Hosea Community to hold dialogue on elections
MBABANE – The people of Hosea are in a bid to restore peace and harmony by first engaging in a one day constituency dialogue. Speaking to Eswatini News, the traditional leaders in the constituency have disclosed that the move to hold the talks, was meant to pave way for the oncoming 2023 national elections.
The traditional leaders noted that there had been a growing concern about incacerated Member of Parliament (MP), Mduduzi Bacede Mabuza’s, on the slow pace of development following his arrest.
This week, the Indvuna yeNkhundla, Richard Vilane engaged the over seven traditional leaders under the Hosea Inkhundla in preparedness of the coming elections. It should be noted that, dialogue is a communication tool that allows people to understand other viewpoints without pitting themselves against different perspectives.
In dialogue, there is no defending of opinions, and no counterpoints. Instead, you let someone talk and present their viewpoint and according to the traditional leaders, this is what they aimed to achieve. It has been a buzzword in Eswatini as emaSwati have been calling for a national dialogue.
“These engagements are ongoing as we speak .They are strictly between my office and the traditional leaders and that is when the idea of having a constituency dialogue was birthed.
According to Vilane, the seven imiphakatsi had already agreed to participate in the dialogue before the elections at Hhohho Emuva, Ludzakeni KaLiba, Lushini, Manyiseni, Bufaneni and lastly, Ondiyaneni.
“I have already met with the tindvuna temcuba and other chiefs in the area and I hope soon I would have completed my office’s engagements with the traditional leaders (chiefs) so as to ensure that the constituency is in harmony and in one voice before the national elections,” pointed out Vilane.
Indvuna yeMcuba of Ondiyaneni, Musa Sithole corroborated the indvuna yenkhundla’s stance that dialogue in the area was essential especially if they were to participate in the national elections.
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“We, the people of Hosea, have been left out in development and instead of improvement, ever since the incarceration of our lawmaker, the area’s development has suffered a setback due to arsons and vandalism. We have since resolved to host a constituency dialogue in a bid to restore peace in the area. Besides, if this dialogue is not successful, we foresee a situation whereby the people of Hosea would be deprived another opportunity of having someone to represent them in the August House,” explained Sithole, yesterday.
Prince Moses Mdebe (Umntfwanenkhosi) of Elushini has also pointed out that it was imperative that the seven communities under the Hosea Inkhundla meet and forge a way forward through the community dialogue.
“The issues that are to be discussed during this dialogue are that of rebuilding the community and also to reach a consensus and address the safety and security concerns of those who would be standing up for the national elections this year. It is important that this dialogue succeed as we do not want a situation whereby people stand up for nominations and subject their homes to arson attacks,” the Prince explained.
However, the traditional leaders have told this publication that they were still waiting for the Indvuna yeNkhundla to provide them with the proposed date for the dialogue.
The Elections and Boundaries Commission (EBC) met resistance during the civic education in two areas under the Hosea Constituency where residents stood up and protested and told the officials that they would not proceed with the civic education while their MP was still incarcerated. Their MP has been in jail since July 2021, together with Ngwempisi MP Mthandeni Dube .
Meanwhile the Indvuna yeNkhundla has urged the Royal Eswatini Police Service (REPS) not to disturb the constituency’s dialogue by attending it wearing uniforms. “It is advisable that they do come and monitor the dialogue but that they shouldn’t attend it wearing police uniform as we want the residents to be free when making their submissions.
“We have no other alternative but to convene this dialogue to restore peace and order in the constituency. We have a responsibility of restoring peace in our area and also to ensure that those who would be standing for the elections are protected,” said Vilane.