Ambassador calls for more political freedom in Swaziland

The US ambassador to Swaziland has renewed her call for political parties to be allowed to operate in the kingdom. Lisa Peterson, also called for the 1973 decree that turned Swaziland from a parliamentary democracy into an absolute monarchy to be repealed. It banned political parties and put all powers in the hands of the king. A report on the allAfrica site notes that she was reacting to the recent decision by King Mswati III to make appointments to the House off Assembly and the Swazi Senate following September's national elections. Voters can only choose 59 members of the House while the monarch appoints another 10. No members of the Swazi Senate are elected by the people. Peterson said the king failed to follow the 2005 Swaziland Constitution when he made the appointments. She added that he did not appoint the required number of women.