Talk:2018 Swazi general election

Chiefdom nomination

Sorry for not having brought the discussion here earlier on. As for the last part I added, isn't it what this section on page eleven mean? : "For the House of Assembly elections, each chiefdom nominated not less than three and not more than 20 candidates among its registered voters. After nomination, a Primary election is held in each chiefdom to elect a candidate who will then compete with the candidates of the other chiefdoms within each constituency for the Secondary election." I'm struggling to find an english source, but I was pretty certain to have read before that in Swaziland the king controlled the house despite free election because the only candidates the population could vote on were pre selected by the chiefs, who are loyals to the king. To me it look like the above part confirm this, doesn't it? Cordially. --Aréat (talk) 19:47, 23 August 2018 (UTC)

Edit : Although it isn't clear whether the "between 3 and 20" refer to precisely what happened in the 2013 election or the limit of what could happen by law at this step in any such election.--Aréat (talk) 19:51, 23 August 2018 (UTC)

It's saying 3–20 candidates were nominated in each chiefdom, not that each chief nominated 3–20 candidates. I think the confusion comes because the phrasing is slightly awkward. The report suggests that the chiefs have influence (e.g. in the case of primary election candidate Jennifer Du Pont, "the female candidate who claimed the chief of her chiefdoms made a statement to the community members not to vote for her"). Another report suggests that candidates are screend prior to the primary vote.

With regards to 3–20 being a limit or not, the way it's worded ("each chiefdom nominated not less than three and not more than 20 candidates") suggests it's a rule, as if it was not, I would expect to see it stated simply "chiefdoms nominated between three and 20 candidates". Number 57 20:09, 23 August 2018 (UTC)

I didn't claim that each chief nominated 3-20 candidates. Only that such numbers were nominated in each chiefdom as per the source. The point being that only the individuals selected this way by the chiefs can participate in the election, and only them, which greatly impede the democracy in the country.

As for Jennifer Du Pont, I think there's a confusion. She claimed a role of chief, not one of candidates nominated by the chiefs. Thanks for the clear up about the numbers.--Aréat (talk) 20:34, 23 August 2018 (UTC)

I don't understand your first point. You seem to be saying that you didn't say that the chiefs didn't nominate the candidates and then also that only candidates nominated by the chiefs can participate...

I think you've misread the part about Du Pont – she did not claim to be a chief: "Also, Jennifer Du Pont, the female candidate who claimed the chief of her chiefdoms made a statement to the community members not to vote for her because she was a widow"/"One candidate, Jennifer du Pont, after nomination, allegedly faced some opposition from the chief in her chiefdom because she was a widow." See also here. This source also make clear that chiefs do not choose the primary candidates, although they do try and influence their selection:

His stance follows a dramatic situation that unfolded when Dumsani Dlamini the Ludzibini chiefdom headman warned residents against nominating Du Pont during the nomination process held a few weeks back. Dlamini allegedly told residents that they would be evicted from the chiefdom if they nominated the former MP. The residents, however, ignored the headmans’ advice as they nominated Du Pont to stand for the MP post together with Mboniseni Mhlanga, Logiya Shiba, a certain Matsebula and Upton Ndlovu among others.

Number 57 20:39, 23 August 2018 (UTC)

That's weird. I'm not really convinced, but let's wait for some clarification in the election reports this year. Thank you. Cordially. --Aréat (talk) 21:36, 23 August 2018 (UTC)