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| Identifier | Subject | Date | Office | Classification | Tags |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 03MBABANE147 |
THE JET SAGA: IS AN END IN SIGHT? [...] SUMMARY: A SELECT COMMITTEE OF PARLIAMENT HAS CONCLUDED THAT THE PRIME MINISTER AND THREE OTHER CABINET MINISTERS ACTED ILLEGALLY IN CONTRACTING TO PURCHASE A PRIVATE JET FOR KING MSWATI III AT AN ESTIMATED COST OF $72 MILLION USD. THE COMMITTEE'S CHAIR AND ANOTHER COMMITTEE MEMBER TOLD TH [...] |
2003-03-20 06:20:00 | Embassy Mbabane | UNCLASSIFIED | PREL PGOV PHUM AGOA WZ |
| 07MBABANE443 |
SWAZILAND POPULATION DECLINE [...] No summary [...] |
2007-10-03 14:29:00 | Embassy Mbabane | UNCLASSIFIED | KHIV PGOV SOCI WZ |
| 08MBABANE193 |
SWAZI ELECTIONS: A PRIMER ON POLITICAL PARTIES [...] No summary [...] |
2008-07-02 13:49:00 | Embassy Mbabane | UNCLASSIFIED | KDEM PGOV PREL WZ |
| 08MBABANE194 |
SWAZI POLICE UNION LOSE IN SUPREME COURT [...] SUMMARY: On May 23, Swaziland's Supreme Court upheld the High Court's ruling denying police and correctional officers union the right to register as a union. The unregistered Swaziland Police Union (SWAPU) and Swaziland Correctional Officers Union argued they have the right to form and regist [...] |
2008-07-08 04:19:00 | Embassy Mbabane | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV ELAB KDEM PREL WZ |
| 08MBABANE197 |
PROBLEMS STILL PLAGUING SWAZI AIRPORT [...] SUMMARY: Since January 2008, safety conditions at Swaziland's Matsapha International Airport have attracted increasing attention from the local press and public. The main problems affecting the airport are unreliable back-up generators, bird strikes, and an unresolved labor union dispute. I [...] |
2008-07-09 14:38:00 | Embassy Mbabane | UNCLASSIFIED | ECON EAIR ELAB CASC ASEC TSA WZ |
| 08MBABANE236 |
SWAZILAND - MCC BACK ON RADAR [...] SUMMARY: On August 8, 2008, Ambassador Maurice Parker met with King Mswati III and discussed a variety of topics, including Swaziland's Millennium Challenge Account (MCA) scorecard and qualification possibilities. King Mswati showed extreme interest and said he would organize a committee to [...] |
2008-08-11 12:31:00 | Embassy Mbabane | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV PREL KMCA WZ |
| 08MBABANE240 |
LEGAL CHALLENGES TO SWAZI ELECTIONS [...] No summary [...] |
2008-08-12 14:46:00 | Embassy Mbabane | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV PREL KDEM WZ |
| 08MBABANE244 |
TRADE UNIONS CHALLENGE SWAZI DEMOCRACY, MAKE COMPARISONS [...] SUMMARY: On July 21, the Southern African Trade Union Coordinating Council (SATUCC), a regional labor umbrella organization, called for a boycott of goods destined for Zimbabwe and Swaziland. On August 10-11, the Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU), a SATUCC member, hosted a Zimb [...] |
2008-08-13 09:16:00 | Embassy Mbabane | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV PREL ELAB ETRD KDEM WZ ZI |
| 08MBABANE344 |
MBABANE: MESSAGE FROM PRIME MINISTER OF THE KINDOM OF [...] The following message is being transmitted from the The Right Honorable Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Swaziland, Dr. Barnabas Sibusiso Dlamini to Senator Barack Obama, President-elect of the United States. QUOTE On behalf of His Majesty King Mswati III, Her Majesty the Queen Mother, t [...] |
2008-11-07 09:00:00 | Embassy Mbabane | UNCLASSIFIED | AMGT OPDC OVIP PREL WZ |
| 08MBABANE345 |
SWAZILAND ECONOMIC REACTION TO THE GLOBAL FINANCIAL CRISIS [...] SUMMARY. Swaziland, thus far, has been insulated from the global banking crisis. Other parts of the economy, however, such as the textile industry, are beginning to feel the effects of the international recession. END OF SUMMARY. BANKING AND CURRENCY EXCHANGE 2. Local companies attribute [...] |
2008-11-10 03:21:00 | Embassy Mbabane | UNCLASSIFIED | ETRD ECON EFIN WZ |
| 08MBABANE353 |
SWAZI KING APPOINTS NEW CABINET THAT SUGGESTS CHANGE, BUT DIRECTION LOOKS MIXED [...] No summary [...] |
2008-11-17 14:19:00 | Embassy Mbabane | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV ELAB KDEM PREL WZ |
| 08MBABANE355 |
SWAZILAND: 2009 NATIONAL TRADE ESTIMATE REPORT [...] TARIFFS Swaziland is a member of the World Trade Organization (WTO), the Southern African Customs Union (SACU), the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC), and the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA). As a member of SACU, Swaziland's tariff policies are generally de [...] |
2008-11-18 13:58:00 | Embassy Mbabane | UNCLASSIFIED | ETRD ECON EFIN WZ |
| 08MBABANE356 |
Swazi Government Cracks Down on Opposition [...] SUMMARY: The September 19 detonation of a small bomb (reftel), which detonated early and killed two of the suspected instigators but left no structural damage, was the catalyst for King Mswati III's decision to make fighting "terrorism" his number one concern. The King's choice of a new gover [...] |
