So what been happening in Swaziland while I’ve been off
gallivanting through Southern Africa?
Well for one the teachers strike come to an end just in time
for the last week of the school term, but it defiantly did not end without its
drama.
King Mswati III summoned everyone to the royal residence on
Monday August 6th, for a speech. He declared a Sibeya or a People’s Parliament to be opened
the next day and last until Friday.
This allowed for anyone to come to the residence and tell their grievances
to the King and offer their suggestions of how to solve the problems of the
country. The King was not present
all these days, the people were recorded and he listened to them later. After the parliament was closed he made
his response. I was never really
told what he said in his response, but he did demand that all teachers return to
work the next week. This led to
much confusion, as he did not specify if that was all teachers or just teachers
who had not been fired during the Waya Waya. The Kind’s Parliament then declared that it only included
teachers whom were not fired, which didn’t settle with most people. So as far as I can tell nothing has
changed, nothing has been fixed, and people are more confused then before. However, striking has stopped, students
and teachers returned for the last week of the term and some have continued
into the break to try and catch-up on the weeks missed.
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