June 2009
^{Swaziland@Newsletter is published by Africa Contact (Denmark) and Foundation for Socio-economic Justice (Swaziland) and distributed to more than 1700 national and international organisations, research institutes, universities, trade unions and labour movements, political parties, church organisations, print and electronic media, governments, diplomatic missions, members of parliament, parliamentary committees and private individuals in Southern Africa, Europe and the United States of America.Ideas for content in this newsletter, articles, news, press releases, statments and reports on the development in Swaziland can be sent to swaziland@....}
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Content in this issue:

From the Editors:
Dear Readers
This is the newest edition of Swaziland@Newsletter. It is unfortunately a long time ago that you received something from us.
To make a long story short, there is a new editorial team for Swaziland@Newsletter. This means that we will try to publish a newsletter once a month. The newsletter has also changed: In the future all the news have a link to the website where the news originates, and not, as before, be brought in full laths. This means that we can gather more news in each newsletter.
Swaziland@Newsletter is now published in cooperation between Africa Contact in Denmark and the Foundation for Socio-economic Justice in Swaziland.
As always, we are pleased to receive contributions to Swaziland@Newsletter. Contributions should be sent to swaziland@...
Enjoy this newsletter!

The Constitution

Constitution has made political change
The coming of the constitution has not meant anything to the people as the ‘masters’ of this system continue to do as they please.

Trials
Jailed Mario’s lawyer takes govt to court
Human rights Lawyer and also Acting President of the Law Society Mandla Mkhwanazi has also filed an urgent application at the High Court against government.Lawyer Thulani Maseko pays E15 000, out of jail
Human rights lawyer Thulani Maseko had his bail application not opposed yesterday.Maseko went home after paying E15 000 cash.

R600 000 for wrongful arrest
A South African man who was wrongfully arrested by Swaziland police nine years ago for possession of drugs has been awarded nearly R600 000.

Human Rights
Lozitha Bridge bomber; I will die
Amos Mbedzi, the man that was arrested in connection with last year’s fatal explosion at Lozitha bridge, has detailed how he is allegedly mistreated inside prison and even doubts if he will ever get a fair trial.

Press freedom
Swazi Media Commentary 8 June 2009:
SWAZI PM LIES ON MEDIA FREEDOM Statutory media regulation opposed
SELF-REGULATION is the only route the media in Swaziland should pursue not a statutory or state-imposed, the Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA). Economy - Trade

EU Agrees Trade Pact With 3 Southern African Countries
The European Union Thursday signed a trade pact with Botswana, Lesotho, and Swaziland, leaving negotiations with four other countries

MPs must stop 'war' with SA
This follows Swaziland's decision to sign an Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) with the European Union in Brussels on Thursday much against SACU rules

Sacu quarrel could spell the end of a century-old African institution
IT's been less obvious than the spat between the African National Congress and the Congress of South African Trade Unions, but another important fire has …

T&I Minister warns of trade barriers to stop cheap imports:
Trade and industry minister, Rob Davies, warned that South Africa is prepared to set up trade barriers with Botswana , Lesotho , Mozambique and Swaziland.

Central Bank cuts interest rates to 7%
All those with mortgage and vehicle loans will be relieved to know that the Central Bank of Swaziland (CBS)

Youth

SWAYOCO’S STATEMENT ON THE ARREST OF C OMRADE THULANI MASEKO (MARIO’S LAWYER)

SWAYOCO president back from Danish tour
President of the Swaziland Youth Congress (SWAYOCO) says he met several Danish political organisations and government officials.

The Democratic Movement
A brief autobiography - PUDEMO President, Mario Masuku

^{Govt officials meet proscribed SSN}
A team of government officials on Friday held a meeting with officials of PUDEMO ally, the Swaziland Solidarity Network (SSN), which was proscribed by government early this year.

Trade unions

I have been harassed, arrested, receiving death threats
In his first time at the ILO’s conference in Geneva, Switzerland, Minister of Labour Patrick Magobetane Mamba was at pains trying to defend the country after STFU’s Jan Sithole had delivered a speech that painted Swaziland black for using culture to oppress advocates human rights.

