EBC questioned on anti-Tinkhundla candidates

ZOMBODZE – Some emaSwati want to know what mechanism the EBC has in place to prevent those who are against the Tinkhundla System of Government from contesting the national elections.

This question was raised by Bafana Congo Fakudze, a resident of Zombodze, under Ludzeludze Constituency, yesterday during the civic voter education exercise which was hosted by the Elections and Boundaries Commission (EBC) at Zombodze Royal Kraal.

After the officials from EBC, Sizwe Magagula and Lwazi Dlamini had made their presentation, they allowed the community members to pose questions, seek clarity, and make suggestions as well as recommendations.

Fakudze said according to the EBC officials, they were there to promote the national elections, which would be held under the Tinkhundla System, by educating and encouraging them to partake in the exercise, which would be held later in the year.

Change

He said it was public knowledge that there were people who had publicly declared that they were against the Tinkhundla System because they believed that it was failing to deliver to the society. He added that these people also declared that they would join the Tinkhundla elections and contest for seats in Parliament as their aim was to change the system from within.

Thereafter, Fakudze asked the EBC officials how the commission thought such people would work for the Tinkhundla System if they believed that it was failing to deliver. “What mechanism or measures does the EBC have in place to control such people, or this matter is beyond the scope of the commission?” the resident asked.

In response, the EBC officials said the commission followed provisions of the Constitution when vetting people who had been nominated for either of the three positions of the national elections - bucopho (chiefdom councillor, indvuna yenkhundla (constituency headman) and Member of Parliament (MP). They said so far the provisions of the Constitution were that nominees should be vetted through tax and police clearance certificates, nothing else.

Thereafter, they said they would take the concern to the commission and maybe the vetting process and criterion might be reviewed to cater for such emerging worries.

On another note, they said as a commission, they were encouraging emaSwati to make the right decision when casting their votes. They said emaSwati should elect people from their constituencies, who exhibited good leadership qualities.

Scope

Again, the officials highlighted that some of the questions and recommendations which were made by the residents of Zombodze, were outside the scope of the commission. However, they appreciated all the contributions and said they would take them to the commissioners, who would know which structures they needed to approach when responding to submissions.

It is worth noting that a political party that is against the Tinkhundla System of Government, but has publicly stated that its members would join the national elections to try to change the system from within, is the Swaziland Liberation Movement (SWALIMO), whose founding President is the self-exiled former Siphofaneni MP Mduduzi ‘Gawuzela’ Simelane.

(Pics: Sibusiso Zwane) Some of the community members from Zombodze pictured following proceedings during the civic voter education exercise, which was hosted by EBC at Zombodze Royal Kraal yesterday.

Some members of Lutsango from Zombodze who attended and participated in the EBC civic voter education exercise yesterday.

EBC Official Lwazi Dlamini (2nd R) educating the residents of Zombodze about the role of the commission, while (L-R) Zombodze Indvuna Mphatfwakahle Dlamini, Zombodze Chiefdom Councillor Sikhumbuzo Mlipha and EBC Official Sizwe Magagula look on.