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MBABANE – Ratepayers who own properties in more than one town can vote in all of them.
This was disclosed by the Government Elections Co-ordinator, Melusi Hlanze. Hlanze had been asked on the possibility of voting in all towns where one owned properties. This came after the Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, Pholile Shakantu, was seen registering in three municipalities on Tuesday. Shakantu registered with the Municipal Council of Manzini, Municipal Council of Mbabane and Municipal Council of Ezulwini.
When reached for comment by this reporter, the minister did not want to commit on whether she would be voting in all the towns. She promised to get back to this reporter but when called later her mobile phone rang unanswered.
According to Hlanze, people had the right to register and vote in all the towns where they owned properties. “If you have properties in all 12 towns, you can register and vote in all of them,” said Hlanze.
He said there was no law preventing property owners from voting in towns where they had properties.
The elections co-ordinator said when registering, property owners were required to produce title deeds, adding that they might not live in the town but needed to own property there. Hlanze said they had seen property owners in the past voting in more than one town.
Furthermore, he stated that all the towns were conducting their own elections and the difference was that this year’s elections would be co-ordinated to take place in one day. He said if the municipalities conducted elections on different dates, it became destructive to the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development. Hlanze stated that property owners had the right to register concerns in the event they failed to vote in all the towns they had registered in.
Minister Pholile Shakantu being registered for the Ezulwini Municipality elections. (INSET) Municipal Council of Manzini registration officers registering the Minister of Justice.