Swaziland

Swazi labour leaders this week aim to draw world attention to their demands for political reform in Africa's last absolute monarchy at the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions meeting in Durban, South Africa.

By African standards, Swaziland (with just over a million people) is a tiny
country. However, with 20,000 internet subscribers it has reached a market size that is larger than some of its bigger brothers. Terence Sibiya looks at how the market operates and its future potential.

Swaziland’s authorities have been accused of stepping up their repression of women following a decree that women may not wear trousers because it against social traditions. Reports from the capital Mbabane say soldiers will enforce the law by ripping trousers off women who dare to flout the custom.

Lawyers in Swaziland have lodged a complaint with the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) against the human rights record of King Mswati's regime. "The government should prepare itself to go and explain... why there is blatant disregard for the basic and fundamental rights of citizens," a representative for the lawyers said.

Swaziland's absolute monarch King Mswati III has introduced legislation gazetted on Wednesday that imposes stringent measures to suppress dissent and harsh penalties against those advocating political reform. The Internal Security Bill, 2002, is due to be debated by the country's parliament and sure to be passed as there are no political parties or opposition to the king in the legislature.

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