Swazi general election, 2013
The elections in Swaziland in 2013 were held in the Kingdom of Swaziland on 24 August and 20 September 2013. Were elected 55 Members of the House of Assembly ( " meeting house " ), the lower house of the Swazi Parliament ( siSwati: Libandla ), as well as local representatives. The elections were controversial, as parties from not allowed to participate.
Starting position
King Mswati III. governed as an absolute ruler. The House of Assembly has only limited rights. The Prime Minister is appointed by the king, who ruled mostly by means of decrees. The status of political parties is unclear in Swaziland; Candidates were allowed to apply only as independents. The last parliamentary election was held in 2008, the legislature took the usual five years. The elections were held according to the Constitution adopted in 2006.
Voters had to register between 13 May and 30 June 2013. The minimum age was 18 years. 415 012 eligible voters of 600,000 potential voters - about 69 percent - have been registered. In 2008, 88 percent of eligible voters had to register. Several opposition parties, such as People's United Democratic Movement ( PUDEMO ), Ngwane National liberatory Congress ( NNLC ) and Communist Party of Swaziland (CPS ), and the unions called on voters to boycott the election. The South African ruling African National Congress had called in advance of the election to the democratization of Swaziland.
In Swaziland, there are 55 constituencies ( Tinkhundla, singular Inkhundla ), 14 in Hhohho, 11 in Lebombo, 16 in Manzini and 14 in Shiselweni. They are 385 chiefdoms ( Imiphakatsi; singular Umphakatsi ) divided associated mostly local traditional rulers. The cities of Manzini and Mbabane are divided into ten wards and 16 zones, which are included in the number of chiefdoms. (: " Constituency Board " about Bucopho ) selected; addition to the parliamentarians of the Constituency Headman ( Indvuna about " Constituency Chairman " ) have been and the Constituency Executive Committee.
Representatives of the Southern African Development Community Parliamentary Forum (SADC -PF ) visited the week before the primaries Swaziland. They pointed to the " unique " Tinkhundla system and called the electoral system " democratic."
The African Union sent a delegation to observe the elections from 13 to 25 September 2013. A delegation from the Commonwealth led by former Malawian President Bakili Muluzi.
Expiration
For the election ( "Election and Boundary Commission " EBC ) is since 2008 the Election and Boundaries Commission responsible. On 3 and 4 August 2013, the nominations were made for preselection in the 385 chiefdoms. The Chiefdom were nominated three to 20 candidates at a public meeting by showing them, they then agreed to the nomination and eventually uttered at least ten attendees for the candidate. Several women were rejected by the local committees, because they did not conform to traditional norms of behavior, perhaps because they had to be after the death of her husband two years in mourning or because they wore pants. The names of some other nominated candidates were missing on the candidate lists of the EBC.
In the primaries on August 24, 2013, respectively, a candidate for the House of Assembly and for the position of Constituency Headman by majority vote by secret ballot were determined per Chiefdom. The candidates were not allowed to act as a party politician according to the constitution. The members of the Bucopho have already voted in the primaries. The primaries lasted from 7:00 bis 17:00 clock.
In the primaries, there were irregularities. So partly defective ballots were printed and broken campaign rules. In some constituencies, the election had to be canceled and repeated. The successful candidates in the preselection for Parliament and Indvuna began - as prescribed - after the primaries election campaign. They could also address political issues. Already in the primaries five incumbent ministers were not re-elected.
On September 1, 2013 Mswati III declared. , That he had received a vision from God during a thunderstorm, that Swaziland should be a " monarchical democracy." On September 14, the deputy chairman of the CPS was arrested because he had called for a boycott.
On Friday, 20 September, 2013, found the actual parliamentary elections and elections to the Indvuna. Candidates were the winners of the primaries. The elections were also secret and lasted from 7:00 bis 18:00 clock clock. Only the candidate with the highest number of votes within the Inkhundla got a seat in the House of Assembly. In addition, ten members are appointed by the king. The Attorney - General also receives a mandate.
Result
The 55 elected parliamentarians can be assigned according to the constitution of any party. Only two incumbent ministers and twelve of Parliamentarians of the last term of office could keep their seats. Only about 80,000 electors shall have participated in the election on 20 September. Among the elected parliamentarians belonging to the opposition trade union activists January Sithole.
Observers criticized the AU Commission after the election coordination, as no parties were permitted.