Swaziland’s best known student leader
Maxwell Dlamini has called for a boycott of the kingdom’s national election due
this year, unless political parties are unbanned.
Dlamini, President of the Swaziland Nationals
Union of Students (SNUS) told Africa Contact, ‘We will not partake in these
undemocratic elections in Swaziland unless political parties are unbanned. We
seek to intensify our boycott.’
Kenworthy News Media reported, Dlamini, who has himself been
tortured and harassed by Swazi security forces and has currently been on trial
for over a year in a case of possessing explosives also said that SNUS were
mobilizing against the Swazi elections, both at home and abroad.
He said, ‘We as the youth of Swaziland
commit ourselves fully to mobilise all young people and the generally oppressed
people of Swaziland not to partake in these elections. We also call on the
international community to shun the [Swazi] Tinkundla elections and call for
King Mswati III to unban political parties and respect fundamental human rights.’
Swaziland is ruled by King Mswati III,
sub-Saharan Africa’s last absolute monarch. There are two chambers in the Swazi
parliament: the House of Assembly and the Senate. Of the 65 members of the
House, 10 are chosen by King Mswati and 55 are elected by the people. In the
Senate, King Mswati chooses 20 of the 30 places. The other 10 are chosen by
members of the House of Assembly. None are elected by the people.
See also
SWAZI ELECTION ‘WILL BE A FRAUD’
CALL FOR OBSERVER BOYCOTT OF ELECTION
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