Training
Schooling is not compulsory in Swaziland, but about 80%
of children start in primary school. In 2009, 87% of the
adult population (over 15 years) was estimated to be
literate. The main objective of educational policy is to
eliminate illiteracy and to adapt the content of education
to the needs of different social groups. The compulsory
school is seven years (from 6-13 years) and the upper
secondary school lasts a maximum of five years. About one
third of the pupils go on to the secondary school, where the
proportion of girls decreases. Swaziland has a university
with faculties for eg. agriculture, administration,
economics and the humanities. Just over 8% of government
spending is used for education (2008).
In September 2008, «parliamentary elections» were held for
the first time in the country's history. Political parties
continue to be banned, so all candidates stood for
independence. In addition to the 55 seats that were up for
election, the King appointed 10. The National Assembly
subsequently elected 10 people to the Senate - and the King
appointed 20.
In October, King Barnabas appointed Sibusiso Dlamini as
prime minister. Swaziland LO's chairman, Jan Sithole,
sharply criticized the appointment, explaining that in his
last term as prime minister, Dlamini had worked to suppress
political and popular organizations and to strengthen the
power of the monarchy. He further accused Dlamini of
contempt of the rule of law. Opposition leader Mario Masuku
complemented and declared that Dlamini was not appointed
because of his abilities, but solely because of his devotion
to the king.
In June 2010, Zonke Dlamini and Bhekumusa Dlamini from an
organization that in 2010 were banned under STA were
arrested and tortured. In June/July, dozens of house
searches were targeted at prominent democracy advocates,
opposition and union leaders. In September, the Prime
Minister declared that he was in favor of torture as a means
of punishing "jealous aliens and dissidents". The same
month, the regime fought hard against demonstrations
organized by the country's trade union movement and the
Swaziland Democracy Campaign. Dozens of foreign participants
and organizers were arrested.
The repression against the opposition continued through
2011. Several demonstrations against the economic crisis
were banned and culminated in September. The opposition had
prepared a week of action against the political, economic
and social situation in the country. The activities were
supported by many professional organizations around the
world. On 7 September, the Secretary-General of the South
African LO (COSATU), Zingiswa Losi, was to speak at a
demonstration in Siteki. The demonstration was attacked by
security forces firing sharp shots, rubber bullets and tear
gas at the crowd. Losi and COSATU's international secretary,
Zanele Matebula, were subsequently deported.
The month before, in August, South Africa had granted a
loan of $ 355 million. US $ to Swaziland to alleviate the
country's economic problems but at the same time demanded
political and economic reform. Requirements that were flatly
rejected by the regime.
In March 2012, the country's trade union movement
declared it would call for a boycott of the planned
parliamentary elections in 2013, unless the regime opened up
and allowed a multi-party democracy.
In April 2012, the regime struck against the top of the
country's trade union movement as it arrested the leaders of
the Trade Union Congress of Swaziland (TUCOSWA). In the same
month, the IMF declared that it had ceased cooperation with
Swaziland due to the country's disastrous economic
situation, the King's continued over-consumption and
unwillingness to conduct the IMF's economic policy. During
2012, several trade unions that organized public servants
carried out strikes in protest of falling wages. The
discontent stretched so far that in October Parliament gave
the government an unprecedented mistrust. The statement of
distrust was ignored by the government. Freedom of speech
and assembly are roughly suppressed and torture and
degrading treatment is routinely used by the security
police.
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