SWAZI VOTERS PROMISED THE EARTH

Independent Online, South Africa

19 September 2008

Swazi: Voters promised Heaven and Earth

Candidates in Swaziland's election were making promises "off the top of their heads" to get votes in Friday's parliamentary elections, widely derided as a joke and meaningless as political parties are not allowed to form a government. Police were on tenterhooks and have been arresting opposition members, fearing a repeat in recent weeks of demonstrations against King Mswati III's autocratic rule. The South African Communist Party called "shameful" the arrests and brief detention of unionists and activists who were on their way to blockade the border posts on the South African border. SACP spokesperson Malesela Maleka was scathing about the silence of the Southern African Development Community and the African Union, which, he said, should ensure that Swaziland applies democratic principles. Swaziland is the chair of SADC's organ on politics, security and defence. "How opportunistic that the rest of the region and the continent has chosen to keep quiet while thousands of people in Swaziland are subjected to poverty and the brutal dictatorship of the king," he said. "South African government's deafening silence speaks volumes about the cornerstone of our foreign policy, more so because many Swazis died in the struggle against apartheid," Maleka said. SA is the current chair of SADC. A civil-society advocate, who preferred not to be identified for fear of victimisation, said wild promises were being made by the about 350 candidates. Candidates stand as individuals, and are nominated by 55 "nkundlas", or groups of chiefs, who can each nominate one person. Some candidates were promising communities buses and all manner of other goods that they will never be able to provide, unless they pay for them from their meagre parliamentary salaries. The electioneering is fierce, but only because candidates are trying to outdo each other. Nevertheless, a high turn-out was expected, as chiefs would act against people not voting, Maleka said. Voter registration cards were routinely demanded when social security, food aid and other largess were dealt out. A new constitution adopted in 2006 guarantees freedom of association, and the country's attorney-general claims political parties can be registered. But as they are not allowed to form a government, and have to work within tight restrictions, few care to operate. Opposition politics have been dominated by unionists and activists. On September 3, on the eve of Mswati's "40-40" celebrations of Swaziland's independence and his birthday, about 10 000 people gathered in the commercial capital Manzini, and reassembled the next day. Their prime target was the cost of the celebrations, estimated at 100-million emlangeni (about R100-million). "We are elated by the historic outpouring of ordinary people to say to the royal government 'Enough!'," said the Swaziland Federation of Trade Unions' Andrew Simelane. Recently, a thousand HIV-positive women, galled by reports that Mswati's 13 wives had been sent on shopping trips to the Middle East and Asia, led a march in Mbabane. Local newspapers widely reprinted a recent list published by Forbes magazine, in which Mswati was named one of the 15 richest royals in the world. This article was originally published on page 6 of The Star on September 19, 2008

Link http://www.int.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=84&art_id=vn20080919055040167C754758

SWAZI UNION LEADERS DETAINED

Independent on Line, South Africa

18 September 2008

Swazi union leaders detained

September 18 2008 at 11:55AM

By Charles Matsebula Mbabane - Police in Swaziland, one of the world's last absolute monarchies, detained several union leaders on Thursday and blocked others from a pre-election protest to demand democratic reform, one of the union leaders said. Swazi authorities had said the protest could cause anarchy in the southern African kingdom the day before a parliamentary election. Armed police pulled labour activists from buses and cars at a roadblock en route to a border crossing with South Africa, taking union leaders into vans and sending others back to the capital Mbabane, the union leader said. "We are at Piggs Peak prison inside the back of a van and don't know why," Jan Sithole, the general secretary of the Swaziland Federation of Trade Unions, said by telephone, after he was stopped and taken away with other union leaders. "This is detention without trial and execution of an unlawful order," he said. There was no immediate comment from police. The unions, backed by South Africa's powerful Cosatu labour federation, had vowed to block traffic at the border, a commercial artery between the two nations. King Mswati III rules the country of 1,1-million people with a free hand, choosing the country's prime minister and cabinet from those elected to parliament. Political parties have been banned in the country since 1973. Although the monarch remains popular among many of his subjects, there is rising discontent about his extravagant lifestyle, refusal to adopt democratic reforms and to tackle social problems, including one of Africa's worst AIDS epidemics. Swaziland's economy grew by about 3,5-percent in 2007 but has been buffeted in recent months by higher prices for fuel and food and a slowdown in South Africa, its main trading partner. There are fears that unemployment and poverty could rise as a result of the economic difficulties. About 40 percent of Swazi workers are unemployed. Frustrations boiled over into rare violent protests earlier this month when demonstrators stoned shops, looted a market and set off an explosion that damaged a bus. Mswati, listed as the world's 15th richest monarch by Forbes magazine, is not seen loosening his grip soon.

