JusticeMakers Fellow Evans Muswahili is working in Vihiga district, Kenya to reform traditional beliefs and practices in his community. He has focused his JusticeMakers project on helping women who suffer from prejudice and violence, due to the continued practices such as forced wife inheritance and underage marriage.  The work Evans is doing is vital because outdated beliefs are the main contributor to gender-based injustices. Women were previously afraid to speak out against the discrimination they faced from corrupt judicial officials, employers and village chiefs. Additionally, they had been unable to access the appropriate legal procedures, such as a fair trial, that would grant them justice.

Evans at home with his children.

Evans explained the challenges of operating in a district, such as Vihiga, that is so resolutely patriarchal. He found it difficult to convince male members of the community that his project was not disproportionately empowering women at the expense of men. Evans’ determination and efforts to convince more ‘hardliner’ males was finally rewarded as the men in Vihiga district now fully support his project. The women in Evans’ community have praised his work and the fact that they finally have someone who voices the problems they face in Kenya’s criminal justice system. On a more light-hearted note, Evans pointed out that many women laugh at the fact that it’s a male voice addressing their concerns!

Evans at a function, with one of the many women he is helping in his community.

In a major breakthrough, Evans secured a working relationship with the Provincial Administration of Vihiga district, which is the authority controlling local governance in Kenya. This gives Evans access to key actors such as chiefs, village elders, judicial officers and the administration police. Consequently, it has enabled Evans to educate members of the judicial system on their responsibilities and obligations to women through seminars. This breakthrough has also meant that Evans can establish forums in which the judicial officers, members of the public administration and the public can interact and conduct peer review of each other.

Evans at Vihiga prison.

During a meeting Evans explained the grave situation in the prison system of Vihiga district. At a 600 capacity prison there are currently 3000 prisoners locked away awaiting trials. Additionally, those who stand accused of petty crimes are sharing their cells with capital offenders. Owing to the overcrowding in prisons, many of the prisoners died. The healthcare facilities have been unable to deal with the high numbers of prisoners needing treatment for diseases such as TB and cholera. Some of the prisoners’ reactions to their dire circumstances has been violent, threatening the lives of prison wardens and fellow prisoners. Evans has been documenting and reporting on this problem, and then writing letters of petition to the prison superintendent. His efforts have led to the approval of a prison being constructed in Vihiga which will help reduce the overcrowding of the district’s prisons.

Evans plans to broadcast a two hour radio show once a week which will help raise awareness for his JusticeMakers project. He also hopes it will increase the number of people he can reach and offer help to. More details about the radio show to follow soon!

On 9th December 2009, IBJ co-organised a fifth roundtable with APRODH in the province of Cibitoke. The aim was to gather members of the Burundi judicial system- whether lawyers, prison officials, police officers, prosecutors and judges- to discuss the issue of juvenile criminal justice. APRODH’s help was once more invaluable, since it contributed to prepare the event in Cibitoke province, sending invitations to the relevant members of the local justice system.

Above: Senior councillor of Cibitoke province governor, post officer of Mpimba prison, and IBJ Fellow Astère Muyango. Photo: courtesy of Jean-Baptiste Bouzard.

As of the 15th November 2009, a total of 461 juveniles are incarcerated in the 11 detention centres across the country. Among them, more than two thirds are still waiting for their trial. Further, juvenile criminality tends to increase.

This roundtable was thus an opportunity to discuss about this disquieting situation, firstly by identifying its deep causes. However, the main goal of the meeting was to bring members of the justice system together to find out appropriate solutions to the lack of proper juvenile criminal justice system in Burundi. To reach this objective, participants were divided in different groups according to their occupation. This enabled each member of each group to feel concerned about the issue and urged to commit himself, at his own level and within his capacity. Consequently, dialogs concluded with concrete suggestions aiming at ameliorating procedures involving children, finding alternative sanctions to imprisonment, and lastly improving children’s lives while imprisoned.

Above: Astère Summarizing work groups’ suggestions. Photo: courtesy of Claire Habimana.

Beside, copies of the new Penal Code and the Legal Defense Manual were distributed to participants. This manual was prepared by the attorney Mehdi Benbouzid with a view to build the capacity of Burundian lawyers to provide quality and committed counsel to clients. The discussions were an opportunity to point out that Burundi had ratified the Convention on the Rights of the Child, which therefore ought to be enforced in the country. IBJ’s lawyer Herman Ndayishimiye brought some copies of the main articles of the Convention to remind the actors of the justice system of the Government’s obligations in terms of the administration of juvenile justice.

The outcome of this roundtable is truly encouraging. IBJ expected concrete commitments of participants, and the goal was reached. In a friendly atmosphere, each participant was urged to feel part of the Cibitoke justice system and ready to make his best to improve it.

Above: all participants gathered to make evolve minors’ judicial system. Photo: courtesy of Dieudonné Ndayishimiye.

On 26th and 27th January, IBJ Burundi organised a street law campaign in Kabezi, a commune located in the province of Bujumbura rural, 20 kilometres southwards of the capital. This campaign was already well-rehearsed, since it was the seventh awareness campaign brought into play by IBJ. IBJ team cooperated with its partner APRODH, which provided six volunteers, who conducted the campaign with IBJ and APRODH staffs, and indicated us frequented places.

Above: volunteers conducting the campaign. Photo: Caroline Arnaud

Kabezi administrator’s cooperation was also valuable as this activity could not have been conducted this campaign without his keen authorization. He further proved to be enthusiastic regarding IBJ’s mission and activities, asking for a copy of the new Penal Code, which he still hadn’t acquired since April 2009 when the new Penal Code got enacted.

Above: IBJ fellow Astère Muyango handing out the Penal Code to the Administrator of Kabezi. Photo: Caroline Arnaud

Here again, the aim was to explain basic legal rights to rural populations, including the right to access a lawyer should they be arrested. Too many people still think that if they cannot afford an attorney, they are condemned to self-representation. However, the population of Kabezi displayed a real interest in being educated, asking questions and assiduously listening to the answers. At the end, more than 150 people were individually interviewed, and nearly 1400 were sensitized. Even armed forces turned out to show a great interest in the rights of the accused: soldiers spontaneously joined the crowd, and some of them even asked to be trained on their legal rights.

Above: Astère Muyango interviewing a soldier. Photo: Caroline Arnaud

The change in this campaign was the environment where it took place. Kabezi has the characteristic to be really widespread, because the commune includes several hills. In this extent, the campaign was conducted on a 16-kilometre long territory, with groups of interviewers disseminated in little hamlets in the hills, and moving from places to places. This mobility enabled to access and educate more people, and to increase IBJ’s visibility on a larger land than if we had stayed on the same place.

The campaign ended with an enjoyable feeling of success. Rural people are indisputably concerned about their rights and its implementation. More significantly, they asked for cards - in Kirundi language - where the legal procedures about pre-trial detention are outlined. Thus, 190 cards and 60 posters where disseminated all over the territory of Kabezi. The campaign is still going on today, as posters and cards are circulating from neighbourhoods to neighbourhoods across the area.

Above: rural population getting educated concerning their legal rights. Photo: Caroline Arnaud

Today, January 27th, we are officially launching the 2nd Annual JusticeMakers Fellowship Competition. International Bridges to Justice wanted to pay tribute to our wonderful group of JusticeMakers Partners-a variety of generous non-profit and legal organizations-whose goodwill and commitment has been and is still key to realize the promise of JusticeMakers.

This group of 56 partners is as diverse as it is large, covering over 30 countries and advocating for an array of issues. Collaborating with IBJ, they have used both online and offline promotional tools to bring this opportunity into their local legal communities and facilitate participation.

These organizations have stood up among others to say “no” to torture and illegal and arbitrary detainment in developing and transitional countries. An act of generosity, an act of solidarity and an act of strength.

The following JusticeMakers Partners have done an especially diligent job at generating enthusiasm for the competition and getting their communities involved.

Prisoners Assistance Nepal

Prisoners Assistance (PA) Nepal, a non-profit organization dedicated to penal reform in Nepal, hosted a JusticeMakers event on January 22nd in Kathmandu, Nepal. Collaborating with other JusticeMakers Partners in Nepal-Advocacy Forum, Committee for Social Justice and Women Foundation of Nepal-PA Nepal coordinated roundtable discussions and information sessions to present this Fellowship to legal and human rights activists in the region.

Qadir Foundation

The Qadir Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting human rights in Pakistan, has helped get our press release translated into the hands of many influential newspapers in Karachi and other parts of Pakistan. In addition, the Qadir Foundation has translated the press release into Urdu, helping to get it published in many Urdu media outlets.

Lembaga Bantuan Hukum Masyarakat (LBH Masyarakat)

LBH Masyarakat is a community legal aid institute providing legal services and counsel to those in need in Indonesia. They have taken it upon themselves to promote JusticeMakers to their vast contact list of legal aid NGOs and media personnel in Indonesia, and to translate documents in Bahasa Indonesian.

If I were to detail the extent of support given by each partner, this blog would exceed the limit of acceptable length. That is what has been so special about the 2010 Competition - every partner has voluntarily gone the extra step to ensure this opportunity is available to anyone that could benefit from it.

Please check out our JusticeMakers Partners Page to learn more about the commitment of our generous partners to systemic social change.

Thanks again to everyone who continues to fight injustice wherever it may be. Justice can’t wait.

Each 10th December, the international community celebrates the anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. International Bridges to Justice Burundi took part to this very special day, organizing a legal rights awareness campaign in Cibitoke, a province in the North-West of Burundi, near the Congolese and Rwandese borders.

Above: Rural populations gather around the IBJ team to get aware of the provisions of the newly revised penal code in case of arrest. Photo: courtesy of Jean-Baptiste Bouzard. 

 This campaign was a resounding success, thanks to the noteworthy support of our partner APRODH, which had recruited several local volunteers who generously helped IBJ staff. Local authorities expressed their support to this legal education initiative, and also contributed to the awareness-raising effort. In this extent, posters outlining people’ rights at time of arrest were displayed in several public places, such as the prosecutor’s office, the courthouse and other Cibitoke public offices.

Above : IBJ Fellow Astère Muyango explaining Human rights to a Burundian man, under the gaze of curious children. Photo: courtesy of Jean-Baptiste Bouzard.

Thanks to this precious help, the day ended with a lot of hope. Rural populations, often more vulnerable to abuses than populations in Bujumbura, were engaged about their legal rights at that time of arrest. IBJ team split in stands across the town to reach out to a maximum number of people. Banners which read “Liberty is the rule, arrest and detention is the exception” in Kirundi where displayed at strategic locations. Short questionnaires were handed out to people, which enabled to measure the level of the population’s knowledge regarding its basic legal rights. Then, people attracting people, many citizens spontaneously joined the group surrounding IBJ team, curious to to found out what the campaign was all about and to learn new things. Overall, 120 people were interviewed, and the number of people sensitized about their rights is estimated to be up to 577. Besides, little cards and posters, written in Kirundi, were distributed. The campaign clearly answered a curiosity that had remained unmet until now: rural populations left IBJ team with copies of the poster that they promised to distribute within their neighborhoods and communities.

Above: The hope of a new generation which has the skill to assert its rights. Photo: courtesy of Jean-Baptiste Bouzard.

As the adage goes, “a picture is worth a thousand words.” While statistics and reports about human rights abuses can be effective in rallying support for a cause, it is really the power of the image that prompts people to act immediately. More and more, NGOs are depending on photojournalism, which combines a series of compelling photographs in order to get their message out to a wider audience.

In the summer of 2009, International Bridges to Justice unleashed the power of photojournalism through Ian MacLellan, a college sophomore who traveled to Kenya with student journalist Humera Jabir to document the work of the Christian Legal Aid Education and Research (CLEAR). IBJ is partnered with CLEAR Kenya through Joy Mdivo, a winner of IBJ’s JusticeMaker Contest in 2008. CLEAR used the grant from the JusticeMakers contest in order to train prisoners to become their own advocates in court.

In December of 2009, Ian won the Grand Prize in the Student category of a photo journalism contest hosted by PhotoPhilanthropy, an organization dedicated to connecting NGOs, photographers and photo enthusiasts to “tell their stories, show their work, exchange ideas, find opportunities and financial support for their efforts.” Ian’s photographs of CLEAR were chosen from 20 entrants in the Student Category. Ian also won an Honorable Mention in the same category for his photography for the Kakuma News Reflector, an independent organization that was started to provide a voice for refugees.