2008-11-19 03:21:00 | Embassy Mbabane | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV ELAB KDEM PREL WZ |
| 08MBABANE358 |
SWAZIS REACT TO U.S. ELECTION RESULTS [...] SUMMARY: On November 5, approximately 140 people attended the Embassy's "Election Breakfast." High-ranking government officials, academicians, political organizations, and religious, labor and civil society members attended the event. The event took place about a month and a half after Swazi [...] |
2008-11-19 14:38:00 | Embassy Mbabane | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV PREL KDEM KPAO WZ |
| 08MBABANE389 |
COMESA GIVES SWAZILAND TIME TO MANEUVER [...] SUMMARY. The Government of the Kingdom of Swaziland's (GKOS) trade office has secured a two year extension of its Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) derogation. The derogation gives Swazi goods preferential price treatment on a non-reciprocal basis. COMESA's intention to cre [...] |
2008-12-18 13:00:00 | Embassy Mbabane | UNCLASSIFIED | ETRD ECON EFIN WZ |
| 08MBABANE397 |
SWAZI POLICE TARGET LABOR, CIVIC AND POLITICAL ACTIVISTS [...] SUMMARY: In the two months following King Mwsati III's appointment of Prime Minister Barnabas Dlamini and the government's ban on four political organizations, Swazi police have detained, beaten or threatened numerous members of political organizations, trade unions, and civil society. On No [...] |
2008-12-20 09:47:00 | Embassy Mbabane | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV ELAB PHUM KDEM WZ |
| 09MBABANE107 |
SWAZI PS ON USG IN UNHRC; KOSOVO; MADAGASCAR; [...] (S) SUMMARY: On April 27, DCM Morrison discussed several pending demarches with Clifford Mamba, Principal Secretary (PS) for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation. PS Mamba was positive about support for the U.S.'s candidacy for the UN Human Rights Council, promised to c [...] |
2009-04-28 06:43:00 | Embassy Mbabane | SECRET | AU EFIN IO MA PGOV PREL WZ SADC ZI KV |
| 09MBABANE136 |
SWAZILAND PARTICIPATION IN ILEA [...] Post wishes to extent its gratitude to the Gaborone International Law Enforcement Academy (ILEA) for their continued support to the Royal Swaziland Police Service (RSPS). U.S. Embassy Mbabane is one of the only missions in Swaziland that provides law enforcement training to local authorities. [...] |
2009-06-03 09:32:00 | Embassy Mbabane | UNCLASSIFIED | ASEC SNAR MGMT |
| 09MBABANE141 |
SWAZILAND ARMS PURCHASE ATTEMPTED [...] (S) SUMMARY: In December 2008, the GKOS sought to purchase approximately 60 million USD worth of military equipment, including helicopters, vehicles, weapons, and ammunition from a British weapons manufacturer. The British government denied the request over end-use concerns. In documents requesting [...] |
2009-06-11 15:27:00 | Embassy Mbabane | SECRET | KDEM PGOV PINR PREL WZ PINS MASS ETTC XF |
| 09MBABANE149 |
SWAZI FM REQUESTS COMMITMENT FOR INTERNATIONAL [...] (C) SUMMARY: Swazi Foreign Minister Lutfo Dlamini stated that the current Swazi position on Madagascar was "basically" in accord with the urgent demarche (reftel B), but that for progress to be made toward the holding of elections, two initial issues must be resolved: (a) Funding for elections [...] |
2009-06-19 09:16:00 | Embassy Mbabane | CONFIDENTIAL | IO MA PGOV PK WZ |
| 09MBABANE171 |
MBABANE: INVITATION TO MINISTERS OF AGOA-ELIGIBLE [...] Letters of Invitation to the August 4-6, 2009, AGOA Forum to take place in Nairobi, Kenya, were delivered to the following Ministers of the Government of the Kingdom of Swaziland (GKOS): The Honorable Mr. Lutfo Dlamini Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation The Honorabl [...] |
2009-07-21 14:49:00 | Embassy Mbabane | UNCLASSIFIED | PREL PGOV ETRD ECON ZW |
| 09MBABANE18 |
SWAZILAND: UPDATE ON WORST FORMS OF CHILD LABOR IN [...] No summary [...] |
2009-01-20 10:32:00 | Embassy Mbabane | UNCLASSIFIED | ELAB EIND ETRD PHUM SOCI USAID WZ |
| 09MBABANE197 |
SWAZILAND TIER 3 TIP REASSESSMENT [...] SUMMARY: The government of the Kingdom of Swaziland (GKOS) has made significant and substantial progress in addressing human trafficking since the 2009 TIP report was published 90 days ago. It has moved forward on all of the items recommended in Swaziland's Tier 3 Action Plan. Swazi official [...] |
2009-08-20 05:39:00 | Embassy Mbabane | UNCLASSIFIED | KTIP KCRM KWMN PGOV PHUM PREL SMIG WZ |
| 09MBABANE22 |
ANOTHER CONSTITUTIONAL PROMISE DISREGARDED [...] SUMMARY: On January 22 local media reported Minister of Education and Training Wilson Ntshangase saying that his ministry doesn't know when it will enact free primary education. The constitution mandates free primary education in 2009. The Ministry issued a statement saying a shortage of te [...] |
2009-01-23 08:13:00 | Embassy Mbabane | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV PREL KDEM WZ |
| 09MBABANE250 |
