April 2002

PThe pictures I took remain my treasure

Sir,

Never before have I seen a country where tradition and culture binds a whole nation.
Swaziland is a place to visit or even live for there is peace, harmony and nothing unexciting.
I understand that your kingdom is one of the few left in Africa. When I visited your country I had never seen a king before but now I can boast of seeing one.
I happened to be in your country in March this year when the nation was celebrating the Queen Mother's birthday.
My wife and I were travelling through the kingdom in a tourist bus and got to hear of the event. None of us in that bus refused to attend.
We went there and never regretted.
Watching the traditional dance by men (Sibacha) was something I had never seen before.
With their sticks and in a line, the dancers kept us entertained. Soon thereafter, it was time for the ladies to take the stage.
I tell you, the pictures I took will always remain my treasure.
The king was also there, though far away.
Our children at home also were impressed to see pictures of a king and now we have a problem on our shoulders since they want nothing more than to visit Swaziland.
Our promise to them, since we also can't wait to return, is that we'll be there sometime before the end of this year.
Our friends at home didn't believe our story until we got our pictures processed.
They too have plans to visit your kingdom.

Thomas S.
Germany

Namaacha Border Crossing Problems
Dear Sir

My name is Jon Lansley I am a British volunteer working for Skillshare Africa in Maputo. I arrived in Maputo November 98 and from that date until December 99 I enjoyed many weekend visits (shopping and leisure) to your country.
This is a letter I intended to write 6 months previous but became so furious about the problems I encountered at the above mentioned border that I vowed never to return to Swaziland again.
But now time has lapsed and I wish to resume my weekend trips to Swaziland for both shopping and leisure and seek assurance that I will be free to do so without being subject to hassle from your Namaacha customs men.
Incident
The following incident occured Dec 99 whilst on route from Maputo to South Africa via Swaziland to attend a friends party in Mbabane.
Whilst passing through your customs control I was told that I had to pay 2,000 rand, for a tempory import licence for my car.
Having entered into your country many times without such a request I was stunned.
The car I own is an imported Toyota, registered with Mozambican plates. I protested that this could not be correct as I had entered Swaziland in the same vehicle many times previously without any such request and anyway I did not have sufficiate funds to pay such a fee.
Refusing
The result was a 3 hour wait with the customs men refusing me entry into Swaziland without payment.
This payment fee of 2000 rand was quickly reduced to 1500 rand and eventually I was told they could do it for 1000 rand.
When I requested further explanation as to why I had to pay an import licence fee I was told "We are particuarly targeting those cars not made in Mozambique and vehicles imported from Japan".
Further explanation was given that the import duty paid on the car went to Mozambique and not to an SADC (Swaziland) and therefore I would have to pay if I wished to enter Swaziland and I would have to do the same at any other SADC border such as South Africa.
At this time I had also entered South Africa many times without any such request. I also know that Mozambique is in fact a member of SADC but refained from pointing out this fact as I felt it would agravate your customs men further. During these 3 hours I watched many Mozambican plated Japanese imports (Toyotas) pass through customs unhindered.
When I again protested I was told the decision to demand payment was discressionary!
Apologise
After 3 hours had passed, and only because of my insistance, I was given opportunity to apologise to every officer on duty, thereafter a hand writen "Temporary Import Licence" for 15 days was issued, stamped and signed by the officer in charge and eventually I was allowed entry to Swaziland without payment.
I was told if I failed to leave the country before the permit expired my car would be taken from me.
The only thing that stopped me from turning back into Mozambique, there and then, was that myself and a friend travelling with me were due to attend another friends party in Mbabane that night.
This was not a good start to our christmas holiday during which time I entered South Africa and Zimbabwe in the same car without receiving any requests for any tempory import licences.
Problems
We left Swaziland the next day through the Lavumisa border, with no problems being experienced by either the Swaziland or South African customs officials.
I still have the hand writen temporary import duty if you wish to receive a copy.
I honestly believe that the customs man were merely collecting their christmas bonuses! Please can you advise me as to my rights to enter your country as a British citizen driving an imported Japanese car with Mozambican registration number plates.
I wish to resume my shopping and leisure trips to your country but wish for some assurance that I will not be sujected to the same treatment on crossing the Namaacha border and risk losing my car.
If you are unable to advise please can you provide for me a contact address and name within Swaziland Customs Headquarters that can advise.

Jon Lansley