Sibahle, SWADEPA '˜join forces'

"The owners of the country have clearly stated that people will stand for elections in their individual capacities and not through political parties. Only an individual who has been nominated at an umphakatsi will be able to stand for the elections. As for entities such as Sive Siyinqaba, I can just call them clubs formed by people who are like minded. I do not foresee them having any influence, whatsoever, in the outcome of the elections," he said.

COMMENTS:

- Shocked: owners of the country have decided? what is the EBC telling the nation? and why did we have to participate in developing the constitution. How sad that organizations like EBC are making us Swazis even more informed to make a choice whether to continue with the joke of individual representation or parties: I go for parties!!
April 9, 2013, 6:31 am, Thulani

- Chief Gija must withdraw his statement if he was quoted correctly. Who are owners of this country? There are assertions that Swaziland is more of a farm than a country and now here is chief Gija implying just that. The people of Swaziland declared at SIBAYA that cabinet should go home, but cabinet is still in office - is it because "owners of the country" decided to ignore the voice of the people?
April 9, 2013, 9:25 am, shoes

- What owners of the country. Doesnt this country belong to the people of Swaziland. Is the EBC to tell the people that they have no say on how they should be govern but rather be told by the "owners of the country". This is a serious cause for concern
April 9, 2013, 9:50 am, Waves Bhembe

 - There goes Chief Gija again! Who on earth owns a country really? I mean we all know a country belongs with its citizens, that the general populace indicated they preferred Tinkhundla in 2004 doesnot mean this is what they want today. The political landscape has long shifted, if you asked me. It is mentality of people like Gija that promotes the backwardness in this country. Again, the question we ask is whether the two political parties can be trusted in steering the country and promote accountability of its leaders. I mean jusrt now we have issues with allegations bordering on mismanagement of public funds by some members of these formations. As electorate we need to ask ourselves if we are willing to jump from a frying pan to the oven.
April 9, 2013, 10:09 am, Burns Dlamini ( Lobhoncela)

 - I must congratulate the two political parties for finally realizing that together they stand, divided they fall. Tinkhundla served us well until the 80's when the majority of Swazis were uneducated and now the time has come for us to move on to something new. It is the Tinkhundla mentality that would make people like the EBC Chairman to talk of the "owners of this country". Swazi Citizens are the owners of this country and to prove our ownership we pay taxes to run it in the same way a home-owner would pay the mortgage bond to the bank every month. I hope these political parties will band together as one because we really need an opposition in Swaziland for the benefit of the "owners of this country, which is the citizens.
April 9, 2013, 2:23 pm, Mandla

- This is good news for these two political parties. Their manifestos are almost similar so I think they must cooperate in order to win parliamentary seats.
April 9, 2013, 2:42 pm, Politically Savvy

- Wooh Mtfwanenkhosi it looks like you are overtaken by events. Change is here you like it or not we want Political Parties. I think Umntfwanenkhosi has to sort the problems he is currently encountering in his EBC offices. I have heard there is a big fight at EBC between the Secretariat and the Commissioners. It seems as if the Commission does not know or has forgoten its mandate. May I remind the Commission that recruiting falls under Administration. Commission must concentrate on Elections and Boundaries.
April 9, 2013, 4:03 pm, Rubber Ruller