COMMONWEALTH TO OBSERVE POLL

Weekend Observer

9 August 2008

Commonwealth election observers coming

By Sisho Magagula

The Commonwealth will send a team of Election Observers to monitor the country’s parliamentary elections, Commonwealth Deputy Secretary Mmasekgoa Masire-Mwamba has disclosed.

Speaking exclusively to the Weekend Observer yesterday afternoon before jetting out of the country Esibayeni Lodge, Mwamba said the Commonwealth has taken interest in the country’s first parliamentary elections under the constitutional dispensation.

“This morning, I met with the Elections and Boundaries Commission and discussed a lot of pertinent issues, including the importance of conducting free and fair elections. We sent observers to monitor the registration process and we will be sending more observers for both the primary and secondary elections,” she said, in the presence of Justice Minister Prince David.

The Secretary General also mentioned that her organisation will be providing more support for the country’s judiciary.

She said the main objectives of her visit to the country was to familiarise herself with activities carried out by the country through the assistance of the Commonwealth.

“We were on a fact-finding mission and I’m pleased that Swaziland has made great strides in areas of democracy and development. The Commonwealth will continue lending support in areas such as social development and investment,” she said.

Mwamba was accompanied by Commonwealth’s Special Advisor, Head of African Section Political Affairs, Amb. Ayo Oke.

Link http://www.observer.org.sz/weekend/main.php?id=46004&section=mainweek