Living on the Coke side of life in Swaziland

Coca-Cola is one of the largest and wealthiest companies in the world, as well as being one of the world’s best-known brands. The desperate situation of the poverty-stricken workers in the sugar cane fields in Swaziland, who harvest the sugar cane that is the most important ingredient of African Coke, on the other hand, is a well kept secret. Their plight is not deemed newsworthy. They live their lives in a brutal and repressive absolute monarchy where King Mswati III and a small elite live in luxury while the majority of Swazis live in abject poverty. 

Marokkos konges demokratiske ansigtsløftning

Marokkos Kong Mohammed VI gav forleden en TV-transmitteret tale, hvor han lovede en ny forfatning til landets enevældige kongedømme, der skulle sikre demokrati, god regeringsførelse, og social retfærdighed.

Det er noget komisk at en enevældig konge, der har siddet ved magten i over 11 år, pludseligt fremsætter et forslag om en demokratisk forfatning, og dermed antyder at der på ingen måde er demokrati, god regeringsførelse, og social retfærdighed i en af Vestens vigtigste allierede i ”kampen mod terror” og kampen mod afrikanske immigranter til Europa. Og den nye forfatning bibeholder da også magten hos kongen.

Huge support for Free Maxwell Campaign

 ”This is just a way to scare students from excising their right to freedom of speech,” “Stay strong Maxwell,” “Solidarity from Barcelona. We send you our energy and strength!!!,” “In solidarity! from Chile!,” “in unison,alutha continua!,” “Thanx 4dis group twl hlp us 2 brng 2geda ideas on hw to free our mates whu we arrested 4 nthng.”

These are just some of the messages that people from around the world have posted on the Free Maxwell Dlamini Campaign’s website and Facebook page, and other messages of solidarity with President of the Swaziland National Union of Students, Maxwell Dlamini, keep flowing in.

In the campaign’s first 24 hours, nearly a hundred e-mails were sent to the Swazi regime demanding the release of Maxwell,

Support the Free Maxwell Dlamini Campaign

The Free Maxwell Dlamini Campaign, which was launced today, urges people and organisations to stand up for human rights and the rule of law in Swaziland by supporting its call to free Maxwell Dlamini.

Maxwell Dlamini, the President of the Swaziland National Union of Students, has been detained, tortured, and forced by Swaziland’s regime to sign a confession that says he was in possession of explosives during the April 12 Swazi Uprising – a movement inspired by similar uprisings in North Africa and The Middle East.

The Free Maxwell Dlamini Campaign demands that Maxwell Dlamini is released unconditionally and that any and all wrongdoings committed by Swaziland’s police forces and security forces towards Maxwell Dlamini and other members of Swaziland’s democratic movement are investigated, and that any perpetrators are brought before a court of law.

Minister attends successful fundraising event for single mothers in Swaziland

Several prominent guests attended a fundraising event for the Swaziland Single Mothers’ Organisation (SWASMO) at the Greater Alpha Restaurant in Manzini, Swaziland, on May 28, including Swaziland’s Minister for Tourism, Macford Sibanze.

Macford Sibanze, who himself was raised by a single mother, and in whose constituency SWASMO primarily operates, was one of the key speakers at the event that raised money to continue and strengthen SWASMO’s self help groups for single mothers. SWASMO encourages and teaches self-reliance, mobilisation and education amongst Swaziland’s vulnerable and stigmatised single mothers.