Swaziland: can southern Africa's last absolute monarchy democratise?

Abstract

The disproportionate use of force by government paramilitary units against the 12 April 2011 pro-democracy demonstrations in Africa's last absolute monarchy, Swaziland, underlined the monarchy's flawed approach towards addressing popular dissent. The consequences of economic mismanagement by the government of King Mswati III are becoming dire and can no longer be quelled by political repression. The uprising was inspired by the revolutions in North Africa on the one hand and was the result of many years of relentless campaigning for the restoration of multiparty democracy led by banned opposition parties on the other. It would be a mistake to write off the significance of the uprising, which has consolidated a platform for democracy advocates in the country as well as opened up possibilities for ushering in change in the country's political landscape. In this paper, it is argued that the prospects for change in Swaziland will be determined by the degree of unity in the political agenda and strategy within the movement comprising trade unions, political parties and civil society organisations; broad-based mobilisation in much of the country's rural areas and political buy-in of the reform agenda by pro-monarchists; and a sustained momentum for change from Swaziland's neighbours and other key African and international partners.