This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/africa/7624634.stm
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 1 | Version 2 |
---|---|
Swazis vote in controversial poll | Swazis vote in controversial poll |
(about 5 hours later) | |
Swaziland is holding its first parliamentary election under a new constitution, amid growing protests calling for more democracy. | Swaziland is holding its first parliamentary election under a new constitution, amid growing protests calling for more democracy. |
Political parties remain banned in the tiny African mountain kingdom, one of the world's last absolute monarchies. | Political parties remain banned in the tiny African mountain kingdom, one of the world's last absolute monarchies. |
Armed police are guarding polling stations after attempted protests by pro-democracy activists. | |
A BBC reporter says there has been a good turnout in rural areas, but a poorer turnout in cities. | |
Several union officials were detained on Thursday as they tried to block the border with South Africa in a move they said was aimed at highlighting the country's problems. | |
Some Swazis blame King Mswati III for plunging the country into poverty and failing to tackle an Aids epidemic. | Some Swazis blame King Mswati III for plunging the country into poverty and failing to tackle an Aids epidemic. |
The king has been in power since 1986. His government recently organised a lavish $12m (£6.6m) party to celebrate the king's 40th birthday as well as the 40th anniversary of the country's independence from Britain. | The king has been in power since 1986. His government recently organised a lavish $12m (£6.6m) party to celebrate the king's 40th birthday as well as the 40th anniversary of the country's independence from Britain. |
For the first time, the polls are being watched by foreign observers from southern Africa. | |
'Free and fair' | 'Free and fair' |
The BBC's Thulani Mtwethwa in the landlocked country says voter apathy was most apparent in Manzini, where there were recent anti-government protests. Pudemo sees this election as a window-dressing exercise trying to pull wool over the eyes of the international community Pudemo leader Mario Masuku | |
Just four people were in line at one Manzini polling station, he said. | |
The election is the first in Swaziland since an amended constitution was introduced in 2006, allowing for the freedom of association - but keeping a ban on multi-party democracy. | The election is the first in Swaziland since an amended constitution was introduced in 2006, allowing for the freedom of association - but keeping a ban on multi-party democracy. |
"I am voting because I want my community to improve. We want better health and education," voter Sisana Dlamini told AP news agency in a rural constituency where long lines had formed. | |
Fifty-five unaffiliated candidates are to be chosen for Swaziland's national assembly. | |
The king picks a further 10 people for the assembly, which then chooses 10 representatives for the senate, with a further 20 selected by the king. | The king picks a further 10 people for the assembly, which then chooses 10 representatives for the senate, with a further 20 selected by the king. |
Electoral official Mzwandile Fakudze told AFP news agency the vote would be "free and fair". | Electoral official Mzwandile Fakudze told AFP news agency the vote would be "free and fair". |
"We have more than six observer missions from different organisations.... We are confident that the process will go on without any disturbances," he was quoted as saying. | "We have more than six observer missions from different organisations.... We are confident that the process will go on without any disturbances," he was quoted as saying. |
Correspondents say the king remains popular with many of his subjects, though opposition has been growing to his lavish lifestyle in a country where most people live in poverty. | Correspondents say the king remains popular with many of his subjects, though opposition has been growing to his lavish lifestyle in a country where most people live in poverty. |
Banned political parties, like the People's United Democratic Movement (Pudemo), have dismissed the poll as a sham. | |
"Pudemo sees this election as a window-dressing exercise trying to pull wool over the eyes of the international community," Pudemo leader Mario Masuku told AFP. |