Swaziland – 13 February 2015
Swaziland economy to grow by 2.1 percent in 2015-Official
By APA
Swaziland’s economy is expected to grow by 2.1 percent in 2015, up from 0.3 percent in 2014, the Central Bank of Swaziland (CBS) Governor Majozi Sithole said on Wednesday.Sithole said he was not at all excited that Swaziland’s growth rate was at such a level, adding that so far it was the lowest in the Common Monetary Area (CMA).
He said he hoped government’s plan for Vision 2022 would make a difference in all this.
Star Africa
Swaziland unrest looms after US rescinds trade deal
By Sam Cowie
Mbabane, Swaziland – Until last November, Rosemary Hadebe made some extra cash each month by selling clothes to her work colleagues at Tex Ray – one of several Taiwanese-owned textile factories in Manzini, Swaziland’s industrial hub.
For the past 12 years at the factory, Rosemary worked to strict quotas, sewing cheap clothing to be exported to the United States.
Her salary every two weeks of 575 Swazi emalangeni ($57), plus the extra money she made from selling clothes, which she bought from nearby Johannesburg, was just enough to keep her four young sons fed, clothed and in school.
al-Jazeera
The contentious E73m tender: who will win review?
By Welcome Dlamini
Three judges have heard the matter, three orders have been issued, and it is now time for the matter to go for a review.
There was even contention on the wording of one of the orders but a consensus seems to have been reached.
This is the matter where Roots Construction is challenging the awarding of a tender to Heptagon Civils for construction of Phase II of the Matsapha Industrial Estate.
Swazi Observer
NO MORE HAND-PICKED JUDGES!
By MFANUKHONA NKAMBULE
BABANE – The current system of appointing judges will be phased out, according to the Strategic Plan of the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs.
Judges will soon be selected and promoted on the basis of a 10-point system.
For instance, the judge shall be examined on the basis of a point system that takes into account his or her qualification, efficiency, quality of judgments, ability and integrity.
Constitutionally, the Chief Justice and the other Justices of the superior courts (High Court and Supreme Court) are appointed by the King on the advice of the Judicial Service Commission.
Currently, a person is not to be appointed as a justice of a superior court unless he or she is of high moral character and integrity. In the case of an appointment to the Supreme Court, this person must have been a legal practitioner, barrister or advocate of not less than 15 years practice.
Swaziland: How Swazi King Destroyed Iron Mine
By Swazi Media Commentary
Swaziland’s absolute monarch King Mswati III and his personal representative Sihle Dlamini were at the very heart of events that led to the collapse of the mining company SG Iron at the Ngwenya Iron Ore Mine. It had debts of US$4 million when it closed and more than 700 jobs were lost. King Mswati took a US$10 million loan from the company less than six months after it started trading which he refused to pay back when it hit difficulties.
All Africa
Swaziland 2014 and beyond: An Analysis
By Afrika Kontakt
2014 was an interesting year in Swaziland. It drew the fault lines between international engagements and demonstrated the futility of participating in parliament- once again.
The mass demonstrations of April 2011 were regarded as the beginning of the end. Years of political momentum accumulated as the general population expressed their discontent by flooding the streets of Manzini and Mbabane in the thousands. In early 2015, the actual results of the 2011 uprising seem to be minimal. Swaziland is still an absolute monarchy where democratic and human rights violations continue to be a daily occurrence and the economy is spiraling down into the abyss. As with the South African struggle against apartheid, internal pressure is essential but the international community, especially the regional community, is a key factor in achieving democratic change.
Afrika Kontakt