SEDITION/TERRORISM CHARGES DISMISSED AGAINST LEADER OF [...] SUMMARY: On September 21, High Court Justice Mbutfo Mamba dismissed terrorism and sedition charges against Swaziland's best known dissident, banned political party leader Mario Masuku, citing poor evidence presented by the prosecution. The hearing, which came ten months after Masuku's arrest [...] |
2009-09-21 16:29:00 | Embassy Mbabane | UNCLASSIFIED | PHUM PGOV KDEM WZ |
| 09MBABANE259 |
SWAZILAND: ARM AND ARM WITH SADC-C-AL9-01947 [...] (C/NF) SUMMARY: This cable responds to the questions raised in reftel regarding the Government of the Kingdom of Swaziland,s (GKOS) attitude towards SADC. The answers are keyed to the questions below. END SUMMARY. B. (C/NF) DO MEMBER STATE GOVERNMENTS SHOW SIGNIFICANT INTEREST IN WORKIN [...] |
2009-10-01 06:28:00 | Embassy Mbabane | CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN | PINR PGOV PREL MCAP ETRD WZ |
| 09MBABANE26 |
CONGRATULATORY MESSAGE TO PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA [...] No summary [...] |
2009-01-28 08:51:00 | Embassy Mbabane | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV SZ |
| 09MBABANE273 |
SWAZILAND 2009 AGOA ELIGIBILITY REVIEW [...] Country Background Summary: Swaziland is a small, land-locked country with one of the most limited economies in southern Africa. Its predominately young and rural population is beset by many challenges; foremost among them are widespread poverty and unemployment, along with one of the highest [...] |
2009-10-13 04:30:00 | Embassy Mbabane | UNCLASSIFIED | EAGR EAID ECON ENRG ETRD PHUM WZ |
| 09MBABANE274 |
King Appoints Political Party Leader to Senior Advisory [...] SUMMARY: On September 21, Obed Dlamini, most senior member of the executive committee of the legally unrecognized Ngwane National Liberatory Congress (NNLC) "opposition" political party, took his seat on the Swaziland National Council (Liqoqo), the king's advisory council and one of the most p [...] |
2009-10-13 14:28:00 | Embassy Mbabane | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV PHUM KDEM WZ |
| 09MBABANE280 |
TAIWAN'S STOCK IS STILL HIGH IN SWAZILAND [...] (SBU) Taiwan's recently arrived ambassador to Swaziland, Peter M. Y. Tsai, told the Ambassador October 17 that his country continued to enjoy excellent relations with the Kingdom of Swaziland. Against the backdrop of the World Food Day and World Poverty Day commemorations in Lavumisa, Swazila [...] |
2009-10-19 15:10:00 | Embassy Mbabane | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL EAID PINR SZ TW |
| 09MBABANE286 |
THE KING'S ECONOMY - CELL PHONE BUSINESS BENDS TO ROYAL [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: Royal politics and King Mswati's business interests appear to have caused the ouster of Mobile Telephone Network (MTN) CEO Tebogo Mogapi and halted parastatal Swaziland Post and Telecommunications Corporation (SPTC) from selling the MTN shares it owns to raise money for a Next [...] |
2009-10-28 06:07:00 | Embassy Mbabane | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECPS EINV PGOV WZ SF |
| 09MBABANE288 |
DEMARCHE DELIVERED: UN THIRD COMMITTEE PRIORITIES [...] PolOff delivered points per reftel to Ministry of Foreign Affairs Socio-Political Analyst Sandile Hlatshwayo on October 28. Hlatshwayo had no immediate substantive response; however he stated he would share the information with his principals. PolOff also shared U.S. positions with American a [...] |
2009-10-28 14:06:00 | Embassy Mbabane | UNCLASSIFIED | PHUM PREL UN WZ |
| 09MBABANE289 |
DEMARCHE DELIVERED: FOOD SECURITY [...] In the absence of the Foreign Minister and the unavailability of the Acting Foreign Minister, PolOff delivered reftel demarche and letter to Ministry of Foreign Affairs Socio-Political Analyst Sandile Hlatshwayo, on October 28. PolOff mentioned the work King Mswati III and President Obama hav [...] |
2009-10-28 14:20:00 | Embassy Mbabane | UNCLASSIFIED | EAGR EAID ETRD WZ |
| 09MBABANE290 |
DEMARCHE DELIVERED: FISCAL TRANSPARENCY [...] On September 30, PolOff delivered reftel demarche to Ministry of Foreign Affairs Legal Advisor Melusi Masuku and Socio-Political Analyst Vulindlela Kunene. PolOff had discussed the fiscal transparency requirement in a prior meeting with Mr. Kunene; however the officers were still relatively u [...] |
2009-10-28 14:22:00 | Embassy Mbabane | UNCLASSIFIED | EAID ECON EFIN PREL WZ |
| 09MBABANE292 |
LEAHY VETTING: BASIC INFANTRY COURSE-MASEKO, MNDZEBELE [...] Please request vetting for the following candidate to attend the Infantry Basic Officer Leader course at Fort Benning, Georgia from November 23, 2009 to March 16, 2010. CANDIDATE: Name: Zizwe Bongani MASEKO(Black/Male) Place of Birth: Manzini, Swaziland Date of Birth: February [...] |
2009-10-29 08:26:00 | Embassy Mbabane | UNCLASSIFIED | ASEC KCRM PHUM SNAR PTER WZ |
| 09MBABANE294 |
