Swazi parliamentary election, 2008
Encyclopedia
A parliamentary election was held in Swaziland
for the House of Assembly
on 19 September 2008. It was the first election under the new constitution introduced in 2006, and the first time that foreign observers were allowed to monitor an election in the country. It was observed by an Expert Team established by the Commonwealth Secretary-General at the request of the Elections and Boundaries Commission of Swaziland.
On the day before the election, several union officials were arrested for attempting to block the border with South Africa
at Oshoek for a pro-democracy protest.
Political parties remained banned in Swaziland, so all candidates for the 55 seats were independents
. Following the election, King Mswati III
was to appoint 10 more MPs. The National Assembly would then elect 10 members for the Senate
, with the King appointing 20 more.
Swaziland
Swaziland, officially the Kingdom of Swaziland , and sometimes called Ngwane or Swatini, is a landlocked country in Southern Africa, bordered to the north, south and west by South Africa, and to the east by Mozambique...
for the House of Assembly
House of Assembly of Swaziland
The House of Assembly of Swaziland is the lower chamber of the country's bicameral Parliament.There are a total of 55 single-member constituencies corresponding to the tinkhundlas . 14 tinkhundlas are located in Hhohho District, 11 in Lubombo District, 16 in Manzini District, and 14 in Shiselweni...
on 19 September 2008. It was the first election under the new constitution introduced in 2006, and the first time that foreign observers were allowed to monitor an election in the country. It was observed by an Expert Team established by the Commonwealth Secretary-General at the request of the Elections and Boundaries Commission of Swaziland.
On the day before the election, several union officials were arrested for attempting to block the border with South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
at Oshoek for a pro-democracy protest.
Political parties remained banned in Swaziland, so all candidates for the 55 seats were independents
Independent (politician)
In politics, an independent or non-party politician is an individual not affiliated to any political party. Independents may hold a centrist viewpoint between those of major political parties, a viewpoint more extreme than any major party, or they may have a viewpoint based on issues that they do...
. Following the election, King Mswati III
Mswati III of Swaziland
Mswati III is the King of Swaziland and head of the Swazi Royal Family. In 1986, he succeeded his father Sobhuza II as ruler of the southern African kingdom...
was to appoint 10 more MPs. The National Assembly would then elect 10 members for the Senate
Senate of Swaziland
The Senate of Swaziland is the upper chamber of the country's bicameral Parliament.The Senate has a total of 30 members. 20 members are appointed by the King of Swaziland, while the remaining 10 are elected by the House of Assembly. These members were last elected on 31 October 2003...
, with the King appointing 20 more.