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It comes as no surprise again to read in the Times Of Swaziland about Police in Swaziland beating students at the University Of Swaziland (UNISWA) for protesting on issues of concern within the University.
 
Every year at the University we see students protest against authorities, one asks himself "Why do we always have such boycott protests by students?" it is clear that the authorities are not doing what they were employed to do. The worse part of this I find disturbing is why is the Police force called in, as they know very well that police beat the students some get arrested for voicing their concerns .The institution has failed itself by relying on the Police force . The institution has failed itself as it no longer trusts or believes in constructive dialogue.
 
When I was growing up I believed that the police were there to serve and to protect the people but now they are used by the government to torture and kill people .
There is no freedom of speech in Swaziland as there is still the 1973 king's decree which banned all political parties in Swaziland, parties which stand for democracy, freedom of speech, human rights and gender equality.
 
Last year on the 13th of June 2015, the Times Of Swaziland published an article about a Mozambican man who used to work in a hairdressing salon in Manzini, Police came in, arrested him as they suspected him of doing wrong. The people around the salon heard the police threatening him saying they were going to kill him, later that day there was an announcement that the man police arrested earlier had passed away while being interrogated by the police. The report came out stating the man died from a headache yet he died from being tortured . The man named Luciano Zavale died in the hands of the CiD Criminal Investigation Officers in Manzini Police Station on that day.
 
This has changed a lot from what I believed, a man died in the hands of what we had believed is there to serve and to protect us. The Government of Swaziland uses the police force to beat and torture people who protest and voice their opinions against the state or the king or for being political activists, as they say such behaviour is action against the king.
 
As a member of Swazi Virgil UK, I will continue to voice out and campaign against the Government of Swaziland for freedom of speech, democracy and human rights until the whole world hears us.
 
VIVA SWAZI VIRGIL VIVA !!!! Amandla !!!
 
By: Mkhosi Shiba