SWAZILAND DECLINES FY 2010 SUGAR QUOTA [...] On October 27, PolOff delivered demarche per reftel to the Swaziland Sugar Association (SSA), Swaziland's official authority governing sugar exports. SSA CEO Mike Matsebula indicated in writing that, although Swaziland has always fulfilled the U.S. sugar quota in the past, it does not have pl [...] |
2009-10-29 12:57:00 | Embassy Mbabane | UNCLASSIFIED | EAGR ETRD WZ |
| 09MBABANE295 |
SWAZILAND LOOKS FORWARD TO WORKING TOGETHER ON HUNGER AND [...] On October 30, Ambassador Irving and PolOff met with Acting Foreign Minister Clement Dlamini to reiterate food security initiatives delivered in ref A. Mr. Dlamini, the Ministry of Agriculture, indicated he will be attending the upcoming World Food Security Summit along with Prime Minister Si [...] |
2009-10-30 12:25:00 | Embassy Mbabane | UNCLASSIFIED | EAGR EAID ETRD WZ |
| 09MBABANE296 |
LEAHY VETTING: HIV POLICY DEVELOPMENT COURSE-KUNENE, [...] Please request vetting for the following candidates to attend the HIV Planning and Policy Development course in San Antonio, Texas, from December 6 to December 11, 2009. CANDIDATE: Name: Shayilanga Cornelius KUNENE(Black/Male) Place of Birth: Piggs Peak, Swaziland Date of Birth: [...] |
2009-11-02 12:49:00 | Embassy Mbabane | UNCLASSIFIED | ASEC KCRM PHUM SNAR PTER WZ |
| 09MBABANE300 |
DEMARCHE DELIVERED: GOLDSTONE REPORT [...] On November 3, PolOff delivered reftel demarche to Ministry of Foreign Affairs Socio-Political Analyst Vulindlela Kunene. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs had no immediate response to the U.S. position. Post will inform State and the USUN Mission of any future substantive feedback. MORRISO [...] |
2009-11-05 04:45:00 | Embassy Mbabane | UNCLASSIFIED | PREL PHUM PTER IS KPAL WZ |
| 09MBABANE307 |
SWAZI DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER PESSIMISTIC ON CHANCES [...] (C ) I spent an hour and a half with Swazi Deputy Prime Minister Themba N. Masuku on November 2. An appointed Senator, Masuku joined the present government in his current capacity in August 2008, when he was recalled from his position as an international civil servant in the U.S. He told me [...] |
2009-11-09 14:47:00 | Embassy Mbabane | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PINR WZ ZI BC |
| 09MBABANE308 |
ANTI-CORRUPTION COMMISSION GAINING STEAM [...] (U) SUMMARY: On November 10, Ambassador Irving and PolOff met with Anti-Corruption Commissioner Justice H.M Mtegha and Deputy Commissioner Tebogo Fruhwith to discuss the Commission's work and good governance in Swaziland. The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has been in operation with a comm [...] |
2009-11-12 07:23:00 | Embassy Mbabane | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PHUM WZ |
| 09MBABANE309 |
SWAZI FOREIGN MINISTER SUGGESTS SOUTH AFRICAN [...] (C) SUMMARY: On November 11, Swaziland's Minister of Foreign Affairs and Co-operation, Lutfo E. Dlamini, told Ambassador that he recommended a summit on Zimbabwe to King Mswati III by the SADC Organ on Politics, Defense and Security. He and his troika counterparts judged that only at that [...] |
2009-11-12 08:07:00 | Embassy Mbabane | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL WZ ZI SF SADC |
| 09MBABANE310 |
SWAZILAND'S POPULATION GROWTH APPROACHES ZERO; GOVERNMENT [...] SUMMARY: The Central Statistics Office (CSO) has released some figures from the final 2007 Population and Housing Census report, indicating a Swaziland population of 1,018,449, compared with 980,727 in 1997. The anemic population increase of 37,722 people over ten years represents a growth r [...] |
2009-11-12 08:52:00 | Embassy Mbabane | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV SOCI KHIV PINS WZ |
| 09MBABANE312 |
DEMARCHE DELIVERED: UN COUNTRY SPECIFIC RESOLUTIONS [...] On November 13, Ambassador and PolOff delivered points per reftel to Acting Foreign Minister Lindiwe Gwebu, who is the current Minister of Housing and Urban Development. Minister Gwebu had no immediate substantive response; however she stated she would discuss this information with Foreign Mi [...] |
2009-11-13 10:01:00 | Embassy Mbabane | UNCLASSIFIED | PHUM PREL UNGA WZ |
| 09MBABANE313 |
SWAZILAND 2009 INTERIM TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS REPORT [...] SUMMARY: Since the June 2009 Trafficking in Persons (TIP) report, the Government of Swaziland has made substantial progress in addressing human trafficking. GKOS has acknowledged it did not take TIP seriously until this year, and therefore many initiatives to prosecute and punish traffickers [...] |
2009-11-16 12:58:00 | Embassy Mbabane | UNCLASSIFIED | KTIP KCRM KWMN PGOV PHUM SMIG WZ |
| 09MBABANE314 |
SWAZILAND PASSES COMPREHENSIVE ANTI-HUMAN TRAFFICKING LAW [...] SUMMARY: Capping months of meetings and focus on trafficking in persons, King Mswati III has assented to the 2009 People Trafficking and People Smuggling Prohibition Act, passed by the Senate and House in October. The law is expected to be published in the government gazette within the next f [...] |
