Civil society and union activists will join students in a mass protest against the Swazi government on Friday.

The demonstration is expected to bring activity in the capital, Mbabane, to a standstill, reports the Times of Swaziland. The newspaper says civil servants, teachers and nurses are expected to join in the action, which will culminate in a march to the office of Prime Minister Sibusiso Dlamini.

Swazi democracy activists based in South Africa say protesters will deliver a petition comprising demands based on the the country's "worsening economic crisis and the continued mismanagement of public funds".

The Swaziland Solidarity Network said the main organizers of the march are the Swaziland National Association of Teachers, the Swaziland Federation of Trade Unions, the Swaziland National Union of Students, the Swaziland Federation of Labour and and the Swaziland Nurses Association.

In neighbouring South Africa, union and youth allies of President Jacob Zuma backed the protest.

In a statement of support the Congress of South African Trade Unions condemned what it called "the intensified state of terror enforced by the royal regime and its security forces". The congress accused the Swazi authorities of disrupting peaceful meetings, harassing and arresting leaders and activists and spying on activists.

Recent years have seen a surge of activism against the continued rule of King Mswati III, who since he succeeded his father, Sobhuza II, in 1986 has ruled the kingdom as an absolute monarchy.