Swaziland: A Kingdom in crisis
Audio Version (to download right-click and 'Save link as...')
- Speaker(s):
- Polly Jones, International Officer, UNISON (Chair) Vincent Dlamini, National Organising Secretary of the Trade Union Congress of Swaziland and Secretary General of Swaziland's National Public Services Union. Flora Dlamini, Swaziland Vigil. Mark Beacon, Campaigns Manager, Action for Southern Africa.
- Event date:
- Monday 30 April 2012
School of Advanced Study, University of London
- Description
-
Swaziland is Africa's only absolute monarchy. Democracy is denied and those who dare to speak out are brutally repressed. Vast amounts of Swaziland's budget are spent on the army, police and the Royal Family, whilst 70 percent of the population live in absolute poverty; it has the highest HIV rate in the world. This April the Swazi government cracked down on protests to mark the 39th anniversary of the banning of political parties in Swaziland and the introduction of the state of emergency. The Trade Union Congress of Swaziland (TUCOSWA) which was recently formed as the united trade union federation was derecognised, protests banned and trade union leaders arrested.
Hear from leading trade unionist Vincent Dlamini about the worsening political and economic crisis in Swaziland, the impact it is having on people's lives and the growing movement for democracy and rights.
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