2009-11-16 13:04:00 | Embassy Mbabane | UNCLASSIFIED | KTIP PGOV PHUM WZ |
| 09MBABANE316 |
U.S.-SWAZI SECURITY DIALOGUE [...] SUMMARY: The United States has an informal security dialogue with Swaziland, characterized by U.S.-sponsored training and exchanges, HIV prevention programs, and ad hoc meetings with civilian and military officials at all levels to discuss security and military issues. The Defense Attache an [...] |
2009-11-17 12:00:00 | Embassy Mbabane | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV PREL WZ |
| 09MBABANE319 |
SWAZI COMMERCE MINISTER: SUSTAINABLE SMALL ENTERPRISES AND [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: Minister of Commerce, Industry and Trade Jabulile Mashwama confided to Ambassador and PolOff November 19 that the need for Swazis to change their cultural mind-set and take on greater personal responsibility for their economic welfare was her biggest challenge. In government, [...] |
2009-11-19 15:27:00 | Embassy Mbabane | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | EIND ETRD PGOV WZ |
| 09MBABANE324 |
DEMARCHE DELIVERED: K-P ACTION REQUEST: DECEMBER [...] No summary [...] |
2009-12-01 14:26:00 | Embassy Mbabane | UNCLASSIFIED | PHUM UN UNGA WZ |
| 09MBABANE325 |
DEMARCHE DELIVERED: THE PRESIDENT'S ANNOUNCEMENT [...] No summary [...] |
2009-12-01 14:26:00 | Embassy Mbabane | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PREL CLINTON HILLARY RODHAM AF PK WZ |
| 09MBABANE331 |
SWAZILAND: SADC'S IMMEDIATE NEXT STEPS ON [...] (C) SUMMARY: Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary Clifford Mamba told the Ambassador on December 10 that he doubts the Southern African Development Community (SADC) will take further action on Zimbabwe following the expiration of the Maputo communique's 30-day deadline for making progress on t [...] |
2009-12-10 10:15:00 | Embassy Mbabane | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL SADC PINR ZI WZ |
| 09MBABANE337 |
HOUSE SPEAKER EMPHASIZES NEED FOR STRONG PARLIAMENT, ASKS [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: Speaker of the House of Assembly Prince Guduza Dlamini stressed the need for a strong parliament in Swaziland and asked for assistance in strengthening capacity for members of parliament and staff in a December 10 meeting with the Ambassador and PolOff. Prince Guduza, who also [...] |
2009-12-11 10:20:00 | Embassy Mbabane | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PHUM PINR WZ |
| 09MBABANE339 |
PRINCE DAVID: ECONOMIC COLLAPSE TO FORCE REFORMS [...] (C) SUMMARY: Prince David Dlamini, half-brother to King Mswati III, a former Minister of Justice, and chairman of the constitutional commission that drafted Swaziland's current constitution, privately told Ambassador Irving that the pending economic breakdown in the kingdom would force politic [...] |
2009-12-14 15:14:00 | Embassy Mbabane | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV ECON PINR WZ |
| 09MBABANE351 |
LABOR LEADER JAN SITHOLE: SWAZILAND NOT UPHOLDING LABOR [...] SUMMARY: Labor union and civil society leader Jan Sithole, who recently stepped down after 25 years as secretary general of the Swaziland Federation of Trade Unions (SFTU), told PolOff that Swaziland is not doing well implementing treaties and laws upholding labor rights. Recalling influenti [...] |
2009-12-21 14:45:00 | Embassy Mbabane | UNCLASSIFIED | ELAB PREL ECON PHUM WZ |
| 09MBABANE352 |
FINANCE MINISTER'S "TORNADO OF TAXATION" IRRESPONSIBLE, MAY [...] SUMMARY: According to former Swaziland Federation of Trade Unions (SFTU) General Secretary Jan Sithole, the recent Swazi Finance Minister's taxation proposals to close a revenue gap were "irresponsible." In response to a drop in Southern Africa Customs Union (SACU) revenues, which currently [...] |
2009-12-21 15:04:00 | Embassy Mbabane | UNCLASSIFIED | ELAB PREL PHUM WZ |
| 09MBABANE353 |
AU PEACE AND SECURITY RETREAT ON UNCONSTITUTIONAL CHANGE OF [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: The African Union Peace and Security Council (PSC) held a retreat from December 17-19 in Mbabane, Swaziland, and drafted a framework on AU response to unconstitutional change of government. The framework reportedly is proceeding through the AU's cataloguing process before rele [...] |
2009-12-28 10:28:00 | Embassy Mbabane | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | AU PREL XA GU MA WZ |
| 09MBABANE354 |
SWAZI SOCIETAL DISCRIMINATION AGAINST GAYS AND LESBIANS [...] Legal Status: British colonial era legislation against sodomy remains on the books, but post contacts knew of no cases where it had been used to arrest homosexuals. Early versions of the proposed Sexual Offenses and Domestic Violence bill, which has been before Parliament since at least 2006, [...] |