Link http://www.int.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=84&art_id=nw20080918115253421C800099

SWAZILAND MOCKS DEMOCRACY

Independent on Line, South Africa

18 September 2008

'Swazi making a mockery of democracy'

September 18 2008 at 01:28PM

By Sibongile Khumalo Mbabane - Swaziland, Africa's last absolute monarchy, faced protests on Thursday on the eve of elections with anger growing in a country that remains deeply impoverished despite the king's lavish lifestyle. Unions and banned political parties planned to blockade border posts ahead of parliamentary polls on Friday that those who have been pushing for change say will be meaningless. "How these elections are called democracy is beyond me," said Mario Masuku, leader of People's United Democratic Movement (Pudemo), one of Swaziland's banned political parties. "The country's political systems makes it a mockery of democracy in the region. In Swaziland there are no elections just selections of people who dance to the king's tune." King Mswati III, who ascended the throne at age 18, keeps a strong traditional grip on power, with responsibility for appointing the prime minister, legislature and judiciary. His country is one of Africa's poorest, with one of the world's highest HIV rates, and some have blamed the king's state-sponsored extravagant lifestyle for draining Swaziland's finances. Two weeks ago, the Swazi government splashed out 100 million emalangeni (about R97-million) for a controversial double anniversary to celebrate independence from Britain and the king's birthday. Dozens of brand new BMW luxury cars were specially bought to transport guests for the ceremony and an overseas shopping trip by some of the king's 13 wives before the event caused an outcry. The trip drew unprecedented protests from student, political and civil groups who denounced the tour while more than two-thirds of the country's one million population live in poverty. Friday's poll is the first to take place under a rewritten constitution, put into effect in 2006, which allows for freedom of association. However, candidates can only stand for elections as individuals, not as part of political parties. Opposition and civil society groups have been fighting for plural politics and the abolition of the monarchy, which they claim is dictatorial. Swaziland United Democratic Front general secretary, Vincent Ncongwane, this week questioned the sending of observers to what he called a "sham" election. Observers from the 15-nation Southern African Development Community, Pan African Parliament (PAP), the Commonwealth and the African Union will monitor the vote. "It puzzles the mind as to why they are endorsing this joke," he said. Political parties in the landlocked southern African country were banned in 1973 by the late King Sobhuza after he dissolved the country's constitution, declaring it was unworkable as it promoted hatred among Swazis. Swaziland is currently run on a homegrown political system called Tinkhundla with parliamentary elections held every five years after which the king appoints a new prime minister. With an unemployment rate of 40 percent, the upcoming poll means nothing to most Swazis, said analyst Thembinkosi Dlamini. "People want to see an end to the hunger gripping country, access social grants, health care. They have voted before but nothing has changed," said Dlamini. "These elections do not embrace the virtues of modern democracy and the will of the people." Mswati III, who rules the country side by side with his mother, has been named by Forbes magazine as one of the 15 richest royals in the world, with a fortune of 200 million dollars. The king was the only African royal to make it into the prestigious list, published in August. According to Forbes, Mswati III's wealth comes from investments and real estate. - Sapa-AFP

Link http://www.int.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=84&art_id=nw20080918112417646C981457

SWAZILAND ELECTION BOYCOTT

From Swazi Media Commentary http://www.swazimedia.blogspot.com/

Things are beginning to get interesting as Swaziland prepares for Parliamentary elections later this year (2008).

Opposition groups are set to boycott the polls and instead campaign for multi-party elections.South Africa’s Independent on Line (IOL) reported on Sunday (3 February 2008)
that a dozen political parties, civic organisations and student groupings met to endorse the formation of a united front within two months to challenge the status quo in Swaziland.


IOL quoted Mphandlana Shongwe, founder member of the banned People's United Democratic Movement (PUDEMO), saying that taking part in elections would give the state a sheen of false legitimacy. PUDEMO is one of six political parties taking part in the broad movement.


IOL reported that Shongwe told a rally on Saturday, ‘For the past 24 years we have been able to deny the state legitimacy so we are proud of ourselves and we must not rest until we attain the goals we set for ourselves.’

Boycotting the polls in their current format would send a message to the world that change was required, he added.

‘Does it mean we have to start butchering people before the western world can realize that there was something wrong with the way the country was governed?’Any member of the front who wanted to stand in elections, likely to be held in October or November, would have to resign from his party, delegates concluded.Political parties were banned in 1973 when the late King Sobhuza II, father of incumbent King Mswati, determined that Westminster-style democracy promoted hatred.The constitution, rewritten in 2006, allows for freedom of association but people can only stand for elections as individuals.The front will be officially launched at a conference in early April where a name and constitution would be adopted.



Link http://swazimedia.blogspot.com/2008/02/swaziland-election-boycott.html



First published 6 February 2008.