SWAZIS REACT TO U.S. ELECTION RESULTS

UNCLAS MBABANE 000358 DEPT FOR AF/PD/PA (LALLISON),INFO AF/S (MHARRIS) E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PREL KDEM KPAO WZ SUBJECT: SWAZIS REACT TO U.S. ELECTION RESULTS ¶1. SUMMARY: On November 5, approximately 140 people attended the Embassy's "Election Breakfast." High-ranking government officials, academicians, political organizations, and religious, labor and civil society members attended the event. The event took place about a month and a half after Swaziland held its parliamentary elections. End Summary. ¶2. Early on the morning of November 5, the Embassy hosted an Election Breakfast that coincided with the acceptance speech of President-elect Obama . The audience consisted of a wide range of Swazi society including: the Deputy Prime Minister (DPM),several Cabinet members, and labor, civic, and political organization leaders. In an interview with the local government-owned television station, the Deputy Prime Minister stated that American politics is about issues and not personalities, as in some countries. Ambassador Parker and other Embassy staff fielded questions from university students and other guests. Participants were heard engaging in debates about how elections are held in a true democracy, what this means for American progress on race relations, and the example an Obama victory means for democracy in rest of the world. Government and civil society members requested copies of the candidates' speeches, which Post is providing. MEDIA COVERAGE ¶3. The electronic and print media attended the election breakfast and did extensive coverage, including comments from members of the public. The two local newspapers carried multi-page coverage of the breakfast, both on Thursday and Friday. Union leader Jan Sitole praised the transparency of the American election. Chamber of Commerce CEO Zodwa Mabuza told the papers that Obama's election will stabilize the world economy and bring benefits to Swaziland. Elections and Boundaries Commission (EBC) Chair Chief Gija said the EBC hopes to use the U.S. example to develop itself as a commission. DPM Themba Masuku praised President-elect Obama, saying that his unifying style will have a positive impact around the world. Swaziland Investment Promotion Authority Chief Executive Officer, Phiwayinkosi Ginindza, said that they would take advantage of the American economic situation, which is they expect to improve following Obama's victory. In addition to the articles and comments, the papers carried numerous photos of guests posing with the life-sized cardboard cutout of Senator Obama. The Ambassador, DPM and several other Swazi guests were interviewed on the spot for local television and radio stations Swazi TV, Channel S, and SBIS. ¶4. Poloff participated in a local television program featuring a local businessman and answered viewer phone calls. Most callers wanted to send congratulatory messages to President-elect Obama, expressed hope that Africa, and Swaziland in particular, would follow the example of elections that allow the peaceful transfer of power, and inquired as to what policy differences Africa would see from the President-elect, especially regarding Zimbabwe. There was also great interest as to what a President-elect Obama administration will do for Africa. LESSONS ¶5. Swazi audience members were impressed with the speedy elections results and wished Swaziland's Election and Boundaries Commission would try to integrate this into the Swazi electoral system. The audience was impressed by both candidates' speeches, finding John McCain's congratulatory message to President-elect Obama gracious, and the President-elect's speech conciliatory and unifying. The President-elect's statement that he was going to listen to dissenting voices also made a deep impression on the audience. Swazi politicians don't generally send congratulatory messages to the opposing candidate, nor do they express or explicitly state a willingness to work with their opponents after an election. ¶6. COMMENT: Swazis have shown much more interest in the U.S. elections than their own elections held in September. The idea of a real transfer of power from one candidate to another, or one party to another, seems to be the main draw, especially since the power transfer is from one Caucasian to an African-American of Kenyan roots. Political organizations and civil society members mentioned to EmbOffs that they hope one day the GKOS will choose to meet democratic norms. GKOS officials attending the breakfast hailed the American democratic process, but didn't seem to make the connection between the benefits of a working democracy and their own non-democratic situation. Whether the average Swazi really understands the ability to transfer power from one administration to the next is questionable. PARKER