According to the Ibrahim Index of African Governance, political
participation in Swaziland is amongst the worst in Africa. Swaziland
ranks 50 out of 52 countries on this indicator for 2014.
This year saw a number of worrying developments that further
constrained the ability of people to engage in politics, in particular
to exercise their rights of freedom of expression and assembly.
Swaziland dropped to 156 out of 180 countries in the World Press
Freedom Index. High-profile examples included the sentencing of
journalist Bheki Makhubu and lawyer Thulani Maseko to two years
in prison after writing an article criticising Swaziland’s judiciary.
Mario Masuku, President of the People’s United Democratic
Movement (PUDEMO), and Maxwell Dlamini, from the Swaziland
Youth Congress, were also arrested in May for allegedly seditious
comments contravening controversial terrorism legislation. The
UK raised concerns about these cases, and the broader human
rights environment, with the Swazi authorities throughout 2014,
including alongside other EU member states at the EU-Swaziland
“Political Dialogue” on 3 October. We remain concerned that there
has been no progress on these cases.
At the end of 2014, the US withdrew preferential access to the US
market for Swazi exports, having placed five conditions, relating
to freedom of expression and assembly. An amendment to the
Industrial Relations Act in November had addressed two of these
conditions, permitting the registration of federations such as the
Trade Union Federation, but did not address other areas. Failure
to take the necessary steps threatens an estimated 13,000 jobs
in Swaziland’s textile industry, damaging an already vulnerable
economy.
More broadly, there are long-running, institutionalised constraints
on political participation. We continue to be concerned that the
Tinkhundlha electoral system was used in the 2013 elections. It
allows only individuals (not political parties) to participate, and is
widely seen as failing to meet international standards.
The concentration of power around the monarchy also limits
political participation. The King has a direct say in the composition
of the judiciary, parliament and government, as well as the
succession of traditional chiefs who wield considerable power at
a local level. Parallel customary and judicial court structures cloud
accountability and access to justice. Political space for civil society
is restricted, and its capacity to hold the government to account is
limited.
Gender inequalities also act as barriers to entry for women in the
political sphere. Women face unequal social, economic, legal,
political and cultural treatment. Some laws still treat women as
minors and second-class citizens, despite the 2005 Constitution’s
Bill of Rights declaring that women should be free from any form
of discrimination or abuse. Legislation to help make this a reality
continues to be delayed.
Alongside the resident EU and US missions to Swaziland and other
international partners, the UK has consistently urged the Swazi
government to implement democratic reform and to open up
political space. The UK contributes to EU programmes to raise the
capacity of civil society and promote advocacy at a grassroots level
to encourage greater political engagement. The UK will continue to
pursue this agenda in 2015, including working with the Southern
African Development Community and the Commonwealth through
its Special Envoy to Swaziland, former Malawian President Bakili
Muluzi.
This case study is part of the 2014 Human Rights and Democracy Report.
Source link : https://www.gov.uk/government/case-studies/political-participation-in-swaziland
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Publish date : 2015-03-12 07:00:00
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