ABout 1 700 InmAtEs Don’t HAvE IDs – ESWAREO
MBABANE
– What is the point of having civic education in readiness for elections when one is not eligible to vote?
This was a question the Eswatini Association of Rehabilitated Ex-Offenders (ESWAREO) asked. Eswatini has at least 3 500 inmates including children.
Spinora Mkhwanazi, who is an ex-offender and the Vice President of the organisation, said it was concerning that a large number of inmates wanted to vote yet they did not qualify. Mkhwanazi said according to his knowledge, inmates had a right to vote.
He commended His Majesty’s Correctional Services (HMCS) for allowing the Elections and Boundaries Commission (EBC) to visit, to give civic education while he was behind bars.
This year, Eswatini will be holding parliamentary elections. Every citizen has the right to vote including those who are incarcerated, though there are exceptions, depending on the crimes they are serving sentences for.
Eligible
In many countries around the world, such as the United Kingdom (UK), prisoners are not eligible to vote while in the United States (US), some offenders convicted of violent serious crimes may not be eligible to vote.
Mkhwanazi said he had discovered that this year, many inmates wanted to vote, but they were worried that they did not have Identity Documents (ID).
He said it was worrying that there were no efforts being made to make sure that the people were properly registered so that they could vote.
He expressed concern that according to his knowledge, about 1 700 did not have the necessary
Southern African Network of Prisoners Chairman Mandla Justice Mtetwa.
documents.
As an organisation that assisted in rehabilitating inmates, he said they saw it very important that inmates be granted the opportunity to vote. Mkhwanazi also mentioned that being able to vote ensured that the inmates felt part of the society.
“We are giving them the right to choose their MPs (Members of Parliament),” said Mkhwanazi.
Acquire
Mkhwanazi then said that even when the inmates left the prison, it was usually very difficult for them to acquire documents and establish themselves in society.
He said some inmates needed to be assisted with business opportunities or employment after leaving prison, yet this was not possible without IDs.
Justice Mtetwa, the President of the Southern African Network of Prisoners (SANOP) confirmed that ESWAREO had concerns about the number of inmates who did not have IDs yet were expected to vote.
Though he did not confirm the exact figures, Mtetwa said there were many inmates who did not have the necessary documents for them to vote.
Affiliated
He also added that ESWAREO was affiliated with SANOP, whose duty was to promote regional efforts for the rights of inmates.
Mlandvo Dlamini, the Communications Officer in the Ministry of Home Affairs, when called referred to an earlier response in which he stated that the ministry was not aware of a specific promise to register inmates while in prison so that they could vote.
He said the ministry was concerned about registering everyone as they deserved to have
proper documents while in the country.
He stressed that the ministry’s plan was to reach out to everyone as they deserved to be registered.
Dlamini said registration by Home Affairs was important at both birth and death.
Mbonisi Bhembe, the Communications Officer of EBC, said for now, the organisation was still making arrangements to visit the prisons to provide civic education to the inmates.
Logistics
living
He said once the logistics had been put in place, they would then start the civic education.
Bhembe was also informed that there were concerns that about 1 700 did not have IDs. However, he said the Constitution was clear that a person can qualify to acquire a document at the age of 16 years. He said the law was very clear about who qualified to vote or be nominated.
Bhembe said one sentenced to death or to life was not eligible to vote.