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Election Update: Swaziland 2003 No 1

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Election Update: Swaziland 2003 No 1 ELECTION UPDATE 2003 SWAZILAND Number 1 9 September 2003 contents Historical Perspective Historical Background 1 Socio-Economic Perspective Socio-Economic Profile 5 Constitutional Perspective Constitutional Development 9 Political Perspective Struggle for Political Power 16 Electoral Perspectives Swaziland’s Electoral Process 21 Review of Previous Elections 26 Published with the assistance of NORAD and OSISA HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE HISTORICAL be traced to the second part force due to the introduction th BACKGROUND of the 18 century when of conscription. This factor, King Ngwane III led a Nguni together with diplomatic sub-group across the skills, enabled the Swazi to Jackie Kalley Lebombo Mountains into the long retain their Electoral Institute of area now known as independence in an era of Southern Africa Swaziland. They coalesced colonial domination. into a homogenous nation by An investigation into the beginning of the 19th A century later, however, Swaziland’s political century under King Sobhuza most of the land had been development reveals the I, who subdued and taken over by white migrant tension produced by the incorporated into his people settlers, mainly from the adoption of a bi-cameral large numbers of non-Nguni Cape Colony. They were Westminster-style people. They became known granted land rights and constitution on an African as the amaSwati or Swazis mining concessions by the nation ruled by a traditional under the rule of his king, Mbandenzi. Although monarch. The origin of the successor, Mswati II, and Swazi sovereignty was Swazi people can probably became a powerful military formally recognised by Great election update 2003 swaziland number 1 Britain and the South through “native authorities” Council in an attempt to African Republic, it was in which the Royal Family establish a Legislative under constant threat. This was given a seminal role. Council. This move was finally culminated in the They emerged as a dominant supported by the King, and, declaration of a “political political force due to their in 1963, a Constitutional dependency” status and, control of access to the land Conference was held in despite protest by the Swazi and its concomitant legal and London which led to the royal family it was tax powers. Political parties promulgation of a administered initially by were slow to develop; the Constitution in the same Great Britain and later, in Swazi Progressive year. It provided for racially 1885, by the Transvaal Association was formed in based representation in the Republic. On cessation of 1929 but only established Legislative Council and the the Anglo- Boer War, itself as Swaziland’s first rural constituencies fell Swaziland was administered political party in 1960 when under the control of the through the British High it became known as the traditional chiefs. Political Commissioner in South Swaziland Progressive Party parties were weakened, the Africa and in 1907 it was and was led by Dr Ambrose position of the royalists and declared a High Commission P. Zwane. A split in the party the King were strengthened territory and a resident High led him to form the Ngwane while the small white Commissioner was stationed National Liberatory community was given in Mbabane. Where it was Congress (NNLC), with its disproportionate influence. feasible, administration was manifesto pledging to In the 1964 elections the operated through a system of establish universal suffrage INM won an overwhelming traditional authority and to support Swaziland’s 85 % victory and wooed structures, albeit with independence under a several opposition members reduced powers given their constitutional monarch. The to its ranks. This victory subordination to the British Swaziland Democratic Party emboldened them to wrest government. The King and (SDP), led by Simon more concessions from the Chiefs retained their Nxumalo and later by Allen British government. A positions but the King was Nxumalo, was also further round of known as the Paramount established; this political constitutional negotiations Chief and the Chiefs were activity led the King and his culminated in a Constitution regarded as salaried officials supporters to form their own that served as a basis for of the state. party, the Imbokodvo independence. By the time National Movement (INM). that formal independence In 1921, the European Given their connections and from Great Britain was Advisory Council was resources, they soon became granted on 6 September established to represent a formidable force, winning 1968, approximately 56% of white commercial interests all the seats in the the land had been but became a political tool. Legislative Council in the repurchased by the state. Both South Africa and Great 1964 and 1967 elections. As Although constitutional Britain envisaged the power became more issues, electoral processes ultimate incorporation of centralised in the hands of and a discussion of political Swaziland into South Africa. the King, so the role of parties form