Voters held police and polling officials hostage as
violence broke out across Swaziland during the first round of the national
election on Saturday (25 August 2018).
There were scenes of ‘total chaos’ in some polling
stations, according to media reports coming from the tiny kingdom recently
renamed Eswatini by absolute monarch King Mswati III.
The Sunday
Observer, a newspaper in effect owned by the King, reported what it called a
hostage situation happened at the polling station at Lobamba National
High School. It said election official and police officers ‘were held hostage
by angry voters who were outside the polling station’.
The newspaper reported the problem started when the lights suddenly went
out during the counting of votes. Officials wanted to remove ballot boxes elsewhere.
‘However, the voters would hear none of that as they shouted at the top of
their voices that such could not happen.’
The Observer added, ‘Police
back-up had to be sought as some voters outside the polling station started
kicking the door to the polling station and threatening to force it down.
‘The polling station became a danger zone as the angry voters kept
trying to force the door open.’
‘It was the arrival of two police vans that helped calm down the
situation, but the police themselves could not entirely help the situation as
the voters insisted that the counting of the votes continue in the semi-dark
polling station.’
Counting continued at the school.
In a separate report
the Observer said voters clashed
at the Siphumelele polling station at the Logoba Chiefdom in the Kwaluseni
constituency. It reported whips and knives were used. It said people had been
drinking beer supplied by aspiring candidates.
It reported, ‘Spurts of violence were witnessed as over sensitive voters
fought over one thing or the other.’
It added, ‘The youthful crowd was noted drinking from as early as the
morning hours with the occasional crate of beers being replenished whenever the
previous one was depleted. These were brought by the aspiring politicians or
their agents.’
The Observer also reported ‘total chaos’
at Gobolondo Hall, Pigg’s Peak, when polling closed at 7.00 pm with about 50 people
still trying to cast their vote.
It reported, ‘Police officers had a torrid time trying to ward off angry
voters who were forcefully pushing the gate to gain entry.’
It added, ‘A woman collapsed and was attended to by paramedics while
voting continued inside. It is not too clear what made her collapse.’
Swaziland was going to the polls in the first round of national
elections. The final vote takes place on 21 September 2018. Political
parties are banned from taking part in the elections and King
Mswati appoints the Prime Minister and Government.
See also
Bribed Swaziland Voters Photograph Their Completed
Ballot Papers
Organised
Certainty, Why elections in Swaziland are not democratic
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