Swaziland seeks loan from EU to pay civil servants' saleries

It has come to our attention that the Government of Swaziland fears it will not be able to pay their civil servants at the end of this month, and that the Minister of Finance, Majozi Sithole, has therefore asked for loans for the outstanding amount to enable the government to pay the salaries. The Minister said that he would be looking  at an array of potential international donors, including the European Union who, he claimed, had already “showed interest in helping”.

While we at Africa Contact obviously agree with the Minister of Finance that the payment of these salaries is of paramount importance, not least for the internal cohesiveness and security of Swaziland, we must on the other hand insist that any such loans to be given to the Swazi government be accompanied with conditions of democratization, the observance of human rights, and good governance, as presently Swaziland's record in all three areas is less than adequate. We believe that it would be unethical for the EU, as well as against its core values, to support a country whose Prime Minister less than a week ago called for the torturing of all visiting foreigners that actively called for the democratisation of the country.

This is a unique opportunity to be able to demand that Swaziland treats its population to the minimum standards that the world has deemed necessary, as well as listens to its poverty-stricken population. As you are well aware, Swaziland is one of the most unequal societies in the world - a country where two thirds of the population survive on less than a dollar per day and where over 40% are HIV-positive, whilst the King and a small elite continue to squander the countries resources on prestige projects and luxury items.

Sent to Catherine Ashton, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, and the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs.