Voters to aspiring MPs: No false promises in this year’s elections
MBABANE - As a build-up to the coming national elections, some emaSwati have asked aspiring MPs to desist from making false promises to their electorate.
Further, the voters advised the aspiring Members of Parliament (MPs) to desist from raising false hopes among constituents.
Speaking to Eswatini News, the voters decried the fact that some aspiring MPs had manipulated the electorate by literal deceit.
“Some aspiring legislators have a tendency of promising residents that they will fix the roads in their communities whereas they (roads) belong to government,” said Madoda Nkosi of Nyakeni in the Manzini Region yesterday.
Nkosi pointed out that this year’s elections would be different because making false promises to the people could work against the aspiring MPs.
“There is no need to lie to us; we know that we are electing you to be our lawmaker, not anything else.
Stop
“Stop promising to build bridges and some things you will not be able to fulfil as the people are no longer patient and they might do you harm,” opined Nkosi.
Meanwhile, he stated that some MPs will not be returning to Parliament because the people in their constituency had a lot of expectations after they made promises in 2018.
Eswatini, together with other African countries, will be returning to the polls this year, where lawmakers will be elected in the over 59 constituencies.
Also to be elected are bucopho (inner councillor) and indvuna yenkhundla and the Elections and Boundaries Commission (EBC) has already began its civic voter education.
Another voter advised the electorates in the country to always take time and question what they are being told by the aspiring MPs.
“Don’t just allow aspiring MPs to easily sway you to vote for them.
“Scrutinise every submission being made because the time for false promises is over.
“We would like to know what are the laws that they are going to make that will ensure that service delivery is achieved through the Tinkhundla System of Government,” said Bhekithemba Matsenjwa of Siteki, in the Lubombo Region.
Matsenjwa pointed out that the aspiring legislators should be thoroughly scrutinised before they actually go and represent them in the next Parliament.
Meanwhile, another voter suggested that the entire electorate in the country should consider bringing in more wom
en into Parliament this year.
“Parliament should not be dominated by men only because women are very instrumental as the country moves forward to achieve the First World Status,” said Ntobeko Mkhatjwa of Lwandle in the Manzini Region.
Most recently, Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs Pholile Shakantu, encouraged emaSwati to also appoint or elect women into critical positions during the celebration of the International Woman’s Day.
SeSSionS
Furthermore, all the voters interviewed by this publication urged EBC to add more time during the campaigning sessions, so that the voters could have enough time to question the aspiring MPs.
“It can only be the wrong choices of people that we make, that come back to haunt us in the long run.
“There are dire and irreparable consequences we are facing today just because we didn’t vote wisely in the past elections,” another voter pointed out.
EBC has announced that voter registration will begin next month and it is still uncertain as to when the MPs in the fifth session of the 11th Parliament are going home.
Bhekithemba Matsenjwa, who said he was ready to vote, suggested that EBC should capacitate the electorates on the role of politicians.
“We have a problem in the elections; we have people who want to campaign but they have no clue as to what role a MP in the country and also in the community must play.
“EBC should really invest and empower people through education,” clarified Matsenjwa, who is also a former
Indvuna yeNkhundla in the Lubombo
Region.