the basis of later Local interests, however, political parties diminished. contributions, a basic outline stressed the unique nature of is presented here in order to the Swazi people and by the The call for the restoration of place all future 1940s, the British Swazi independence began developments in historical administration developed a in 1960. It was initiated by context. system of indirect rule the European Advisory 2 election update 2003 swaziland number 1 The Independence Swaziland’s social fabric and Political parties and Constitution allowed for a had thus created a campaigning were Prime Minister responsible constitutional crisis. Basic prohibited. The King, in to the bicameral parliament civil rights were denied and effect, ruled with absolute and the King (then Sobhuza all party activity was banned. power for the ten years II) as the Head of State. The This was followed by an before his death in 1982. The pre-independence election announcement that the Royal new Constitution was never had resulted in the Proclamation of the previous formally presented to the unopposed victory of the week was only an interim people as required by Swazi King’s party, the INM, but in measure and that a custom and the governing the first elections, held from Constitutional Commission constitutional elements 16 to 17 May 1972, the would choose a constitution comprised the 1973 ruling party won only twenty pertinent to Swazi traditions Proclamation, several one (21) of the twenty four and international trends. The subsisting provisions of the (24) seats in the House of Royal Commission was 1968 Constitution which had Assembly. The remaining appointed on the country’s been expressly retained by three (3) seats were won by sixth independence the Proclamation, and the radical NNLC, and given anniversary on 6 September various royal decrees. their backing by the labour 1975 and presented its unions were considered a findings on 24 January 1975. Sobhuza’s death witnessed a serious threat to the It was only in March 1977 power struggle between the supremacy of the Dlamini that the King announced the traditionalists and clan. At the end of May replacement of the modernists. The Prime 1972, the King, in addressing parliamentary system with Minister, Prince Dlamini was a meeting commented that one based on traditional dismissed but refused to the advent of an official elements and in October accept his dismissal, and in opposition was a new 1978 that the Tinkhundla- the interim the Kingdom was development and a legacy system was established (The ruled by the Queen Regent. from the British colonial Swazi Administration Order, On the 26 August 1983, administration. By July, a 1998 (Order No. 6 of 1998). fifteen year-old, Prince new bill was introduced It confirmed the powers of Makhosetive then at a public providing for amendments to the King and according to school in the United the Constitution, including this system; the country was Kingdom, was named as the inter alia, an increase in the divided into 40 electoral heir. The prince assumed the Members of Parliament from districts, each of which title of King Mswati III on six to ten, and an increase in elects two representatives to 25 April 1986, two years the number of Senators, also form an electoral college, earlier than originally from six to ten. which then elects the planned and in a move to Members of the House of strengthen his personal On the 12 April 1973, King Assembly. All candidates authority, he dissolved Sobhuza repealed have to be independent of Parliament one year before Swaziland’s Independence any political party and stand schedule and called for new Constitution and assumed as individuals. The bicameral elections. These were held in full judicial, legislative and Parliament (Libandla) November 1987. In 1989 he executive power consisting of a House of assumed full executive (Proclamation No. 7 of 12 Assembly and a Senate was power on the occasion of his April 1973). The existence confined to debating 21st birthday. of political parties was cited government proposals and as the reason for this served in an advisory Pressure built up over development as they were capacity to the King. several years to modernize not deemed part of 3 election update 2003 swaziland number 1 the political system, and in Swazi customs would take References particular to draft a supremacy over any contrary constitution containing a Bill human rights obligations. Africa South of the Sahara 2002. of Rights. Several political London: Europa Publications, 2002. groupings emerged, despite This was the background the ban on political parties, against which the Economist Intelligence Unit. and have served as a form of Constitutional Drafting Namibia: Swaziland; Country opposition to agitate for Committee, chaired by the Profile 2001. London: EIU, 2001. reform and democratization. King’s brother, Prince International Bar Commission. These include PUDEMO, the David, was established in Striving for Democratic Swaziland Federation of 2002. Its mandate stated that Governance: An Analysis of the Trade Unions, the Swaziland the process should be as Swaziland Constitution; A Report.
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