With the election
registration in Swaziland only days old there is a report of corruption and another
of nepotism. Voting equipment is not available across the kingdom.
The Times of
Swaziland reported on Tuesday (15 May 2018) an aspiring member of the parliament
who it did not name had been accused of bribing people E50 if they registered
at his chiefdom. He reportedly ferried people in a hired car from Kwaluseni to
register at Ngwane Park. Police are investigating.
The first day of
registration on Sunday was marred by confusion. People at many registration
centres across the kingdom were turned away as no registration kits were
available.
The Times of
Swaziland, reported on Monday several registration centres visited by reporters
were found with only the registration clerks, assistants, and police officers.
It reported the registration kit includes a laptop, scanner, fixed camera,
biometric scanner and a printer.
The Times reported Elections
and Boundaries Commission (EBC) Communications Officer Mbonisi Bhembe said they
had technological challenges, including software issues and slow Internet
connections.
The problems came despite
previous EBC assurances it was ready for the election.
It said it had trained about 600 people to administer the election, mostly during
the registration period.
EBC chairman Chief Gija Dlamini told media in April 2018 the trained
people were unemployed students from tertiary institutions and pupils who had
just finished high school. He said the people had been recommended by chiefs.
On Thursday the Swazi Observer reported
residents at Mbangweni complained of nepotism when four people selected to
assist in the election were from the same family. It reported Inkhosatana
Gelane, the acting KoNtshingila chief, saying they were ‘loyal and respectful
residents’. The Shiselweni Regional Administrator Themba Masuku is
investigating.
The registration process at the last election in 2013 had similar
computer problems and there was reported
corruption during registration in 2013. The EBC
said some people were offered bribes of E100 (US$10 at the then exchange rate)
or E200 to register twice.
Political parties are
banned from taking part in the election and King Mswati III, who rules as
sub-Saharan Africa’s last absolute monarch, picks the Prime Minister and
Government. At past elections people only got to select 55 of 65 members of the
House of Assembly. The King chose the other 10. At this election there will be
an additional four seats for people to vote for. It has not been announced how
many members the King will choose but the Swaziland Constitution allows him to
pick up to ten.
As in previous years, no
members of the Swazi Senate will be elected by the people; the King will choose
20 and the other 10 will be chosen by members of the House of Assembly.
King Mswati has yet to set
the date for the election.
See also
REGISTRATION OPENS FOR SWAZI ELECTION
https://swazimedia.blogspot.co.uk/2018/05/registration-opens-for-swazi-election.html
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