Unions; ‘Terrorism Act a threat to the Smart Dialogue’
Labour unions and civic organisations fear that the upcoming Smart Partnership National Dialogue’s success could be hindered by the Suppression of Terrorism Act.

Politically aligned civil servants in for a shock
If all goes according to government’s plans, the law to deal with politically aligned civil servants will be ready this month.

International Trade Union Confederation:
Spotlight interview and video with Jan Sithole (SFU, Swaziland)
Spotlight interview with Vincent Ncongwane (SFL, Swaziland): “In the absence of (political) opposition (to the government), we as unions cannot shy away from political issues”
Union View briefing: Swaziland: the repressive side of an absolute monarchy

Hunger - Food Safety - Aid
Swaziland: WFP supports families living with HIV
Vusie Maphalala takes part in a joint project run by WFP and Swaziland's Ministry of Health. Dressed in his smartest suit, Vusie Maphalala waits patiently

African Water Facility Grant of 999 000 Euros to the Kingdom of ...
The AfDB group, on Wednesday, June 3, 2009, approved an African Water Facility grant of € 999000 to Swaziland to finance the implementation of Phase II

AIDS
Donor Support For Health Sector Drying Up
As the global economic downturn begins to take its toll on developing countries, Swaziland's health system - already strained by the burden of HIV/AIDS - has come under severe threat. The third of the national health budget which comes directly from donor agencies is abruptly drying up.

Brand HIV positive call fuels debate
Swazi residents were asked on Tuesday to debate a politician's call for HIV positive citizens to be branded on the buttocks, which has sparked an uproar in the small mountain kingdom.

The HIV branding backlash
SWAPOL, the Swaziland Positive Living, a non-government organisation supporting people living with HIV and AIDS is threatening MP Myeni with a petition that will see him being ejected from Parliament and have further threaten his thriving gospel music career.

Swaziland: WFP helps remarkable woman care for orphans
As a nation, Swaziland is struggling to cope with worsening poverty, increasing food insecurity and the world's highest HIV prevalence at around 26 percent

Royal farmile
Mswati to do business with Zimbabwe
Swaziland’s absolute monarch King Mswati III is interested in doing business with the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe governor and Zanu PF chief financier Gideon Gono.

International solidarity
About 500 Danish people honour Mario
Close to 500 people attended a launch of a Swaziland Demo-cracy Watch at the May Beats festival in the capital of Denmark, Copenhagen.

Press release issued by the Southern African Litigation Centre / The Open Society Initiative for Southern Africa:
Prominent Swazi human rights lawyer arrested

Swazi groups to protest (SSN)

FREE MARIO MASUKU:
New free Mario Masuku blog

Sign the Free Mario Masuku Petition

Free Mario Masuku on Facebook

Swaziland Democracy Watch

Blogs :
Swazi Media Commentary:
FEAR OF MORE SWAZILAND ARRESTS

SWAZI DISSIDENT READY TO GO TO JAIL
SWAZI CULTURE ENCOURAGES HIV AIDS
US SUPPORTS JAILED SWAZI LAWYER
SWAZIS PAY FOR KING’S AIRPORT FOLLY

Wikispace on Swaziland

Reports
Amnesty International:
Swaziland: An atmosphere of intimidation. Counter-terrorism legislation used to silence dissent in Swaziland

New report casts doubt over biofuels "wonder crop" jatropha
Although jatropha does grow in semi-arid lands, yields in these conditions are very unlikely to be high enough for farmers to make a profit. In water-scarce Swaziland, some farmers growing jatropha for D1 Oils have found that the crop needs regular watering.

Sexual violence and its health consequences for female children in Swaziland: a cluster survey study
This study documents that sexual violence against female children is a substantial problem in Swaziland and that such violence has serious health consequences.

US 2008 Country Report on Swaziland

Amnesty International Report 2008 on Swaziland

Press Releases
International Commission of Jurists on:
Swaziland - Statement Regarding the Swaziland Supreme Court's Ruling in the Case of National Constitutional Assembly (NCA) v. Prime Minister & Others, 2009

Swaziland Solidarity Network: Memorandum to the Kingdom of Swaziland

ZIMBABWE NOT A PLACE FOR DICTATORS
ZINASU PRESS RELEASE 10/6/9

END