People in Swaziland have been prevented from freely
discussing issues in the run up to the election held on Friday (20 September
2013), a report from polling observers said.
‘Civil society meetings were crushed, including prayer
meetings,’ according to the NGOs Election Network which operates under the Swazi-based
Coordinating Assembly of Non-governmental Organisations (CANGO).
‘With no enjoyment of the rights to access information and
also exchange information, freedom to associate, freedom of movement and
freedom of speech it has become difficult for citizens to canvass issues,’
CANGO said in its Primary Elections Monitoring Report.
The CANGO election observers reported a number of problems
with the primary elections held on 24 August.
‘Some polling stations opened late. Some ballot papers got
finished and had to be fetched at Nkhanani and by the time ballot papers were
made available some voters had already left.’
It added, ‘The voters’ roll was not user-friendly, some
pictures were not easy to identify. The polling stations were not adequately
announced for easy access. Transport was also a challenge. The lines were long
and the elderly and disabled were poorly served even though attempts were made to
meet their needs.’
CANGO noted allegations that some voters were bribed and
bussed from towns to rural constituencies.
The secondary election which is for only 55 of the 65-member
House of Assembly takes place on Friday (20 September 2013). Political parties
are banned from taking part in the election.
King Mswati III, who rules Swaziland as sub-Saharan Africa’s last
absolute monarch, selects the remaining 10 members. No members of the 30-strong
Swazi Senate are elected by the people, twenty are appointed by the king and
the other 10 are selected by the House of Assembly.
See also
WHY ELECTION IS NOT CREDIBLE
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