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