2009-12-29 14:29:00 | Embassy Mbabane | UNCLASSIFIED | PHUM PGOV WZ |
| 09MBABANE36 |
UPDATE ON SWAZI-EU EPANEGOTIATIONS [...] SUMMARY: The Government of te Kingdom of Swaziland (GKOS) is expected to sign the interim Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) with the European Union (EU) sometime in February. Swaziland has been in negotiations with the EU since November 2007, after the GKOS initialed an interim EPA. The [...] |
2009-02-17 02:55:00 | Embassy Mbabane | UNCLASSIFIED | ECON ETRD WZ |
| 09MBABANE4 |
SUBJECT: PRIME MINISTER DISCUSSES U.S./SWAZI [...] (U) SUMMARY: On December 31, Ambassador Maurice Parker met with Swazi Prime Minister Barnabus Dlamini. The PM requested the meeting to gauge GKOS' standing with diplomatic missions accredited to Swaziland, and to request U.S. financial assistance in building a new state-of-the-art hospital [...] |
2009-01-07 11:14:00 | Embassy Mbabane | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV EAID KDEM PHUM PREL PTER PINR IR WZ |
| 09MBABANE52 |
HIV PREVALENCE RATE IN SWAZILAND SAMPLE RISES, BUT [...] SUMMARY: On February 24th at a national public forum, Swaziland's Minister of Health Benedict Xaba released findings of the latest HIV Sentinel Surveillance Survey of a sample of pregnant women presenting at health clinics around the country. The late 2008 survey data show that HIV prevalenc [...] |
2009-03-03 13:28:00 | Embassy Mbabane | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV PREL KDEM PHUM KTIP WZ |
| 09MBABANE6 |
SWAZILAND OVERSEAS SECURITY ADVISORY COUNCIL [...] The following comprises Post Mbabane's submission for the 2009 OSAC Crime and Safety Report, based on the REFTEL: I. Overall Crime and Safety Situation: A. The Department of State has designated Swaziland as a Critical Threat Crime Post. Criminals consider Mbabane, the capital city, and [...] |
2009-01-08 09:58:00 | Embassy Mbabane | UNCLASSIFIED | AMGT APER ASEC |
| 09MBABANE67 |
FRUITFUL DIALOGUE BETWEEN AMBASSADOR AND PM [...] SUMMARY: On March 6, Ambassador Parker met with Swazi Prime Minister (PM) Barnabus Sibusiso Dlamini. Discussion included: Ambassador Parker's impending departure from Swaziland; the 2008 Human Rights Report; current international perspective towards the government of the Kingdom of Swaziland [...] |
2009-03-13 02:51:00 | Embassy Mbabane | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV PREL PHUM EAID WZ |
| 09MBABANE81 |
SADC POISED TO SUSPEND MADAGASCAR AT MARCH 30 [...] SUMMARY: According to Dr. John Kunene, Swazi Principal Secretary (PS) at Ministry of Defense and SADC negotiator, SADC Heads of State are poised to take the first step in seeking a constitutionally-based resolution to the change of power in Madagascar, by suspending that nation from the orga [...] |
2009-03-27 10:15:00 | Embassy Mbabane | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL KDEM MA WZ |
| 09MBABANE82 |
SWAZI BUDGET TRANSPARENCY [...] (SBU) In response to reftel, Post provides the following information: --- The government of the Kingdom of Swaziland (GKOS) is receiving FY09 funded assistance. --- The GKOS does make its budget publicly available. --- Incomes and expenditures are included in the publicly available budget. [...] |
2009-03-30 14:27:00 | Embassy Mbabane | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV EAID ECON WZ |
| 09MBABANE83 |
SEC WORKS WITH SWAZI CENTRAL BANK [...] SUMMARY: On March 17 - 19, two Security and Exchange Commission (SEC) officials, funded by USAID, participated in a regulatory workshop on Ponzi and pyramid schemes, sponsored by the IMF and hosted by the Central Bank of Swaziland (CBS). The conference convened working level bank officials f [...] |
2009-03-30 14:59:00 | Embassy Mbabane | UNCLASSIFIED | ECON EFIN PREL PGOV WZ |
| 09MBABANE85 |
EFFECTS OF WORLD ECONOMIC DOWNTURN ON SWAZILAND'S INSULATED [...] SUMMARY. Swaziland's financial market, fairly insulated from the global banking crisis, has kept banks that operate in Swaziland safe. Swaziland's small domestic market makes it heavily dependent on sugar exports and exports to the South African market. This vulnerability to commodities pricing [...] |
2009-03-31 07:34:00 | Embassy Mbabane | UNCLASSIFIED | ETRD ECON EFIN WZ |
| 09MBABANE86 |
SADC SUSPENDS MADAGASCAR, CONTEMPLATES ZIMBABWE [...] (U) SUMMARY: On March 30, ten Southern African Development Community (SADC) Heads of State met in Swaziland for an Extraordinary Summit to discuss the coup d'etat of former Madagascar President Ravalomanana and a 10 Billion USD Short-Term Emergency Recovery Program (STERP) for Zimbabwe. SADC s [...] |
2009-03-31 14:12:00 | Embassy Mbabane | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL SADC KDEM AU WZ ZI |
| 10MBABANE19 |
SWAZI HUMAN RIGHTS LAWYER: SUPPORT FOR THE MONARCHY HIGH [...] (SBU) Mandla Mkhwanazi, chair of the newly recreated Swazi Lawyers for Human Rights, told PolOff on January 15 that support for King Mswati III and the political system remained high in the country, despite crushing levels of poverty, unemployment, corruption, violations of human rights, and h [...] |
