Swaziland police arrested an opposition leader in a crackdown denied by authorities and broke up an international trade unionist meeting on Friday, said South Africa's main labour union grouping.

Africa's last absolute monarch King Mswati III has declared his tiny mountain kingdom has a new political system -- a "monarchial democracy" -- his spokesman said on Monday.

The tiny kingdom of Swaziland in southern Africa is getting ready for a national parliamentary election this year, amid expectations that the outcome will be a fraud on democracy.

Swaziland looks set to become the first African country to introduce conjugal visits for prisoners, but critics say the policy is misguided.

Mbabane — Swaziland's King Mswati III is under immense pressure following the constitutional crisis that has resulted from his cabinet's refusal to resign after the House of Assembly passed a vote of no confidence.

20120904
AFP
Thousands of half-naked maidens danced for Swaziland's King Mwsati III Monday but a dire economic crisis is threatening to dampen popular fervour at the annual "reed dance" celebration.

20120812
AFP
Swazi King Mswati III on Saturday closed a forum where his subjects called for democratic reforms, promising "expert" reviews but making no formal commitments.

20120804
AFP
A Swazi court on Friday ordered the government to reinstate more than 300 teachers fired after taking part in a five-week strike over salaries, saying their action was legal.

20120730
AFP
In the geography class at St Mark's High School, boys play chess on a board scratched onto a workbench in one corner, while in another a girl knits a scarf while her friends gossip.

20120707
AP
MBABANE, Swaziland (AP) — Swaziland police fired tear gas and beat stone-throwing protesters, chasing some down into a hospital, after a demonstration held Friday in support of teachers demanding higher wages.

20111117
Reuters
JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - A budget crunch in Swaziland, Africa's last absolute monarchy, has reached a "critical stage" with the government struggling to maintain spending on HIV/AIDS, education and the elderly, the International Monetary Fund said on Wednesday.

20110910
Reuters
JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - An acute government funding crisis in Swaziland, Africa's last absolute monarchy, is disrupting supplies of HIV/AIDS drugs and hampering the fight against the virus in the country with the world's highest infection rate, Medecins Sans Frontiers (MSF) said on Friday.

20110831
Reuters
JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - A fiscal crisis gripping Swaziland, Africa's last absolute monarchy, is deepening despite an emergency $370 million loan from South Africa earlier this month, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) said on Wednesday.

20110607
Allafrica
Paul Loffler, publisher of the Times of Swaziland newspapers, says Swaziland doesn’t need democracy.

20110426
reuters

Human rights activists and southern African exiles, organised by the Swaziland Vigil, are planning to protest outside one of London's most expensive hotels this evening to condemn the decision to invite King Mswati III to the royal wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton.

20110410
Zimbabwe Standard

Harare — PRESIDENT Robert Mugabe again left the country for Singapore on Friday evening amid revelations that it is actually the First Lady Grace Mugabe who is this time seeking treatment in the Asian country for a serious ailment.

20110319
IPS

Mbabane — Thousands of protesters brought the Swazi capital of Mbabane to a standstill Friday as they took to the streets to oppose imminent salary cuts to civil service wages - and demand changes to the country's government.

20101223
africanews

Community police in Matsapha, Swaziland, have seized weapons from a local shabeen to ensure residents a safe festive season.

20100907
africanews

Police in Swaziland have arrested about 50 people ahead of protests against sub-Saharan Africa's last absolute monarchy, activists say.

20100808
BBC

Swaziland's justice minister has resigned following allegations he was having an affair with one of King Mswati III's 13 wives. The prime minister said Ndumiso Mamba had resigned from his position as both cabinet minister and senator. He said it was because of "allegations circulating in the country".