Swaziland Supreme Court seals crackdown

On August 13, the Supreme Court of Swaziland overthrow 2016 High Court Decide Several repressive provisions in the Suppression of Terrorism Act (STA) 1938 and the Sedition and Subversive Activities Act (SSA) 2008 were declared void.

A 2016 High Court ruling declared that several parts of the SSA and STA violated the rights to freedom of association, expression and assembly guaranteed under the Swaziland Constitution and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (to which Swaziland is a party).

The 2016 ruling combined four separate judgments app Six activists moved the High Court.

These activists include The late human rights lawyer Thulani MasekoMario Masuku, leader of the banned People’s United Democratic Movement (PUDEMO), and Maxwell Dlamini, leader of the PUDEMO Youth Wing, were charged by the SSA for alleged subversive speech and sedition respectively. They were also charged by the STA for allegedly “chanting terrorist slogans”, “wearing T-shirts with terrorist appeals” and participating in demonstrations calling for a boycott of the elections.

Activists argue that the STA violates their rights to due process and administrative justice by criminalizing support for proscribed entities and preventing individuals from challenging the label.

political party prohibit Established in Swaziland since 1973.

The Supreme Court’s decision to overturn the High Court’s ruling will embolden the government to intensify its ongoing crackdown on opposition, human rights and democracy activists and weaponize the criminal justice system. The ruling is the latest in a worrying trend of authorities using vague and overbroad provisions of terrorism laws to suppress freedom of association, expression and assembly. In July, two former MPs, Mduduzi Bacede Mabuza and Mthandeni Dube, were arrested. Sentencing Due to participation and support Pro-democracy protests in 2021.

This week, the Southern African Development Community (SADC), of which Swaziland is a member, will hold its 44th regular meeting. summit Heads of State Meeting in Harare, Zimbabwe. SADC should prioritize the worsening human rights crisis in Swaziland and take decisive action. The Swazi government must repeal these repressive laws and ensure full respect for fundamental human rights free and human rights.