OVER 200,000 SWAZIS REGISTER

Swazi Observer

16 June 2008

Over 200 000 register for elections

By Musa Ndlangamandla

OVER 200 000 people have registered for the elections. The number is just 236 people short of the overall registered voters in the last elections in 2003, and the nation still has one week to the deadline.

Deputy Chairman of the Elections and Boundaries Commission (EBC) Mzwandile Fakudze said they were confident that they will reach the 300 000 target when the registration period ends this coming Sunday.

There are 400 000 eligible voters in Swaziland and the EBC has passed the 50 percent mark.

"We consider this to be a huge success in the voter registration exercise. In the last election 239 000 people registered in an eight week process and this time round 203 000 have registered in a four-week period. We are going into the fifth week and we are confident to reach the 300 000 mark."

Fakudze attributed the success of the registration process to a solid campaign strategy adopted by the EBC.

"As you can see we are everywhere. The marketing strategy is very aggressive and we are giving people information. We are on television, radio and the newspapers and the campaign is on everyone's lips. That is why we have seen such levels of success."

He added that the new system that has been introduced to facilitate the process also played a huge role in bringing the numbers in. "It is easier and faster and more efficient."

Link http://www.observer.org.sz/main.php?id=44631&section=main