s last absolute monarchy a police state that’s “tearing itself apart.” A statement issued on Thursday after a Southern African Catholic Bishops’ Conference visit to Swaziland says the king … read more »

Posted in News, Southern Africa, Swaziland | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Swaziland king cancels silver jubilee

May 30, 2011 by benim

Mbabane – Africa’s last monarch King Mswati III of Swaziland has cancelled plans for a lavish “silver jubilee” as his kingdom tries to claw its way out of a financial crisis, the government said on Monday. “The silver jubilee has … read more »

Posted in News, Southern Africa, Swaziland | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Swaziland resists pressure from West

May 24, 2011 by benim

Mbabane – The prime minister of sub-Saharan Africa’s last absolute monarchy says Swaziland will resist pressure from the West over democratic reforms. Asked about reports that the US has developed a road map to democracy for the southern African country, … read more »

Posted in News, Southern Africa, Swaziland | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Swaziland king’s trip to UK royals defended

April 26, 2011 by benim

Mbabaneb – Swazi Foreign Minister Lutfo Dlamini on Tuesday defended King Mswati III’s decision to attend the royal wedding of Britain’s Prince William and Kate Middleton, despite protests in the kingdom. “On the day the king was crowned, England’s royalty … read more »

Posted in News, Southern Africa, Swaziland | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Swaziland oppose bail for protesters

April 26, 2011 by benim

Manzini – Swaziland on Tuesday opposed bail for two activists arrested in pro-democracy protests this month on charges of illegal possession of explosives, a court official said. Maxwell Dlamini, president of the Swaziland students union, and Musa Ngubeni, a high-ranking … read more »

Posted in News, Southern Africa, Swaziland | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Swaziland activists to appear in court

April 21, 2011 by benim

Johannesburg – Two Swazi pro-democracy activists are expected to appear in court on Thursday, the Swaziland Solidarity Network said. SSN spokesperson Lucky Lukhele, who is based in South Africa, said Swaziland National Union of Students’ (SNUS) leader Maxwell Dlamini and … read more »

Posted in Crime & Corruption, News, Politics, South Africa, Southern Africa | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments