Foreign Policy Blogs

Crackdown in Africa’s Last Kingdom

Can the Swazi King withstand the pro-democracy uprising or will he be toppled down?

It seems like the Swazi kingdom yesterday spend most of its efforts trying to thwart an Egypt and Tunisia like uprising.  Police reportedly rounded up activists, and fired teargas at pro-democracy protestors demanding an end to Mswati’s monarchy in Swaziland’s main city Manzini.

While his people live in absolute poverty, King Mswati III (who has ruled the small landlocked nation of Swaziland for decades) lives a lavish life style with 13 palaces and 14 wives. And recently he is reportedly of giving himself a pay raise.  In addition, the King has full control of the government, and political parties are banned.

 

Author

Ndumba J. Kamwanyah

Ndumba Jonnah Kamwanyah, a native of Namibia in Southern Africa, is an independent consultant providing trusted advice and capacity building through training, research, and social impact analysis to customers around the world. Mos recently Ndumba returned from a consulting assignment in Liberia in support of the UN Mission in Liberia (UNMIL).
In his recent previous life Ndumba taught (as an Adjunct Professor) traditional justice and indigenous African political institutions in sub-Saharan Africa at the Rhode Island College-Anthropology Department.

He is very passionate about democracy development and peace-building, and considers himself as a street researcher interested in the politics of everyday life.
Twitter: NdumbaKamwanyah