Action for Southern Africa (ACTSA) has joined the growing
chorus of international observers to declare elections in
Swaziland / Eswatini undemocratic.
King Mswati III rules the kingdom as sub-Saharan
Africa’s last absolute monarch and political parties are banned from taking
part and many political activists are labelled ‘terrorists’
under the Suppression
of Terrorism Act.
Sunit Bagree, Senior Campaigns Officer at ACTSA, writing on the Swaziland Human Rights Network UK website,
said, ‘Local chiefs - who report to Mswati III - have
enormous influence over elections to the House of Assembly, and the King
directly appoints two-thirds of the Senate. Moreover, the King
appoints the Prime Minister and he can veto legislation. If anyone
criticises the King then they are breaking the law.’
Bagree wrote, ‘It is
therefore unsurprising that the 2013 national elections were condemned by
international observers. For example, the Commonwealth
Observer Mission recommended that the constitution should 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”.
‘Similarly, the European Union
(EU) Election Experts Mission highlighted numerous breaches of Swaziland’s
international obligations and identified a “fundamental problem [with] the
system of government and the respect for the principles of separation of power,
rule of law and independence of the judiciary”’.
Bagree called on the Commonwealth
and the European Union to do more to bring attention to Swaziland and to be
more critical of the absolute monarch, King Mswati.
He wrote, ‘Incredibly, the EU’s Ambassador
to Swaziland, Esmeralda Hernandez Aragones, has gone as far as to praise the
King’s “wise and strong leadership”’.
Bagree added, ‘Whenever criticised, both
the Commonwealth and the EU are quick to point out that the Southern African
Development Community (SADC) is highly reluctant to take action on Swaziland.
It is true that SADC has failed to hold Swaziland to account for its violations
of the SADC Treaty. Indeed, Swaziland’s absolute monarch was
actually the Chairperson of SADC for one year from August 2016, during
which time he even had the gall to urge the regional organisation’s leaders “to
remain committed to the ideals and principles of the SADC Treaty”’.
Bagree wrote, ‘Is simply not enough to
note that elections in Swaziland are flawed. The international community must
apply strong, consistent and public pressure on Mswati III using a variety of
diplomatic and economic levers. Only then will the King accept the need to work
with all Swazis, including his political opponents, so that the country
develops a democratic constitution and becomes governed by those who are
properly elected and truly accountable. And only then will the citizens of
Swaziland have a government that is committed to rights, equality and
development for all.’
See also
ELECTION
WILL ENTRENCH KING
POLICE
TO VET ALL ELECTION CANDIDATES
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