Division at Hosea ahead of elections
MBABANE – KaLiba residents under Hosea are reportedly divided as some of them have been allegedly directed to register to vote under Methula
Inkhundla
Inkhundla.
It has been gathered that a few weeks ago there was a meeting at KaLiba, where the residents, in some parts of the community, were told to register for the upcoming elections, but indicated that they would vote under Methula Inkhundla.
The residents alleged that the directive was communicated by one of the community’s headmen Gengemfane Mabuza, who told them that it came from senior members of the community.
The residents alleged that they were told that if they wanted development in their community, they should go and vote under Methula not Hosea.
Registering
It was gathered that those who were registering at Ntabeni Primary School were those who were set to vote under Methula Inkhundla, while those registering at Ngozi Primary School were to vote under Hosea Inkhundla.
The residents said from their observation, this was a strategy to weaken KaLiba as it was, of late, viewed as a community full of progressives.
They said KaLiba had been popular with a lot of activities against the current government and had been persistently calling for the release of their Member of Parliament (MP) Mduduzi Bacede Mabuza.
It is also worth noting that during the civic and voter education exercise at KaLiba, Elections and Boundaries Commission (EBC) had a tough time as some residents disrupted the exercise.
The residents sang political songs, which resulted in the EBC officials leaving the area before completing their task. It is also worth noting that KaLiba Umphakatsi has been torched several times since last year. The recent arson attack, which took place on March 1, saw a gogo centre being burnt.
Hosea is made up of seven communities/imiphakatsi, which are KaLiba, Nsingizini, Hhohho Emuva, Lushini, Manyiseni, Ondiyaneni and Bufaneni.
KaLiba is the largest community with a population of about 8 000 people followed by Nsingizini with about 6 000 people.
One of the community headmen (Indvuna) Robert Simelane said he was aware that some of the residents under his community had been directed to register to vote under Methula Inkhundla.
Simelane said the affected residents were those from places like Sikhehleni, Ntabeni, Ngome, and Dzakasini. The indvuna said, however, some of the residents were reluctant to go under Methula because they felt it was not clearly explained to them why they were being moved from Hosea.
Simelane referred more questions to the other Indvuna (Mabuza), as he had attended the meeting where the decision was taken.
Comment
Mabuza declined to comment, citing that the matter was above him as he was not the community chief.
Efforts to reach KaLiba Chief Mlotshwa proved futile as he did not answer his phone at the time of compiling this report.
Hosea Indvuna Yenkhundla Richard Vilane said he was aware of the movement of the residents from Hosea to Methula Inkhundla.
He said inasmuch as the residents were not in one accord about this developments, it might be helpful to the affected residents.
He said it would be helpful in a way that the affected residents were far from Hosea Inkhundla centre, so taking them to Methula would bring them closer to access services provided in the tinkhundla centres.
Vilane said personally, he was not against these developments.
He said, however, this might affect the residents in terms of other benefits that they were receiving while under Hosea.
He said such benefits included the E700 cash that the less privileged were receiving from Baphalali Eswatini Red Cross Society, as a way of assisting them to have something to eat as their area was not conducive for farming.
Contest
When asked about his overall stance about the elections in his constituency, Vilane said if the residents were willing, he was available to contest under the same portfolio of indvuna Yenkhundla.
EBC Communications Officer Mbonisi Bhembe said they were not aware of the matter.
He said in fact, it seemed impractical because the affected residents would have to belong to one of the imiphakatsi under Methula Inkhundla.
Bhembe said if such was happening, it would bring challenges when it was time for inspection of the voters roll because the Methula residents would dismiss them because they did not belong to their community.
The communications officer said as a commission, they would have to ascertain if indeed there was such in order for it to be addressed promptly.
He further warned emaSwati not to be deceived by people who were pushing their agendas through manipulating them.
Bhembe said issues at KaLiba would not be solved by running away from them.
He said instead, those problems could be solved by the residents themselves.