Photo: Swaziland Solidarity Network Forum

Swaziland anti-government protests in 2011: The students and other pro-democracy activists are this week drawing attention to the lack of human rights in Swaziland.

Police in Swaziland are out in force to stop students and prodemocracy activists demonstrating for education for all in the kingdom.

Students fought with police in Mbabane, the Swazi capital, this lunchtime (4 September 2012) as they tried to arrest Swaziland National Union of Students leader, Maxwell Dlamini,

Reports from the scene at the Mbabane bus rank say that police and security forces vastly outnumber the students. State security forces fired teargas, beat up students and activists and drove them away from the bus rank towards the University of Swaziland, Mbabane Campus, the People's United Democratic Movement (PUDEMO) reported.

Students had wanted to demonstrate as part of the second day of the Global Week of Action for Swaziland, to draw attention to the lack of democracy in the kingdom ruled by King Mswati III, sub-Saharan Africa's last absolute monarch.

Police and security forces gathered in Coronation Park, Mbabane, from early this morning to prevent any rally taking place.

Students and activists from all over Swaziland tried to reach Mbabane, but road blocks were set up by police. PUDEMO reported that 13 buses ferrying students from the William Pitcher College in Manzini to Mbabane were detained at a roadblock mounted at Malagwane traffic circle by the police.