Swazi faces trade sanctions - could impact SA

Swaziland may face potentially crippling trade sanctions if it fails to get its political house in order, warned the European Union (EU). And such sanctions could affect South African companies and financial institutions as well, reports CNBC Africa.

Under the African Growth and Opportunities Act (Agoa), Swaziland’s eligibility for duty-free trade access to the US was suspended last year. According to a blog on Swazi Media, the trade sanctions were a result of Swaziland King Mswati III’s poor record on human rights.

Online community platform, Sahara Reporters, highlighted examples of this poor record which include the fact that criticism of the royal family is forbidden while labour and human rights groups cannot be legally registered in the country.
A contributor to the platform wrote: “Political parties are banned and pro-democracy activists are charged as terrorists. Judges serve at the whim of King Mswati, resulting in a farcical judiciary that has never fully upheld a basic human right in its history.”

The CNBC Africa report pointed out that refraining from addressing these concerns could cost Swaziland its export market for sugar, beef, citrus and other exports.