In Swaziland there has been a drastic deterioration of human rights, citizens' conditions and respect for the rule of law in recent years. King Mswati III, uses the 1973 king proclamation which banned political freedom, and at this point in time there is no freedom of expression, no freedom of assembly and no freedom of association. Since political parties were and still are banned, therefore cannot participate in any of the white-wash elections that are held to just solidify king Mswati's absolute power. I'm talking about artists in Swaziland whom the government of Swaziland is against their freedom of speech. They cannot express themselves, as artists would normally do, no freedom of speech!!! The government of Swaziland is against their vision, it wants to control what artists expose to the world about Swaziland.

Many political activists and trade unions have been killed, tortured, persecuted, had unfair trials, suffered ill treatment both outside and inside of jails.
The King rules by decrees including the king's decree of 1973, media is tightly controlled with the government controlling television and radio broadcasting stations and of course the government's own newspaper (The Swazi Observer).

The Royal Swaziland Police have killed, tortured many political activists and no one police officer has been brought to justice, and we all know no one will.

Recently university students protesting peacefully outside the University of Swaziland were dispersed by military vehicles, and in the process, a young girl called Ayanda was crushed deliberately by the police armoured vehicle (Casper). The government is using the 2008 Suppression of Terrorism Act and 1938 Seditious and Subversive Activities Act to intimidate political activists, jail activists without trial, and or hold unfair trials thereafter. There is no freedom of speech in Swaziland, and I say to the Swaziland government We will not stop expressing ourselves and demand democracy and the respect of human rights until ALL that is achieved. As citizens and political activists please respect our human rights!

Viva Swazi Vigil Viva!!!!

By: Philile Dlamini

References:

http://www.times.co.sz/entertainment/107121-%E2%80%98govt-against-artistic-freedom-of-speech%E2%80%99.html#.VusXZOMVysk.mailto