EBC exercise: Cops called as youth demand dialogue

NHLANGANO - There was yet another drama involving residents and EBC, this time at Somntongo. Somntongo is a constituency at Lavumisa town in the Shiselweni Region. This was during the voter civic education by the Elections and Boundaries Commission (EBC) yesterday. This incident happened a few days after that of Hosea in the Shiselweni Region. The education session was at Vimbizibuko Chiefdom and was scheduled for 10am.

It was said that when the team from EBC arrived, some of the residents in particular the youth, started being rowdy and ordered the EBC team to pack and leave. Their gripe was that they wanted EBC to address the issue of the arrested Members of Parliament (MPs) Mduduzi Bacede Mabuza of Hosea and Ngwempisi MP Mthandeni Dube.

It was said that they started being rowdy soon as the team arrived and could not even settle down. Sources revealed that the youth questioned the EBC team on why they conducted elections before dialogue. “We want dialogue first so that you can conduct democratic elections not those of tinkhundla,” said one of the residents.

Arrested

It was further said that some were questioning why they were supposed to go for elections when MPs were arrested for voicing out their views. “Police came and dispersed the crowds who left thereafter,” further said the source.

It was said that the meeting continued with the individuals who were left and after the arrival of the police. When reached for comment, EBC Communications Officer Mbonisi Bhembe said he had not received any report by 5pm. He was called an hour later but said he had still not reached the office. When later called, Bhembe did not answer calls from this reporter.