Swaziland - 2013 Elections
At stake in the 20 September 2013 elections were 55 of the 65 members in the House of Assembly, the other 10 seats being appointed by the King. Political parties are banned from taking part in elections. All candidates thus stood as independents. The People's United Democratic Movement of Swaziland (PUDEMO, a banned political party which operates from South Africa), called on citizens to boycott the 2013 elections. PUDEMO leader Mario Masuku argued no election can be free in the absence of political parties.
Jan Sithole - a pro-democracy activist and leader of the Swaziland Democratic Party (Swadepa) - was elected to the House, pledging to change the government from the inside. The outgoing Deputy Speaker, Ms. Esther Dlamini, became the sole woman to be elected to the House of Assembly in 2013. Following the elections, King Mswati III appointed two princes, a princess and three members of his Dlamini clan to the House of Assembly.
On 28 October, the King re-appointed his half-brother, Barnabas Dlamini, as Prime Minister. The latter - who pledged to tackle corruption and work for the King's vision to bring the kingdom to First World status by 2022 - will serve an unprecedented fourth term.
In 2013 peaceful and generally well-managed parliamentary elections took place, the second time since the constitution went into effect in 2006, and the king appointed a government. International observers concluded the elections did not meet international standards. Political parties could not register or sponsor candidates of their choice. Ballots were cast in secrecy but could be traced by registration number to individual voters, and some ballot boxes were not properly protected. There were accusations of bribery and widespread reports citizens were advised that if they did not register to vote, they would no longer receive government services.
After the 2013 vote, the African Union's elections observer mission said the disallowing of political parties in the electoral process meant the rights of association and assembly, guaranteed in Swaziland’s constitution, were not “fully enjoyed”. It urged the government to review its constitution to bring it in line with international principles for free and fair elections and participation as stipulated in the Durban Declaration on the Principles Governing Democratic Elections in Africa.
International observers were similarly scathing, with the Commonwealth Observer Mission recommending that the constitution be revisited through “a fully inclusive, consultative process with all Swazi political organisations and civil society to harmonise provisions which are in conflict … to ensure that Swaziland’s commitment to political pluralism is unequivocal”.
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