Voting starts in Swaziland
2008-09-19 08:18
Mbabane - Voting began on Friday in Africa's last absolute monarchy Swaziland to elect lawmakers under a rewritten constitution, which allows for freedom of association but still bars political parties.
The run up to the poll saw wide protests and calls for multi-party elections. Political parties in the tiny mountain kingdom surrounded by South Africa have been banned since 1973.
"All of our 342 station are open and we are anticipating a good turn out," said Election and Boundaries Commission deputy chairman, Mzwandile Fakudze.
Candidates contesting seats in parliament can only stand as independents under the traditional Tinkhundla system.
This is the first time elections are being held under the amended constitution which came into force in 2006. Foreign observers have also been allowed to monitor the elections for the first time.
Candidates vying for 55 seats in national assembly
"We have more than six observer missions from different organisations. The vote will be free and fair. We are confident that the process will go on without any disturbances," Fakudze told AFP.
Armed police fanned out across the kingdom monitoring schools and other public buildings being used as polling stations.
The candidates are vying for 55 seats in the national assembly. King Mswati III then nominates 10 others to the house which picks 10 representatives for the Senate.
The king selects 20 others to the upper chamber.
King Mswati III, who rules the country with his mother, also appoints a prime minister and other top government officials.
The elections take place two weeks the government and the monarch came under fire for staging a $12.2m bash to celebrate 40 years of independence from Britain as well as the king's birthday.
Mswati's 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.
- SAPA