Swaziland woman banned from elections for wearing trousers

A Swazi woman was banned from being nominated to stand as a member of parliament because she was wearing trousers at the nomination centre. A second woman at a different chiefdom was denied the chance to nominate a candidate for the same reason.

Nomination centres opened cross the kingdom at the weekend as Swaziland prepared for the first round of the national election later this month. Mana Mavimbela was disqualified from putting her name forward for parliament at Lubulini because she wore a pair of trousers at the Royal Kraal where nominations took place. The presiding officer Lindiwe Sukati refused to allow her to stand because Mavimbela was wearing a pair of black jean trousers and a golf T- shirt.

Human Rights lawyer Mandla Mkhwanazi told the Times of Swaziland newspaper the presiding officer had infringed upon Mavimbela's rights under the Swaziland Constitution which did not discriminate against an individual on the basis of how they dressed.

Original article: http://allafrica.com/stories/201308061076.html