“The monarchy is trying to hunt us all down—our comrades are being followed, abducted and tortured. None of us are safe as long as this regime exists,” said Simphiwe Dlamini, international secretary of the Communist Party of Swaziland, regarding the rule of King Mswati III, Africa’s last absolute monarch

The Communist Party of Swaziland is continuing to organize actions protesting the upcoming parliamentary elections in the country. Swaziland is the last remaining monarchy in Africa, and the people of the country have been facing brutal repression for resisting the king’s rule.

In Swaziland, only individuals approved by the local chiefs of King Mswati III can contest elections, and the parliament cannot hold the monarchy accountable. Pro-democracy activists have been calling for a boycott of the elections which are scheduled for August

The Communist Party of Swaziland will defy the ban on demonstrations and hold protest marches in 16 of Swaziland’s 59 constituencies this weekend. At least 25 other constituencies have already witnessed protests.

The landlocked nation of Swaziland in Africa is regularly witnessing strikes and protests as the people are rising up to assert their rights. 

“We call upon the international community to extend their solidarity towards the struggle of the working class movement in Swaziland,” noted various trade union organizations.

One of the last absolute monarchies in the world, Swaziland is headed to a primary round of polls of August 25 under its Tinkhundla (administrative sub-division)-based electoral system.