EBC in charge of local government elections
MATSAPHA – We are in charge. Chairperson of the Elections and Boundaries Commission (EBC) Reverent Sipho Tembe yesterday disclosed to all outgoing councillors that the commission was in charge of the urban government elections as mandated by the Constitution.
Tembe further thanked councillors for the role they had played in carrying out their mandate as given by their different constituencies. He assured them that EBC had already started working on not only the urban government elections, but even the national elections for next year. “EBC is part of the urban elections this time around as per the constitutional obligations to assist ushering councillors to push their mandate,” said Tembe.
He further pleaded for prayers from the councillors to assist the EBC to conduct fair and peaceful elections for urban and national government elections.
Ministry of Housing and Urban Development Principal Secretary (PS) Clifford Mamba confirmed in an exclusive interview that the EBC was involved this time around. Mamba further assured that funds were readily available for conducting the elections.
The Minister of Housing and Urban Development Prince Simelane announced the end of the mandate of all councillors in Eswatini. He further announced the start of the elections of the Eswatini Urban Government Elections of 2022.
He said November would be used for civic education and December would be for registrations and production of the voter’s roll. “The ministry will soon announce the interim councillors that will work with the CEO as provided in the legislation governing urban development,” said Simelane.
However, he did announce that the Interim councillors will be led by Appollo Maphalala. The minister also thanked the councillors for the role they played in the development of all the towns they represented. The minister spoke to the councillors and also passed his condolences to the Siteki Town Council for the loss of their Mayor Muzi Ngomane.
DEVELOPMENT
He further assured them that their work was recognised by the ministry and he was hopeful constituencies would re-elect them. “Your dedication to the development of local towns was clear to all as towns have shown tremendous success in service delivery and development. “I know all the towns are clean as I usually wear a training suit and move around at night checking their cleanliness and it is amazingly clean,” said Simelane.
Pigg’s Peak Mayor Victor Rodriguez on behalf of the councillors said as they leave office they will continue to be an asset to the towns they represented. “Even if we fail to be re-elected, we will assist in the development of our different towns,” said Rodrigues.
He further sent condolences to the Siteki Town Council and royalty on the passing of Mayor Muzi Ngomane, and senior Prince Masitsela respectively.