Organize and mobilize for democratic change in Swaziland

A political environment of torture, beatings and killing
In Swaziland political parties are illegal and any kind of opposition to the King Mswati III is punished with torture, beatings, arbitrary arrests and in some cases even death. The poor and marginalized part of the population are not given the chance to participate in the decisions made affecting their lives.

In spite of this the democratic movement in Swaziland has grown stronger over the past years. However, the barriers to political participation and the lacking democratic culture and history of Swaziland makes it difficult for the movement to mobilize their members, campaign for their views and act as democratic institutions themselves.

The Project
The project Organize and mobilize for democratic change is a capacity building project of 6 people-driven movements in Swaziland; the student movement, an ex-mineworkers organization, a  street vendors association, a rural women's organization, a workers organization and the Swaziland Economic Justice Forum. The project will strengthen these organizations to,

1. incorporate democratic structures and mechanisms in their own organizations while educating and mobilizing their members
2. transform their activities into solid and well supported campaigns on behalf of their members and the broader democratic movement
3. Establish links and networks with supportive organizations nationally, regionally and internationally to get solidarity in the fight for a democratic Swaziland.

The project is carried out in partnership with Foundation of Socio-economic Justice (FSEJ) which is an umbrella organization that works to encourage democratic participation and raise awareness on human- and constitutional rights amongst the rural population in Swaziland.

The project is financed by The Project Advice and Training Centre and runs from mid 2011 to mid 2014

For more information contact the working group for democratic mobilization in Swaziland