EBC accused of not dealing with those rigging elections

MBABANE – The Elections and Boundaries Commission (EBC) has been accused of not dealing with individuals who rigged elections.

These were some of the sentiments shared by community members at Fonteyn during the civic voter education exercise which was held at the neighbourhood care point (NCP) yesterday.

This was after the EBC team that was educating them made mention that elections were free and fair in the country. The community said the elections were not fair as some individuals had an advantage over others. Making a submission, former Coordinating Assembly of Non-governmental Organisation (CANGO), Emmanuel Ndlangamandla stated that the EBC had done nothing about people accused of rigging elections.

Concerns

According to Ndlangamandla, concerns were raised by one aspiring Senator Ngomyayona Gamedze, who reported that some Members of Parliament (MPs) were allegedly selling votes for E100 000 at one case in point.

Ndlangamandla stated that there were no disciplinary measures taken on those who campaigned through buying loaves of bread and blankets to be voted in Parliament and also sponsoring soccer games.

He said following irregularities that were experienced at his constituency in 2018, where an aspiring MP allegedly cooked for the electorate and also dished out beans, they reported to the EBC and nothing was done.

Ndlangamandla said while EBC conceded that it was illegal to buy votes and that elections were not for sale but this continued unabated.

On another hand, he said the EBC took long to educate the people, yet educationist said people could not grasp information they had been taught within a short space of time, but teaching had to be conducted over and again in order for it to sink in. Ndlangamandla added that it was very unfortunate that the EBC team was remunerated for doing nothing yet government did not have funds.

He said the commission was there and the offices as well, but they were failing to do their job and came in the last minute, on a Sunday.

Irregularities

Responding, the Commissioner, Chief Mawandla Gamedze said they were bothered by the irregularities regarding elections. Gamedze stated that they were seen to be failing to deal with the election irregularities as the law required proof among other things, hence the corruption needed to be proved. He said there should be evidence from a person who received the food parcel that they had been coerced to vote for a certain individual. Gamedze said they so much wished that a person who distributed food hampers during elections be disqualified. He acknowledged that cases were reported but the evidence was not forthcoming. Gamedze said on the Senate issue, there were considerations of changing the formula when electing members. He stated that there was a proposal on how it could be applied. On the issue of continuous civic education, he apologised and said they would be addressing it as it was a result of budget constraints. Gamedze said they would put up a strong case that elections were not an event, but there needed to be continuous education conducted.