The Law Society of Swaziland is taking on the kingdom's judiciary, arguing that King Mswati III has appointed judges in violation of the constitution.
An attempt to challenge the appointment as a High Court Judge of Mpendulo Simelane failed on Friday (1 August 2014) when a case at the High Court was dismissed before the Law Society's lawyers arrived at the court.
The Law Society argues that Simelane is too inexperienced to be a High Court Judge. It says the constitution states that a High Court Judge must have at least 10 years' experience in legal practice. The Law Society says Simelane only has five years' experience, which the judge disputes.
In Swaziland, King Mswati rules as an absolute monarch and he chooses the judges. Critics say that Swazi judges tend to do the bidding of the King, rather than uphold the constitution.
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