Voters to register without umphakatsi proof

MBABANE – Representatives from the royal kraal (umphakatsi) will no longer be required to be present during the registration of voters.

The role of these representatives had been to provide verification that indeed the voters were known residents of the area, in which they were registering.

This is provided for in Section 13 of the Voters Registration Act of 2013, which in Subsection (2), reads: “In the case of registration at umphakatsi, registration shall take place in the presence of the representatives of the umphakatsi selected from among the chief’s council who may, if required by the registration officer, provide all relevant information regarding the eligibility of persons applying for registration as voters.”

In Subsection (3), the Act states: “In the case of registration at urban or industrial areas, the persons applying for registration as voters shall produce evidence or their Swazi citizenship or permanent residence.” A proposed amendment to the Act, through the Voters Registration (Amendment) Bill of 2023, will see both these subsections being entirely removed and replaced with a new subsection.

DEBATED

The Bill has been tabled in Parliament and is expected to be debated soon.

The amendments will result in Section 13(2) reading as follows: “Where registration takes place at umphakatsi, urban or industrial areas, a person applying for registration as a voter shall produce either (a) proof of Eswatini citizenship and proof of residence in Eswatini; or (b) proof of permanent residence document and proof of residence for a foreign national.”