2010-01-15 10:59:00 | Embassy Mbabane | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PHUM PGOV SOCI WZ |
| 10MBABANE24 |
TFHA01: SWAZILAND OFFERS CONDOLENCES, BUT NO MATERIAL [...] (SBU) On January 20, Foreign Ministry Assistant Socio-Political Analyst Vulindlela Kunene told PolOff that the Swazi government (GKOS) has not provided humanitarian assistance to Haiti (ref A). It is unlikely GKOS will provide assistance in the coming days, and there are no plans to register do [...] |
2010-01-20 14:56:00 | Embassy Mbabane | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | EAID ECON PGOV PREL PREF PHUM HA WZ |
| 10MBABANE25 |
SWAZILAND LOOKS TO DEBT AND FISCAL CUTS TO COVER BUDGET [...] (U) A dramatic drop in Southern Africa Customs Union (SACU) receipts has forced the Government of the Kingdom of Swaziland (GKOS) to cut ministries' budgets and consider alternate ways to raise money to finance the 2010 budget. SACU receipts represented approximately 60 percent of GKOS's budge [...] |
2010-01-21 12:00:00 | Embassy Mbabane | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON EFIN PGOV PREL WZ |
| 10MBABANE28 |
CLIMATE CHANGE DEMARCHE DELIVERED - SOME FOREIGN MINISTRY [...] On January 22, Ambassador Irving met with Foreign Minister Lutfo Dlamini on climate change to deliver points per reftel. The Ambassador requested Swaziland's support for the Copenhagen Accord by associating itself with the agreement, noting that Lesotho intended to do so. Ambassador Irving fu [...] |
2010-01-22 10:00:00 | Embassy Mbabane | UNCLASSIFIED | KGHG SENU ENRG WZ |
| 10MBABANE29 |
CLIMATE CHANGE DEMARCHE DELIVERED - SOME FOREIGN MINISTRY [...] On January 22, Ambassador Irving met with Foreign Minister Lutfo Dlamini on climate change to deliver points per reftel. The Ambassador requested Swaziland's support for the Copenhagen Accord by associating itself with the agreement, noting that Lesotho intended to do so. Ambassador Irving fu [...] |
2010-01-22 11:03:00 | Embassy Mbabane | UNCLASSIFIED | KGHG SENU ENRG WZ |
| 10MBABANE31 |
SWAZI FOREIGN MINISTER: SADC ANTICIPATES POTENTIAL [...] (C) Swaziland,s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Lutfo E. Dlamini told Ambassador on January 22 that Southern African Development Community (SADC) summit participants expressed disapproval of France,s continued support of the Rajoelina regime in Madagascar. He said t [...] |
2010-01-22 11:28:00 | Embassy Mbabane | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PINR SADC AU WZ |
| 10MBABANE33 |
TFHA01: LITTLE FOCUS ON HAITI IN SWAZI MEDIA [...] Media coverage of the earthquake and subsequent relief efforts in Haiti has been very limited. Both local and international coverage has generated little interest among the Swazi public. Articles have been confined to the World News section of the newspapers, which have run short pieces verba [...] |
2010-01-25 12:47:00 | Embassy Mbabane | UNCLASSIFIED | PREL KPAO KDEM OIIP HAWZ |
| 10MBABANE35 |
SWAZILAND FISCAL TRANSPARENCY 2010 REVIEW [...] (SBU) This cable responds to reftel's request regarding information on Swaziland's fiscal transparency and USG FY2010 assistance. 2. (SBU) Under the FY 2010 SFOAA, Swaziland is allocated $100,000 in IMET funding, which is not provided directly to the Ministry of Defense but pays for expense [...] |
2010-01-26 08:00:00 | Embassy Mbabane | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON EFIN EAID PGOV PREL WZ |
| 10MBABANE46 |
SWAZILAND: INFORMATION ON CHILD LABOR AND FORCED LABOR IN [...] Per reftel request, Post submits responses regarding the use of forced labor and/or exploitive child labor in the production of goods in Swaziland, and government actions to address these issues. 2. In preparing our response, Post conducted interviews and discussions with Labor Commissione [...] |
2010-02-03 05:10:00 | Embassy Mbabane | UNCLASSIFIED | ELAB EIND ETRD KTIP PHUM SOCI USAID WZ |
| 10MBABANE48 |
SCENESETTER FOR VISIT OF AMBASSADOR DEMETRIOS MARANTIS TO [...] (SBU) Swaziland is a politically stable country with significant democracy and governance shortfalls, and a divided civic community challenging the government's lack of response to these deficits. It has a deeply traditional society with large economic disparities between the developed urban [...] |
2010-02-04 09:36:00 | Embassy Mbabane | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PREL PGOV ECON ETRD OVIP MARANTIS DEMETRIOS WZ |
| 10MBABANE52 |
SWAZILAND'S DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER TO SUSPEND INTER-COUNTRY [...] (SBU) On February 3, Ambassador Irving and ConOff Murphy met with Deputy Prime Minister (DPM) Themba Masuku, and Principal Secretary (PS) Khangeziwe Mabuza to discuss the Swaziland international adoption program and, specifically, the prolonged processing of three U.S. cases. DPM Masuku expre [...] |