During the two months Ian spent in Kenya, Ian followed the staff at CLEAR’s Kisumu office as the staff provided legal aid to prisoners in a society that was rocked by Kenya’s electoral violence. He traveled to prisons with CLEAR’s staff and documented the legal education trainings, through which prisoners can become their own advocates and paralegals. In the two months he spent in Kisumu, he witnessed the inefficiency of the Kenyan prison system, where the accused are forced to wait because of the staff lacks resources to process their paperwork and appeals.

CLEAR-Kisumu JusticeMaker Peter Onyango discussing with a client’s parents at Oyugis Court House.

Of his first visit to a prison with CLEAR, Ian admitted, “I’d never been to a prison before and I was a little intimidated.” The fact that a prisoner died suddenly during that visit made the experience even more disconcerting. However, Ian and the student journalist Humera Jabir, who worked with him in Kenya, found the trainings that CLEAR conducted particularly inspiring. According to Ian, the prisoners “had their own discussions on legal issues, their own cases and looked for their own solutions.”

A sign outside of the Oyugis Court House

Working in the prison system, Ian and Humera talked to prisoners who had been in years for decades without a completed trial. They realized the seriousness of the backlog of cases that has built up because of the lack of processing technology and general apathy to the suffering of prisoners. Despite these challenges, the prisoners listened attentively to the lectures of CLEAR advocate Peter Onyango, whom Ian describes as a skillful professor who prompted learning by asking the right questions of his students.

At the end of the two months, Ian’s experience as a photojournalist for CLEAR left an indelible impression on him. CLEAR’s national director Joy, whom Ian described as “extremely passionate about Kenya and justice”, was highly appreciative of Ian’s skills as a photojournalist. According to Joy, Ian’s photos gave her a fresh perspective on the most ordinary objects, such as the outdated typewriter that was used to create legal documents in one of the prisons. According to Joy, “It was no surprise that [Ian] won the PhotoPhilanthropy award. His level of talent, the commitment he has in his work and in the causes he pursues will only see him grow and excel.”

Students at a local Kisumu secondary school participate in law clubs organized by the CLEAR-Kisumu

Ian expressed enthusiasm about his win. He noted that while he had entered his photos in photo contests more than 20 times in the past, he had never won first prize. According to Ian, the publicity gained through PhotoPhilanthropy’s contest will help match the nonprofit organizations with donors in the future - good news for CLEAR. When asked what motivates his interest in photojournalism, Ian answered, “whatever I do, I want to make a difference and help create change.”

CLEAR Kenya staff pictured with student journalist Humera Jabir

Ian’s work in photojournalism has taken him across the United States, France, the United Kingdom, Israel, Kenya, and Uganda. Besides his avid interest in photography, Ian, a Biology and Environmental Studies major at Tufts University, is deeply passionate about the environment. He eventually hopes to work in the development field. More of his photos can be found on his website.

His name is Prince Mavaro. At the time of arrest, he was 23 year-old and married with a child aged 1. As his wife was unemployed, he was the sole breadwinner of the family. In May 2008, he was arrested on charges of unlawful entry. Prince could not afford to engage a lawyer to defend his legal rights. He stayed in remand prison for 10 months before IBJ fellow John Burombo started assisting him.During interrogations, he was severely assaulted by the police: he was tied up and beaten under the feet and on the knees with baton sticks and bottles. For several weeks, he sustained a series of injuries, including swollen feet, which made it very difficult for him to stand and walk. He spent almost three weeks in police custody before he was taken to a court of law. He pleaded not guilty to the charge and complained to the court of the ill-treatment he had suffered at the hands of the police but no action was taken. He was remanded in custody.

At that time, the remand prison was going through a serious crisis, including overcrowding, food shortages, and lack of access to medical treatment. Inmates barely had a single decent meal per day and diseases like pellagra and cholera were rampant. The last truck which transported the prisoners to and from courts broke down in May 2008, leaving them enable to attend trial. Prisoners were therefore continually remanded in custody in absentia.

When John commenced legal assistance the main concern was to get Prince out of custody. He applied for bail but it was denied. With the court system seriously dysfunctional, the State was taking a considerable time to bring the matter to trial and Prince continued to be remanded in custody, leaving his wife and baby totally vulnerable. John therefore decided to apply for a refusal of the further remand of Prince pending trial. In March 2009, such application was made to the court. After considering all submissions, the court upheld the application. Prince was discharged and released from custody. He almost spent one year in remand prison. He could barely hide his happiness and gratefulness at recovering freedom after such a long time away from his wife and 1-year old baby.

