Swaziland
Swaziland: baseline information
Kingdom of Swaziland
Population [WHO 2006]: 1 million
Annual population growth [WHO 2006]: 1 %
HDI (and rank out of 177) [UN 2005]: 0.498 (147th)
Life expectancy at birth [WHO 2006]: 37 years
Currency: Lilangeni
Main exports: sugar, wood pulp, minerals
Capital city: Mbabane
Provinces/ districts: 4 districts (Hhohho, Lubombo, Manzini, Shiselweni)
Links to more Swaziland resources
Background
(a) Social, Economic and political
Swaziland’s constitution was suspended in 1973. Since then, the King has effectively ruled by decree. Traditional and Westminster-style political systems run parallel to each other. This often results in confusion around, and an overlap between areas of jurisdiction. As a result, basic human rights are exercised and denied, apparently at random. On June 22 2001, the King issued a Proclamation to the Nation with Decree No1 of 2001, a decree effectively enhancing the 1973 decree of his father suspending the constitution, and declaring a de facto state of emergency in Swaziland.
Taiwan offers Swazis free medical service
Medical charity offers free treatment in Swaziland
China Post - Taipei,Taiwan
JOHANNESBURG -- A Taiwanese charity on Wednesday provided free medical service to patients in the southern African country of Swaziland who are too poor to see a doctor. Crowds of patients suffering diabetes, pulmonary tuberculosis, malaria, and dysentery arrived from nearby regions at a police station square in Swaziland's Kaphunga to seek treatment from
China Post - Taipei,Taiwan
JOHANNESBURG -- A Taiwanese charity on Wednesday provided free medical service to patients in the southern African country of Swaziland who are too poor to see a doctor. Crowds of patients suffering diabetes, pulmonary tuberculosis, malaria, and dysentery arrived from nearby regions at a police station square in Swaziland's Kaphunga to seek treatment from
Swaziland opposition to boycott poll
Swaziland opposition groups to boycott poll
Independent Online - Cape Town,South Africa
By Lunga Masuku Manzini - Opposition groups in Swaziland, Africa's last absolute monarchy, have agreed to boycott parliamentary polls later this year, undertaking instead to push harder for multi-party elections. A dozen political parties, civic organisations and student groupings
Independent Online - Cape Town,South Africa
By Lunga Masuku Manzini - Opposition groups in Swaziland, Africa's last absolute monarchy, have agreed to boycott parliamentary polls later this year, undertaking instead to push harder for multi-party elections. A dozen political parties, civic organisations and student groupings
Swazi coalminers locked underground
100 WORKERS LOCKED IN MINE
The Swazi Observer - Mbabane,Swaziland
About a 100 mineworkers are said to have been locked inside the shaft of Maloma Colliery since Wednesday midnight. Selby Mtshali, President of the Mining Quarrying and Allied Workers Union of Swaziland (MQAWUS) has alleged that they have been locked in there in the aftermath of the general lockout following a strike action that was to start at midnight on Wednesday. Surprisingly the Mine Manager J. Breytenbach says there are about 78 underground workers who are refusing to come out to the surface as a form of protest. Mtshali said the workers were in the Wednesday 6pm shift and were to knock off at 4am yesterday. However because of the strike action the workers allege that management decided to lock those inside the shaft there while others were locked out and as a result those in the morning shift were not allowed in. Mtshali said the only food ration they had was two packets of 100 grammes of Movite energy food.When we visited the mine the premises were locked and guarded by both security and police ... labour inspectors from Big Bend led by one Mkhonta declined to talk to our reporters because they said they were still consulting ... The workers claim they wanted parity with other Xstrata alloys (mother company) employees. They further say management receives SA salary scales while the ordinary mineworker receives ‘peanuts’. They want this (parity) to apply to all staff. They further allege that some senior managers were offered 25 percent salary raise while junior staff got only six percent. They say management has been hosting lavish parties of late instead of paying them well. Then the matter went through balloting by invoking Section 86 (2) of the Industrial Relations Act of 2005 as amended. CMAC conducted the balloting which favoured the workers by 99.12 votes, they say. Only two were against the strike action out of 440 employees ...
