The Southern African Liaison Office

The Southern African Liaison Office

International liaison, dialogue and research.

Swaziland News Briefs 

Swaziland – 23 August 2014

SALO

President Mario has fallen terribly ill due to horrible prison conditions

The People’s United Democratic Movement’s (PUDEMO) President Mario Masuku has fallen critically ill at His Majesty’s Correctional Services at the Zakhele Remand Centre. He is suffering from pneumonia due to a combination of various horrible conditions he has been exposed to. He has grown physically weak, pale, lost weight and has lost part of his eyesight.

Issued by: The People’s United Democratic Movement (PUDEMO)/ Office of the Deputy President

 

Jailed Magazine Editor to Appeal
The Swaziland magazine editor Bheki Makhubu, jailed for two years for writing articles critical of Swazi judges, is to appeal against his sentence.

In the appeal papers lawyers for Makhubu say the High Court Judge Mpendulo Simelane erred on several matters when convicting the editor of the Nation magazine. allAfrica

South Africa Expels Swazi Activists
Three Swazi political activists who were denied political asylum in South Africa are expected to leave the country on Friday (15 August 2014).
But, it is not clear if they will return to Swaziland, amid fears that they might be imprisoned by King Mswati III’s regime. allAfrica

EU invests more than E2bn to sugar industry
THE European Union (EU) has invested more than E2 billion in expanding capacity and improving productivity as well as field, factory and administration levels in the country’s sugar industry.
Swaziland Sugar Association (SSA) President Nick Jackson said the EU has complemented this effort by allocating about E1.8 billion (€120m), most of which was targeted at smallholder sugar growers (SSGs). Swazi Observer

TUCOSWA NOW CALLS THE SHOTS
Before Swaziland lost her AGOA status, it was all up to government to act to ensure we remain on the list of eligible countries.
Fast forward to today, AGOA is lost and now the bargaining power is in the hands of the workers represented by the Trade Union Congress of Swaziland (TUCOSWA).
Riding on this leverage, TUCOSWA is now calling the shots and refusing to talk until their demands are met. Times of Swaziland