Thursday 10th December was International Human Rights Day. To celebrate, several of the JusticeMakers fellows held special events in their countries to mark the day. Chimwemwe, JusticeMakers fellow in Malawi, used the day as an opportunity to raise public awareness about his organisation - Paralegal Advisory Service Institute (PASI). Prisons in Malawi are overcrowded, particularly by poorer members of society who can not afford bail or the cost of lawyer. By training paralegals so that they are able to give free legal advice to prisoners, PASI is working to reduce the number of accused persons waiting in pre-trial detention.  Additionally, prisoners have reported acts of police brutality. PASI made a breakthrough agreement with the police that enables PASI paralegals to be present during interviews, thus safeguarding detainees from torture by abusive members of the police.

A PASI- trained paralegal is now permitted to attend police interviews and give support to the accused.

Chimwemwe marked International Human Rights Day by holding panel discussions with key stakeholders in the criminal justice system of Malawi. Chimwemwe worked hard to gather testimonys from victims of abuse and used them to provoke dialogue and thought around the issue of torture. The event provided prisoners with an opportunity to pose questions to the police and open a meaningful dialogue around this issue. Members of the media were also invited to report on the event. Chimwemwe hopes that the discussions will lead to an action plan and set of recommendations to follow after. The day was used as an opening for stakeholders in the criminal justice system to cooperate and find solutions for the issues raised.

JusticeMaker Fellow Chimwemwe from Malawi

JusticeMakers fellow for Democratic Republic of Congo, Franck Kamunga, organised an open day at Kinhasa University to commemorate International Human Rights Day on 10^th December. Franck is a lawyer working to repair the criminal justice system in Kinhasa. He has used his JusticeMakers grant to set up a free text messaging service and open phone-line in the city’s 24 police stations. Franck risks his life daily to protect defenseless women and ensure that they have access to legal counsel. Franck used the event at Kinshasa University as an opportunity to discuss International Human Rights Day with students.

Meanwhile in Geneva, the IBJ office held an event at Fenomeno Bar. The aim of the event was to commemorate International Human Rights Day and fundraise for IBJ’s projects. The evening was also intended to increase awareness of the problems IBJ is working to solve, such as ensuring legal counsel from the time of arrest. There was an entrance fee which included a free drink and a special cocktail was on sale called ‘Justice Juice’.  Evans Muswahili, JusticeMakers fellow from Kenya, made a special guest appearance as he was in Geneva for a conference with the U.N.

Left - right: IBJ’s International Programme Director Sanjeewa Liyanage, IBJ’s CEO and founder Karen Tse and JusticeMakers Kenya Fellow Evans Muswahili

Collecting the entrance fee at Fenomeno bar.

Evans with IBJ’s Programme Officer Fanny Cachat.

Inside Fenomeno bar.

On the left: Tim Scheu IBJ’s Innovation Manager wearing his JusticeMakers t-shirt.

Nepal’s JusticeMakers Fellow Ram Bhandari had an article published in the Nepali Times. Click to view his guest column here. Ram is using his Justicemakers grant within his community to educate citizens on their legal rights. During the Nepali armed conflict in 2001, Ram’s father was amongst those who disappeared without a trace. Driven by this and his constructive, peaceful approach, Ram used his JusticeMakers grant to create the Committee for Social Justice. The committee was created to help citizens better understand the Nepalese criminal justice system, thereby improving their access to justice. Citizens are informed of their rights through public dialogues and discussions.

JusticeMakers Fellow Ram Bhandari whose article was published as a guest column in the Nepali Times.

Ram focuses on speaking out and supporting those living in rural regions of Nepal. These regions are under-represented and the government tends to concentrate its efforts of justice and reconciliation in urban areas. The published article by Ram emphasises justice as a key tool to ensuring long-term peace being maintained in Nepal.

On December 10th, 2009 JusticeMaker Buhle Dube in Swaziland organized an event to honor the 61st anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR).  The event was held at the FanCourt Guest House in Coates Valley Manzini in conjunction with The Centre for Human Rights and Development (The Centre), One Circle - a NGO that focuses on young women’s’ rights, as well as the University of Swaziland’s Students Law Society.  The goal of the event was to raise awareness on the importance of protecting human rights and to commemorate the significance of the UDHR.  The event also sought to encourage dialogue within the local community on human rights issues and to facilitate improved working relationships amongst members of the criminal justice system and legal profession. 

