Swaziland pro-democracy protests meet teargas and water cannon

Riot police beat demonstrators as union leaders and journalists are arrested in Africa's last absolute monarchy

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• Xan Rice
• guardian.co.uk, Tuesday 12 April 2011 14.00 BST
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King Mswati III: the demonstration was called over the lack of freedoms and the increasingly dire economic crisis in his kingdom Photograph: TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP/Getty Images
Riot police have fired teargas and water cannons, beaten demonstrators and arrested union leaders, activists and journalists in an attempt to stop pro-democracy protests in Swaziland, Africa's last absolute monarchy. Simantele Mmema, spokeswoman for the Swaziland National Association of Teachers, told the Associated Press that riot police dispersed more than 1,000 workers who were singing and chanting in a teacher training centre. Earlier, more than 150 paramilitary police surrounded Freedom Square in the commercial capital, Manzini, separating any groups of two or more people. Buses approaching the city were stopped by police, with passengers held under guard or driven back in the opposite direction. At least seven labour leaders were arrested early in the morning, while several foreign journalists were detained. Five activists were arrested on Monday evening ahead of the planned march, which had been banned by the authorities. "The paramilitary police were marching and chanting in the square, as if they were the demonstrators," said Sikelele Dlamini, co-ordinator of the Swaziland United Democratic Front, a coalition of pro-democracy groups, speaking by telephone from Manzini. "It was an open act of intimidation, saying to protesters: 'We have taken over the streets'." The Manzini demonstration was called in protest at the lack of freedoms and the increasingly dire economic crisis in the tiny mountain kingdom. Nearly broke, the government recently announced it would have to cut civil servants' salaries. The move has caused widespread anger, especially so soon after the politicians awarded themselves a generous increase in allowances. The march was timed to coincide with the 38th anniversary of the day when the late King Sobhuza II repealed the constitution, banned political parties and installed himself as absolute ruler. His son, King Mswati III, has ruled since 1986. Mswati's polygamy – he has 14 wives – and his taste for luxury, especially cars and palaces, has caused ridicule outside Swaziland. At home though, where tradition runs deep, and people are proud of their culture, he remains largely popular. There has long been a measure of opposition to the lack of political freedoms, but the pro-democracy movement has gained momentum due to recent financial difficulties, as well as the uprisings in north Africa. Swaziland's main source of revenue, from the Southern African Customs Union, recently fell 60%, due mainly to the global recession. The International Monetary Fund has been engaged to help the country borrow money from donors, but there are conditions attached. With the highest civil service wage bill as a percentage of GDP in Africa, Swaziland's workers will feel the pinch. Around 7,000 civil servants need to be retrenched under the austerity plan, and salaries will be cut by up to 10%. With around two-thirds of the 1.2 million population already living below the poverty line, the proposals have not gone down well. Last month, unions organised a strike that involved thousands of people marching through the capital Mbabane in protest at the cuts, the biggest demonstration in years. The demonstration in Manzini was a follow up, with pro-democracy activists joining in. Dlamini, the activist, said: "Civil servants pay cannot be reduced – they are paid virtually nothing anyway. And they are not the ones responsible for messing up the economy. The government must go." Despite not being allowed to reach the main square, more than 700 teachers gathered at their centre in Manzini to voice their anger, with police demanding they disperse. The demonstrators have received strong support from South Africa. The powerful trade unions there have called for an end to King Mswati's rule, while the ANC Youth League called on Swazi youth to "fearlessly confront the Swaziland monarchy and fight until it has been brought down to its knees".