2010-02-04 14:50:00 | Embassy Mbabane | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | CASC KOCI PREL PGOV SOCI WZ |
| 10MBABANE58 |
WITCHCRAFT AND MORE: A PORTRAIT OF INFLUENCES ON [...] (C/NF) SUMMARY: Swazi activist, former king's advisor and sugar company chief executive officer (CEO) Mandla Hlatshwayo (protect) described traditional leaders, superstition, and members of the royal family, especially his mother and wives, as the major influences on King Mswati III, while mini [...] |
2010-02-09 14:56:00 | Embassy Mbabane | CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN | PINR PGOV SOCI WZ |
| 10MBABANE59 |
SWAZILAND'S STALLED INTER-COUNTRY ADOPTIONS [...] (SBU) On February 8, Ambassador Irving and ConOff Murphy met with Deputy Prime Minister (DPM) Themba Masuku, Principal Secretary (PS) Khangeziwe Mabuza, Director of Social Work (DSW) Eric Maziya, Senior Social Worker Vierah Hlatshwayo, and the three Prospective Adoptive Parents (PAPs) to discus [...] |
2010-02-09 15:15:00 | Embassy Mbabane | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | CASC KOCI PREL PGOV SOCI WZ |
| 10MBABANE60 |
SWAZILAND NOT FOCUSED ON CLIMATE CHANGE ACCORD [...] On February 9, pol/econ officer met with Swaziland Environment Authority Chairperson, Dr. Irma Allen, to review Swaziland's position on the Copenhagen Accord, and discuss ways the embassy could encourage Swaziland's association with the agreement. Dr. Allen, who attended the conference in Cope [...] |
2010-02-10 15:11:00 | Embassy Mbabane | UNCLASSIFIED | KGHG SENU ENRG WZ |
| 10MBABANE61 |
CHINESE ENGAGEMENT IN SWAZILAND [...] The Kingdom of Swaziland recognizes the Republic of China (Taiwan) as the sole representative of China, and does not have diplomatic relations with the People's Republic of China. The PRC does not engage Swaziland or have development initiatives with the country. Mainland Chinese workers do [...] |
2010-02-16 07:03:00 | Embassy Mbabane | UNCLASSIFIED | PREL EAID CN WZ |
| 10MBABANE63 |
SWAZILAND TO USE FY 2010 SUGAR QUOTA [...] No summary [...] |
2010-02-17 04:32:00 | Embassy Mbabane | UNCLASSIFIED | EAGR ETRD WZ |
| 10MBABANE71 |
PROPERTY LEGAL DECISION: VICTORY FOR SWAZI WOMEN AND [...] In a High Court decision hailed as a victory for Swazi women, Justice Qinisile Mabuza issued a ruling on February 23 to allow married women to register and own property, overturning an unconstitutional law. Equally significant, the court ruling advanced the principle that courts have the righ [...] |
2010-02-24 12:11:00 | Embassy Mbabane | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV PHUM WZ |
| 10MBABANE73 |
GOLDSTONE DEMARCHE: NO IMMEDIATE RESPONSE [...] Ambassador Irving and PolOff met with Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Acting Legal Advisor Vulindlela Kunene, in the unavailability of more senior officers, to deliver points per reftel on February 24. Mr. Kunene offered no immediate substantive response regarding Sw [...] |
2010-02-24 15:09:00 | Embassy Mbabane | UNCLASSIFIED | PREL PHUM PTER IS KPAL WZ |
| 10MBABANE74 |
S/GWI PROJECT PROPOSALS - SWAZILAND [...] In response to reftel, U.S. Embassy Mbabane appreciates the opportunity to submit four project proposals that seek to address the many challenges facing Swazi women. The proposals are presented by priority order. Post received over twenty proposals, and each one would greatly benefit the poli [...] |
2010-02-24 15:29:00 | Embassy Mbabane | UNCLASSIFIED | KWMN PREL KPAO PHUM AID CDC COM TRSY WZ |
| 10MBABANE76 |
Swaziland: Telecommunications Policy Officer Designation [...] U.S. Embassy Mbabane designates pol/econ officer Craig Pike as its telecommunications policy officer. Phone number: 00268-404-6441 ext. 2202, email: pikect (at) state.gov. IRVING [...] |
2010-02-25 18:43:00 | Embassy Mbabane | UNCLASSIFIED | ECPS ECON WZ |
| 10MBABANE77 |
SWAZILAND'S DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER'S RESPONSE TO THE [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: As a follow up to meetings Ambassador Irving and ConOff Murphy held with Swazi government officials and Prospective Adoptive Parents (PAPs) regarding the stalled inter-country adoption cases detailed in refs (A) and (B), the Deputy Prime Minister's Office (DPM) provided the famil [...] |
2010-02-26 11:44:00 | Embassy Mbabane | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | CASC KOCI PREL PGOV SOCI WZ |
| 10MBABANE8 |
RECKLESS POLICE SHOOTINGS INCREASE DURING CRACKDOWN ON [...] SUMMARY: Calls by high level government officials for police and security forces to use "maximum force" and be "tough and ruthless" to fight a rising crime rate have led to a drop in crime and a surge in reckless shootings and killings of suspects. Some shootings have occurred in public locat [...] |
2010-01-08 07:45:00 | Embassy Mbabane | UNCLASSIFIED | ASEC PHUM SOCI WZ |