The Swazi government has launched an inquiry into why students finishing primary school are performing less well on test scores. The overall pass rate declined by just under one percent to 88.07 percent this year, but among the surprises was that students were having difficulty mastering the grammar and written skills needed to communicate in their mother tongue, SiSwati.

A coroner's inquest has accused the Royal Swaziland Police Force of torture and neglect in a case that has highlighted human rights groups' concerns over the treatment of suspects in custody. Mandla Ngubeni died in June 2004 after the police interrogated him over the disappearance of R28,000 (US $4,666) from his place of employment. Coroner Magistrate Lorraine Hlope, in a report presented to Prime Minister Themba Dlamini, concluded that Ngubeni had been tortured under questioning.

Swaziland's main trade union has begun a two-day general strike to press for democratic reforms. Union leader Jan Sithole told the BBC that roadblocks mounted by the security forces had stopped people from joining the protests in the capital, Mbabane. The unions say a draft constitution being debated by parliament entrenches the power of the monarchy.