SWAZI JUDGES EASILY MANIPULATED, UN TOLD

MBABANE – “The appointment of contract judges by Swaziland upon request of the chief justice serves to undermine the security of tenure of judges,” the International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) has observed.

The ICJ, composed of 60 eminent judges and lawyers from all regions of the world, submitted this to the United Nations, saying the situation placed the contract judges at risk of manipulation by the Crown and the judicial hierarchy

It further called for an overhaul of the legal system in Swaziland. The situation stands in the way of the kingdom having independent judges, according to the international jurists body.

Foreign Affairs Minister Mgwagwa Gamedze said all judges were employed on a permanent basis, except for those of the Supreme Court and acting judges.

He said the ICJ should have submitted their report to him before making it public internationally.
Minister Gamedze said; “I believe that if the ICJ wants to help us a country, they were supposed to give us the report so that we can see if there are areas where we have to improve as a country.” However, we have a situation where some of the Court of Appeal judges, mostly those from outside, are not employed permanently.”

A United Nations group is expected to investigate Swaziland’s record on human rights in April and May 2016.
The ICJ stated, “The judges’ appointment process continues to pose a threat to judicial independence and impartiality. The Constitution of Swaziland provides that the judges are appointed by the King after consultation with the Judicial Service Commission (JSC).

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