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60% of Swazis against govt

08/05/2012 00:00:00 MAQHAWE NXUMALO

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MBABANE – More than half of Swazis do not approve of the current government, Gallup Poll has found.

Gallup Poll is part of a research-based performance-management consulting company, and it specifically conducts regular public opinion polls in over 140 countries worldwide.

According to online sources, Gallup Polls are often referenced in the mass media as a reliable and objective audience measurement of public opinion.

The Gallup website states that Gallup Polls conducted surveys in most of the 34 sub - Saharan countries last year and the findings were only released two weeks ago.

On Swaziland, the poll found that only 40 per cent of Swazis approve of the country’s broader leadership.

This is according to a survey conducted between November 13 and November 21 last year.

Gallup Poll said it conducted 1 000 face to face interviews with Swazis over the age of 15 years. The interviews were conducted in both English and siSwati. This, therefore, means that only 400 Swazis out of the 1 000 interviewed said they were happy with government while the remaining 600 expressed disapproval.

"For results based on the total sample of national adults, one can say with 95 per cent confidence that the maximum margin of sampling error ranged from ±3.3 percentage points to ±4.3 percentage points. "The margin of error reflects the influence of data weighting.

"In addition to sampling error, question wording and practical difficulties in conducting surveys can introduce error or bias into the findings of public opinion polls," Gallup Poll concedes.

When compared with other SADC countries Swaziland ranks seventh out of the 12 countries polled in terms of public approval of the broader leadership.

Namibia and the Seychelles were not polled. The Botswana government has the highest approval rating in the region at 73 per cent while Angola has the lowest approval rating at 16 per cent.

‘...polls not transparent’

MBABANE – Government says that polls such as those conducted by Gallup Poll are not transparent.

This was said by the Government Spokesperson, Percy Simelane, in an interview on Friday afternoon.

Simelane said such polls leave a lot of unanswered questions because their conductors did not announce their presence in the country and there is no way of really knowing what systems they have in place to ensure that their findings are accurate.

"We usually do not respond to people who operate under trees but such processes lack transparency. They are quite unlike our own elections which we use to gauge the public’s feelings about its leaders. The country will soon be going to the polls and the people will have a more legitimate platform to express how they feel about their government," Simelane said. He said government, however, has no problem with people expressing how they feel about its operation in such forums. He said such polls are normal the world over.

He said you may find that there are many other countries which are rated worse than Swaziland so such a rating is not a ‘train smash’ for government. "All I am saying is that these things should be done openly. It is like me coming to you and telling you that seven of your girlfriends say they no longer love you.

"What assurance do you have that I am not telling you all this because I want your girlfriends for myself," Simelane said lightly.

He said government has put in place numerous mechanisms which it uses to regularly gauge the feelings of the people and respond appropriately.

Comments

I would pretty much prefer just reading the report from the agency ..... as to why exactly the Times decided to omit the report on the King's approval/disapproval kudzela lowatiko ..... http://www.gallup.com/poll/154088/African-Leaders-Enjoy-Strong-Support.aspx
May 8, 2012, 1:47 AM, Not Brainwashed (notbrainwashed@yahoo.com)

Seyini keloku? What country is Gallup based in? Why would you rely on foreigners to conduct research in your own country? Why can't we do our own research? This whole story is meaningless! You people have lost your marbles and have run out of ideas for stories. How about some real journalism for a change?
May 8, 2012, 7:47 AM, Mbutfo Dlamini

I can be very happy if the percentages against government can decrease to less 10%
May 8, 2012, 7:47 AM, SKYRIDER (26876795027)

If this is not true then its fine. but if this is true, are we only going to shield by living in the denial stage? As much as it is felt that this survey was "under tress", we dont have an instrument, as well to measure if it is true or not and if it is true then its destructive - denying it will only make it worse than better.
May 8, 2012, 7:47 AM, Concerned citizen (thabiso.mkhonta@gmail.com)

If Swazis were indeed happy with their government, why is the government so scared of people/Swazis. Jets are bought secretly; public pretests are not squashed; no one among the government system is willing to give out statistics on the number of Swazis who said they want the current system of government, we are only told that Swazis said they are content with Tinkundla, as to what percentage, no one knows; why sibaya was banned; why did we fail to get the much needed SA loan; the list goes on. The truth is Swazis are indeed not happy, but scared.
May 8, 2012, 7:47 AM, Yes!

So government spokesman admits that elections are merely to gauge the "feelings' of the people. Elections are an expression of power - not emotion. In a proper democracy, elections are a chance for people to change their government, it cannot happen under this system and that is why Tinkhundla can never be a democracy. It is nice to see official recognition for the fact. And the Times needs to stop this amount of self censorship - it erodes its own credibility.
May 8, 2012, 9:07 AM, Laura Norder (thally@me.com)

Percy Simelane must shut up. Gallup has conducted an independent reasearch which Percy and his buddies masquerading as a government must also do if they are not in agreement with Gallup.- Waves Bhembe
May 8, 2012, 1:36 PM, Lungelo Bhembe (lungelobhembe@yahoo.com)

When the people fear their government, they should not be afraid of their governments, governments should be afraid of their people
May 8, 2012, 2:29 PM, Mahlafuna (msandimantini@yahoo.com)