Swaziland

Events marking World Aids Day were cancelled by royal decree on Thursday in Africa’s last absolute monarchy because they clashed with a traditional ceremony scheduled for the same day. The announcement shocked activists in a country where more than 38% of the one-million population are infected with HIV, the virus that causes Aids.

A police officer was critically injured in one of three petrol bombings in Swaziland on Friday, the latest in a series of arson attacks that Africa’s last absolute monarchy blames on banned political groups. There have been at least six explosions targeting police, government officials and court houses since last month.

Police in Africa’s last absolute kingdom of Swaziland vowed on Monday to find those responsible for two firebomb attacks branded as terrorism and linked to a banned opposition party. A courthouse in Mbabane and the home of a government spokesperson was firebombed in two separate attacks on Friday.

A drinking and dancing celebration by the king’s daughter shocked a Swazi traditionalist enough for him to deliver a spanking to the teenage princess, and cast a pall over Swaziland’s annual royal bride-choosing rites. Royal officials had tried to keep word of Princess Sikhanyiso’s party quiet, but acknowledged it late on Monday.

Tens of thousands of unmarried Swazi girls performed a final dance on Monday culminating a week-long celebration of chastity as Swazi authorities moved to defend the centuries-old ”reed dance” from international ridicule. Every year, tens of thousands of girls from across the country gather to participate in the dance.

On Monday, thousands of Swazi girls removed tasselled scarves symbolising their chastity, abandoning an ancient rite revived to combat the modern scourge of Aids. King Mswati III, Africa’s last absolute monarch, in 2001 reinstated for five years the umchwasho rite, banning sexual relations for girls younger than 18.

Swaziland’s absolute monarch King Mswati III has ordered an end to a five-year no-sex rite for teenage girls, who had to pledge chastity and wear woollen ”do not touch me” tassels in a bid to halt the spread of Aids. Swaziland’s maidens will forsake their tassels on August 22, ahead of the annual reed-dance ceremony.

Aids has accelerated the death rate in Swaziland, causing home-based hospice care to expand into an entire support system for affected families. According to the health ministry, the country has the world’s highest HIV prevalence rate, with 42,6% of its adult population infected. Fifteen years ago, hospice patients were primarily cancer victims; now a substantial number are HIV-positive.

Creating more business opportunities to counter rising unemployment is expected to take centre stage at an upcoming jobs summit in Swaziland. The summit, scheduled to take place in July, follows a pledge by King Mswati III to initiate a R1-billion public-private fund to bankroll the development of small- and medium-scale enterprises.

Twelve-year-old Mfanfikile looked forward to going back to school after nearly a year-and-a-half of absence following the death of his mother. He wanted to look his best, and had found an old beige jacket in a wardrobe. Although several sizes too large, Mfanfikile thought it an improvement on the threadbare shorts and T-shirts he usually wore.

About 500 people representing church groups in Swaziland, Africa’s last absolute monarchy, staged a protest on Thursday against a new draft Constitution that they said gives King Mswati III too much power. The protesters, led by Catholic and Anglican bishops, marched to the offices of the prime minister in the capital, Mbabane.

The Royal Swazi Sun golf club, having grown into its several changes over the past year, promises an appetising challenge for the field gathered for this week’s 2005 Capital Alliance Royal Swazi Sun Open. Course superintendent Gaerun Wilkinson made several changes in preparation for last year’s tournament to increase the course yardage to 5 983m.

Ninety percent blind in both eyes, Babe Simelane, who estimates he is 72-years old, could make out only the roughest outline of his son’s face when he died from an Aids-related illness last year, leaving two young sons. Without government assistance or a pension scheme to support him, Simelane relies on the kindness of neighbours. Although 69% of Swazis live on less than $1 a day, he envies those who can obtain even a fraction of that amount.

Relief agencies have warned that the humanitarian crisis in Swaziland, brought on by drought and aggravated by Aids, is worsening. A high-powered delegation of representatives from the government, United Nations agencies and NGOs visited drought-stricken eastern and southern Swaziland last week.

The local and international community should take action against Swaziland’s King Mswati III’s ”insensitive expenditure”, the Swaziland Solidarity Network said on Tuesday. This comes after the monarch spent R5-million on 10 BMWs for his wives and R6-million on a Chrysler Maybach for himself.

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 last year after the police interrogated him over the disappearance of R28 000 from his place of employment.

South Africa’s agreement to take seriously Swaziland’s claim to its national territory has implications for all of Africa, and the pledges African countries have made to honour boundaries drawn up during the colonial era, diplomats have said. Because of colonial-era territorial gerrymandering, more Swazis live outside Swaziland than in the small country left behind within diminished borders.

An upbeat New Year’s message by Swaziland Prime Minister Themba Dlamini has been rebutted by the kingdom’s pro-democracy groups, with labour unions calling for a general strike in January to protest lavish royal spending and a controversial draft Constitution. The nationwide general strike is set for January 25.