The Swazi Observer - Mbabane,Swaziland
About a 100 mineworkers are said to have been locked inside the shaft of Maloma Colliery since Wednesday midnight. Selby Mtshali, President of the Mining Quarrying and Allied Workers Union of Swaziland (MQAWUS) has alleged that they have been locked in there in the aftermath of the general lockout following a strike action that was to start at midnight on Wednesday. Surprisingly the Mine Manager J. Breytenbach says there are about 78 underground workers who are refusing to come out to the surface as a form of protest. Mtshali said the workers were in the Wednesday 6pm shift and were to knock off at 4am yesterday. However because of the strike action the workers allege that management decided to lock those inside the shaft there while others were locked out and as a result those in the morning shift were not allowed in. Mtshali said the only food ration they had was two packets of 100 grammes of Movite energy food.When we visited the mine the premises were locked and guarded by both security and police ... labour inspectors from Big Bend led by one Mkhonta declined to talk to our reporters because they said they were still consulting ... The workers claim they wanted parity with other Xstrata alloys (mother company) employees. They further say management receives SA salary scales while the ordinary mineworker receives ‘peanuts’. They want this (parity) to apply to all staff. They further allege that some senior managers were offered 25 percent salary raise while junior staff got only six percent. They say management has been hosting lavish parties of late instead of paying them well. Then the matter went through balloting by invoking Section 86 (2) of the Industrial Relations Act of 2005 as amended. CMAC conducted the balloting which favoured the workers by 99.12 votes, they say. Only two were against the strike action out of 440 employees ...
Elderly caregivers in Swaziland
SWAZILAND: Elderly caregivers get little assistance
Plus News - South Africa
MBABANE, 25 January 2008 (PlusNews) - The widowed Gogo (SiSwati for "granny") Thwala, 72, lives a life that relies heavily on her survival skills as she single-handedly raises three grandchildren, but not a trace of resignation or despair clouds her smile. "Yes, when the Lord
Plus News - South Africa
MBABANE, 25 January 2008 (PlusNews) - The widowed Gogo (SiSwati for "granny") Thwala, 72, lives a life that relies heavily on her survival skills as she single-handedly raises three grandchildren, but not a trace of resignation or despair clouds her smile. "Yes, when the Lord
Swaziland wants power from Mozambique
Mozambique: Swaziland wants to buy power from Mozambique
Macauhub - Macau,China
Mbabane, Swaziland, 24 Jan – An official from Swaziland’s electricity company said Wednesday in Mbabane that the company was considering importing electricity from Mozambique after South Africa’s Eskom suspended exports. Sikhumbuzo Tsabedze, director of the customer services department of
Macauhub - Macau,China
Mbabane, Swaziland, 24 Jan – An official from Swaziland’s electricity company said Wednesday in Mbabane that the company was considering importing electricity from Mozambique after South Africa’s Eskom suspended exports. Sikhumbuzo Tsabedze, director of the customer services department of
Sandlane pleads not guilty to assault
Sandlane pleads not guilty
The Swazi Observer - Mbabane,Swaziland
By Bheki Gama SANDLANE Zwane, the member of the King’s advisory body, the Swaziland National Council Standing Committee (SNCSC) has pleaded not guilty. Zwane briefly appeared at Manzini Magistrate Court yesterday facing a charge of assault. He allegedly committed the offence at the Matsapha Flying Club on Saturday where he was allegedly involved in an
The Swazi Observer - Mbabane,Swaziland
By Bheki Gama SANDLANE Zwane, the member of the King’s advisory body, the Swaziland National Council Standing Committee (SNCSC) has pleaded not guilty. Zwane briefly appeared at Manzini Magistrate Court yesterday facing a charge of assault. He allegedly committed the offence at the Matsapha Flying Club on Saturday where he was allegedly involved in an
Swaziland: not good on implementation
Swaziland: Long On Policies But Short On Implementation
AllAfrica.com - Washington,USA
Swaziland's ability to cope with its ongoing humanitarian crisis will not improve until its under-performing economy picks up, social welfare activists and the government agree.In a policy speech this week, outlining the government's goals for the year ahead, Prime Minister Themba Dlamini frankly acknowledged the country's economic woes, which are hampering efforts to roll back food
AllAfrica.com - Washington,USA
Swaziland's ability to cope with its ongoing humanitarian crisis will not improve until its under-performing economy picks up, social welfare activists and the government agree.In a policy speech this week, outlining the government's goals for the year ahead, Prime Minister Themba Dlamini frankly acknowledged the country's economic woes, which are hampering efforts to roll back food
Swaziland: education and the urban poor
EDUCATION-SWAZILAND: Urban Youth Slipping Through The Cracks
Inter Press Service (subscription) - Rome,Italy
MBABANE, Jan 10 (IPS) - As the new school year begins here many destitute or orphaned children are in need of assistance to pay for their educations. An unknown number of urban youngsters, however, are slipping through the social welfare net. "Impoverished children in the country’s urban areas might run into the
Inter Press Service (subscription) - Rome,Italy
MBABANE, Jan 10 (IPS) - As the new school year begins here many destitute or orphaned children are in need of assistance to pay for their educations. An unknown number of urban youngsters, however, are slipping through the social welfare net. "Impoverished children in the country’s urban areas might run into the