Swaziland’s main opposition
political party PUDEMO has refuted media reports that it is ready to contest the national elections
in 2018.
PUDEMO (the People’s United
Democratic Movement) is the best-known opposition group in the kingdom where
King Mswati III rules as an absolute monarch. Political parties are not allowed
to contest elections and PUDEMO, along with other groups that advocate for
democracy in the kingdom, are banned under the Suppression of Terrorism Act.
The Times of
Swaziland, the only
independent daily newspaper in the kingdom reported on Monday (20 February
2017) that PUDEMO and its youth wing SWAYOCO, ‘have been instructed by their
donors to look into changing their strategy for bringing democracy into the
country’.
The Times added, ‘After years of denouncing the country’s elections and
branding them “not free or fair”, the proscribed entities are considering
taking part in the 2018 national elections where Members of Parliament
representing the 55 constituencies in the country are chosen by the people.’
PUDEMO responded in a stinging statement and rejected, ‘with the contempt they deserve’ the
media reports. It said it had no donors or funders who were forcing it to
participate in the elections.
It added, ‘PUDEMO is not
afraid of elections, and remains committed to taking part in Swaziland National
Elections, that will be conducted under conditions that guarantee a democratic,
free, fair, meaningful and transparent process, not the current royal sham.’
The Swazi people have no
say in who their leaders are. They are only allowed to select 55 of the 65
members of the House of Assembly, the other 10 are appointed by the King. None
of the 30 members of the Swaziland Senate are elected by the people; the King
appoints 20 members and the other 10 are appointed by the House of Assembly.
The King choses the Prime
Minister and cabinet members. Only a man with the surname Dlamini
can, by tradition, be appointed as Prime Minister. The
King is a Dlamini.
He also choses senior civil
servants and top judges.
PUDEMO added, ‘The current
Tinkhundla elections has no effect in the political life of the country, as
power remains concentrated in royal hands, and all meaningful decisions are
made through royal command. PUDEMO has no intention, now or in the future to
associate its glorious name and record of struggle with such a royal grand scam
to defraud our people of their right to democratically and freely elect a government
of their own.’
See also
KING’S BOGUS CLAIM ON DEMOCRACY
FALSE
CLAIM OVER SWAZI DEMOCRACY
THE
CASE FOR POLITICAL PARTIES
http://swazimedia.blogspot.com/2013/04/the-case-for-political-parties.html
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