eSwatini Parliament Primary Produces Shock Results

Eswatini’s parliamentary primary elections concluded over the weekend with some surprising results. Eighteen members of parliament and two cabinet ministers lost their seats, including education minister Lady Howard Mabuza. According to some analysts, while the results point to a new phenomenon for Eswatini, they say not much has changed because the new MPs are pro-government and have no political affiliation. Some analysts say elections in Eswatini are not democratic because candidates associated with political parties are not allowed to participate. Eswatini government spokesperson Alpheous Nxumalo tells VOA’s James Butty, Eswatini this year’s primaries do not guarantee second terms for incumbents, including the education minister.