Dominated by king, Swaziland counts votes after election labeled a sham by opposition

Published January 13, 2015

Swaziland is tallying up results from parliamentary elections that opposition figures and many international observers called a sham process engineered by the country's king to retain a tight grip on power.

Final results were expected Saturday, one day after the voting for 55 seats in parliament. Political parties were not allowed to participate, and King Mswati III will select another 10 candidates for the 65-member assembly. Swaziland also has a 30-member senate that is appointed by the king and the assembly.

Mswati has ruled since 1986 following the death of his father, King Sobhuza III. The kingdom of more than 1 million people, about one third of whom were registered to vote, has high rates of unemployment and AIDS.

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https://www.foxnews.com/world/dominated-by-king-swaziland-counts-votes-after-election-labeled-a-sham-by-opposition