Security for All? Politics, Economy & the Growth of Private Security in Swaziland

Abstract

Like many other African countries, Swaziland has in recent years experienced a rapid growth of various private security initiatives. In urban areas, security privatisation manifests itself in the form of a mushrooming of formal private security companies, while in rural areas, where the majority of people live, informal Community Police groups operating outside the control and recognition of the public police provide protection against crime. This article argues that the growth of private security initiatives in Swaziland cannot be understood only with reference to the ‘weak’ African state, but must also be analysed in the context of the country's unequal political economy and the utilisation of public security forces for regime security.