Aspiring members of the
Swaziland Parliament have been warned that bribing voters is a serious offence.
It could bring them a two-year jail sentence or a fine of not less than E10,000
(US$760).
This is the message from
the kingdom’s Elections and Boundaries Commission (EBC) as it tours Swaziland
holding a series of ‘voter education’ sessions. Swazis go to the polls in 2018
at a date yet to be announced by King Msawti III who rules Swaziland as an
absolute monarch.
Bribery is rife at election
time and takes many forms. In 2013 at the last election Prime Minister Barnabas
Dlamini said it was alright to accept a bribe, as long as people did not then
vote for the person giving it.
The Times of
Swaziland reported at the time (1 July 2013), ‘He said people can accept the
“brown envelope” (bribe) from those illegally campaigning for the national elections.
‘He said the electorate
should not even turn away free food offered to them, but should eat to their
heart’s content. However, when the time to vote comes, they should not choose
such characters.
‘The PM was responding to
concerns raised by senators about some individuals who had already started
campaigning through holding thanksgiving parties and offering food among other
items to members of their communities.’
Political parties are
banned from taking part in the election and people stand as individuals. Often
their main campaign message is that they can bring much needed development to a
community.
Ahead of the 2013 poll, the Swazi Observer, a newspaper in effect owned by King Mswati, said
in an editorial comment (30 May 2013) that when EBC Chairperson Chief Gija
Dlamini ‘was asked about the sudden proliferation of Good Samaritans
countrywide as the elections beckon, he jocularly answered that it was a boon
for the poorest of the poor, who would be getting free meals and comfy
blankets.’
The Observer commented that when an MP ‘presented his chief with a
“brand new second hand vehicle,” Chief Gija also observed that this was a good
deed indeed, as that subject had realised that the father figure in the
community was struggling to get from point A to B to deal with matters only he
could, and such a gesture was a genuine display of the reverence that
particular subject held for his leader.
‘He could not come out
clear on the question of the timing of such generosity, in light of the
upcoming polls.
‘It would seem the
floodgates of blatant electioneering cloaked in a veil of newly discovered
generosity had been swung wide open. Soon, the country was awash with Mother
Theresas who were splashing money to vulnerable citizens and doling out
cheap-quality blankets. Others slaughter chickens, pigs, goats and even
hard to come by cattle, in a bid to outdo Jesus Christ as they re-enact a poor
imitation of the feeding of the multitudes, all for a slice of the honourable
status cake.
‘As the madness continues,
the world looks on, as the rush for obvious votes stolen off gullible voters
continues, and say; “what a farce!”’
The previous election in
2008 was riddled with bribery. After the poll Swaziland’s
Attorney General Majahenkhaba Dlamini
said that candidates bribed voters to win parliamentary seats.
He was reported saying there had been
‘a
lot of mischievous deeds done by the candidates’.
Dlamini did not give details but was quoted in the Swazi Observer (25 September 2008) saying,
‘There are a lot of things that happened but I cannot be specific since that
would seem I am attacking people.’
Dlamini said people declared publicly that they were
given money to vote. He said that was not the way to win in an election and
added the candidates knew what was expected of them but they continued to break
the law.
‘Giving people money is against the law and the
candidates know that but they continue defying the law’, the Observer quoted him saying.
Despite his own evidence to the contrary, Dlamini said
that, all in all, the elections were free and fair.
Former cabinet minister Mfomfo Nkambule has said it
was an ‘open
secret’ that some of the MPs paid voters to vote for them.
At the 2008 election, he said the danger in this was that a government of
people who buy favours was being created.
His assertion was supported by several court
applications in which candidates complained that their competitors had paid
voters. In one case, an election winner was said to have distributed E50 [a
week’s income for more than 70 percent of the population] to each voter whilst
in another incident one was alleged to have distributed E10 to voters.
In
September 2008 it was reported that one losing
candidate Celucolo Dino Dlamini in Kukhanyeni told voters they would not be
getting the kombi (small bus) he promised them, because they failed to elect
him.
As reports emerged about bribery during the 2008
elections. The Times of Swaziland was
so angry about the malpractice it has called many of the new MPs ‘cheats’.
In an editorial
comment (30 September 2008) the newspaper said, ‘We no longer
have an election; we have a selection of those who were able to buy their way
into power.’
The Times
went on to say that the new MPs would be ripe for bribing. ‘From what we hear,
corrupt MPs are there for the taking as they seek to recoup their “expenditure”
on the election campaign. None of the MPs we have spoken to wish to come on
record for reasons we only see as putting themselves up for the financial
rewards on offer. What a shame. Individuals have pledged their first salary,
plots and other gains to the MPs. The whole process has simply gone rotten and
can best be described as a sham.’
See also
POLL OBSERVERS: REWRITE CONSTITUTION
SWAZI ELECTION ‘WILL BE A FRAUD’
BRIBERY
RIFE AT SWAZILAND ELECTION
PROBE
INTO SWAZILAND POLL BRIBES
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