Attorneys Goodnews Dlamini, Knosinathi Manzini, Knowledge Manana, and law student Nomfanelo Kunene.

Despite the difficult weather conditions, 45 individuals attended the event.  There was a variety of participants from the community, including privately-practicing attorneys, public prosecutors, magistrates, police officers, law students, university students, NGO personnel, and other members of the general public.  This diverse group engaged in an open and honest dialogue on the issues of safeguarding human rights, as well as possible solutions that can be pursued to alleviate abuses.  The event commenced with an opening prayer conducted by Magistrate Joe Gumede, after which JusticeMaker Buhle Dube gave an in-depth presentation on the history of the UDHR and the achievements of his JusticeMakers project in Swaziland over the past year.  Dube’s presentation summarized the research, forums, and training sessions he had carried out on the problems community police in Swaziland are confronted with.  Presentations were also given regarding the Customary Court System and the efforts to monitor these courts to ensure that increased procedural protections are in place for the accused. In Swaziland there is a dual criminal justice system that has both Customary Courts and Magistrates Courts. Presided over by a court president, the Customary Courts rely on orally transmitted Swazi customs and the Swazi Courts Act of 1950 when producing their decisions. A parallel magistrate court system employing legal representation and western-style law codes also exists. The Customary Court System has corporal punishment such as caning, although no longer used in practice, remains on the books as a constitutionally viable sentence.

Magistrates Mdluli (left) and Gumede listening attentively during the event.

Following Dube’s presentation Khabo Dlamini from One Circle gave a presentation on the organization’s mission to empower women, to raise awareness on gender issues within Swaziland, and to disseminate accurate information on women’s rights and the plight of young women in society.  Dlamini spoke with concern for women who have been abused, and the need to create a facility to provide assistance to abused women who are fleeing their aggressors. Such facilities would be helpful to ensure these women are able to gain the skills needed for generating an income.  There were also discussions regarding the abuse of same-sex partners and the cultural concerns surrounding homosexuality which are present within Swaziland.  The discussion of homosexuality and gender issues sparked debates regarding Swaziland’s constitution, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of gender.  Finally, Mr. Gcina Mhlanga, the President of the University of Swaziland Students Law Society talked about the role of students in human rights advocacy and the importance of encouraging student interns to volunteer with human rights organizations.

One Circle’s Khabo Dlamini presenting during the event.

Funding for the event was received through fundraising efforts conducted at the local level and suggested donations of R50 - the equivalent of $7 per participant - were made.  Many individuals felt compelled to give even more money than the suggested amount, while others donated their skills, cars, time, energy and resources in an effort to ensure that the event was a success.  The law firms of CZ Dlamini Attorney of Matsapha, MH Mdluli Attorneys of Manzini, and Mkhwanazi Attorney of Mbabane pledged their commitment to assist in furthering The Centre’s goals and initiatives, and were then presented with certificates of appreciation for their support.

JusticeMakers Angelo Dube presenting a certificate of appreciation to Attorney Goodnews Dlamini of CZ Dlamini Attorneys.

Future plans were also made to host a ‘Summer School for Human Rights’ spanning three to five days, which would involve trainers throughout the Southern Africa region, as well as participants from Europe, Asia and the Americas, to train members of the legal community within Swaziland. There would be a focus in the trainings on the protection of human rights and techniques for public defense. 

As a symbolic measure each attendee was given a pink rose, tied by a red ribbon to a “thank you” card - thanking each individual for their attendance and commitment to human rights.  The rose symbolized the fragility of humankind, and the need to nourish this fragility with human dignity.  61 pink roses were prepared and given, in honor of the 61st year of the UDHR, which will now be a standing tradition at The Centre.  Next year 62 roses will be given to commemorate the 62nd year in 2010.  The pink roses were a touching and unique way to honor the rich significance of the UDHR, and to encourage people to renew that commitment each year by celebrating International Human Rights Day on December 10th.  Musical entertainment for the event was provided by Buddy Masango and guests dined to a dinner of abundant cuisines prepared for the special day.  Press coverage for the event was provided by The Times of Swaziland. 

Law students Mpilo, Gcina Mhlanga (President of the University of Swaziland Student Law Society), Mzandile and Nathi.