The main opposition group in Swaziland, the banned People's United Democratic Party (PUDEMO), has called for international election observers to boycott this year's national poll because political parties are outlawed.
Mario Masuku, President of PUDEMO, said, 'We are calling on countries not to respect the outcome of these elections and we want the international poll observers to boycott the election because no election shall be free in the absence of political parties.'
Masuku told the Voice of America the election was a charade and a mockery of democracy and an affront to Swazis. He said the balloting does not allow Swazis to freely choose their representatives.
He said members of PUDEMO were unlikely to participate in the vote. 'We are on a campaign right now to boycott the national election, to call for a true dialogue towards a national constitution that is truly democratic,' Masuku said.
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