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State of the media in Southern Africa 2002 tively and in the process millions of our people in the region are left in poverty and are not enjoying their rights and freedoms they so deserve. We have not forgotten how such an oppressive legislation could not get a free passage through our Parliament here in Swaziland a while ago. Our leaders were wise enough to listen to our concerns raised by the media stakeholders, and it is in that same vein that we cannot allow Zimbabwean situation to be left unchallenged. We hope our concerns will be raised at relevant forums and that the media situation in Zimbabwe will improve. Press Freedom is a right that is to be enjoyed by those who are being governed, and not just a privilege which governments can take away as they please. The situation in Zimbabwe is not at all acceptable to us as media practitioners. Signed: MISA-Swaziland SNAJ SMEPAWU CC. Minister Of Public Service and Information. Prime Ministers’ Office. Diplomatic Representatives, Resident in Swaziland. Local Media Houses. Press Statement October 30, 2002 TOPIC: NGO Statement on abduction of girls to become king’s wives We, the underlisted human rights NGO’s and civil society in Swaziland, are deeply concerned by the perpetual violation of human rights in the country. As moral accountants of our own worth, we felt that if we did not speak out on this issue, then we would have failed ourselves and neglected the responsibilities entrusted upon us of fostering accountability, creditability and influencing public debate on issues infringing fundamental human rights. In order to enforce the culture of responsibility we would like to declare our utmost condemnation of the recent abduction of three girls by messengers of His Majesty King Mswati III. Article one of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights of 1948, states that “All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.” 2002 It is obvious that many rights were violated by these acts of abduction, such as: * The right to education (Article 26) 302 So This Is Democracy?
State of the media in Southern Africa 2002 * The right to liberty and security (Article 3) * The right to a free and consensual marriage of both spouses (Article 16) We are greatly disturbed that this comes at a time when the youth of Swaziland is supposed to be on a 5-year period of chastity in respect of Umcwasho. The example set by His Majesty King Mswati III serves to water down our efforts aimed at curbing HIV-AIDS in Swaziland. It is also worrying that the King may not necessarily marry all three of these girls and that those he chooses not to marry will be stigmatised for the rest of their lives - thus denying them their right to respect and dignity. A recent newspaper report (Times of Swaziland - October 21, 2002) quoted Prince Masitsela challenging Lindiwe, the mother of Zena Mahlangu, as to who she is to challenge the King. We feel this question was not directed to Lindiwe alone but to all citizens of this country. We therefore ask ourselves who are we in this country. Can we as individuals claim to be Swazi citizens? Can we claim to have basic human rights? Lindiwe is exercising her rights as articulated in articles 6, 7 & 12 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights that:- * Everyone has the right to recognition everywhere as a person before the Law (article 6) * That all are equal before the Law and are entitled without any discrimination to equal protection (article 7). * No-one shall be subjected to arbitrary interference with his/her privacy, family and home or to attacks upon his/her honour and reputation. That her family, privacy, honour and reputation were interfered with is undisputable. Her family will never be the same again, her children’s school performance has been greatly affected and that will have a negative impact on their future economic empowerment. Lastly, the Convention on the Rights of the Child, which His Majesty’s Government signed in 1990, states that, “Parents have the responsibility to raise the child. The state must respect the parents’ responsibility and help out if necessary” (article 5). In conclusion, we would like to emphasize that it is time culture is practiced in accordance with the fundamental human rights. As responsible citizens we feel we cannot sit and wait for more girls to become victims of an outdated cultural practice. We therefore appeal to the courts to also act responsibly by allowing the mother to continue to raise and guide the child until she is 21 years old and ready to engage independently in a lawful consenting relationship. Signed: 1. Swaziland Action Group Against Abuse (SWAGAA) 2. Women and Law in Southern Africa (WLSA) So This Is Democracy? 303
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