Times Of Swaziland: Hlobi gives cash to  potential voters

Hlobi gives cash to  potential voters
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 BY MBONGENI NDLELA on 20/05/2013 01:34:00


PIGG’S PEAK – Minister of Sports, Culture and Youth Affairs Hlobisile Ndlovu
distributed E100 bank notes to potential voters in the small town on Friday
night.
This happened at around 7pm.
The minister recently indicated that she would run for elections in the Pigg’s
Peak constituency where she has served as a Member of Parliament (MP) for the
past 10 years.
The minister, who was driving in a navy blue Toyota sedan on Friday, parked the
vehicle along Munga Road near Chilla-Nathi Restaurant opposite Pholani Bar. When
some of the patrons at watering holes which included Pholani Bar, Lanyandza
Bottle Store and Vuya Vuya Bar spotted her, they rushed to her vehicle asking
for money for more alcoholic beverages.
According to people who were present, some of the residents flashed their voter
registration cards telling the minister that they had registered and would vote
for her.
It was then that the minister, who on Thursday booked to be registered as voter
471, since she believed this figure is her lucky number, started distributing
the E100 notes.
A mini-stampede almost occurred when more people mobbed her vehicle hoping that
they would also get the money.
Seeing the increasing numbers of the people wanting money, the minister is said
to have told those who received the E100 notes to share it with four others.
This meant each potential voter received E20.
There was so much activity around the minister’s vehicle such that a police
officer who was passing by had to control the crowd to allow the minister to
make her escape.
Interviewed later, the minister confirmed dishing out the cash. She said she
only spent E500 which she gave to five people whom she told to share with four
others.
“As a representative of the Pigg’s Peak constituency, it is my duty to give
money or help those who come seeking help. I will continue giving out money
until Parliament has been dissolved,” she explained.
She said there was nothing sinister with her giving out cash just months before
the next general election.
“Distributing money does not mean I am campaigning. I have been giving money
to my constituents throughout my term and most people know that,” she said.
Minister Ndlovu said some of the people actually followed her to her home on
Friday night hoping she would hand out more money.
The Times has also established that on Saturday the minister hosted a
presentation party at the Pigg’s Peak Club for the teams that participated in
a tournament she had sponsored to the tune of E10 000.
The presentation was followed by an after party where the minister’s friends
and guests received free drinks. The minister left the party around 12:30am.
Minister is skating on thin ice - Chief Gija
PIGG’S PEAK – Chief Gija, the Chairman of the Elections and Boundaries
Commission (EBC) says Minister Hlobisile Ndlovu is skating on thin ice.
He said even though there was nothing wrong with giving people money or gifts,
he was concerned that she could manipulate those she had given the money to.
“She can be arrested and charged for buying votes if the intention was
that,” said the chief of Nkamazi.
“I advise aspiring MPs that Swazis are now educated they know the kind of
person they want to elect as their MP. Giving out cash and distributing gifts
does not guarantee that the giver will be voted into Parliament.
“A voter goes alone to the voting poll and chooses the person he/she wants,”
he said.
He said dishing out money was very dangerous because in the end the people who
received the cash may not even vote for the minister leaving her with a huge
debt.
“Again, it would be hard for the voters to complain when the minister falters
in her line of work solely because she gave money to the people who voted
her,” he said.
Mixed feelings over Hlobi’s act
PIGG’S PEAK – Minister Hlobisile Ndlovu’s act of distributing cash in this
small town has been received with mixed feelings.
Some of the people interviewed by this publication are pleased by the
minister’s conduct while others have labelled it as an embarrassment to the
town. Sihle said: “at least it is good that she is handing out money. She has
a good heart.”
Sabelo wondered: “Why does the minister start splashing money when its time
for elections? Where was she all the 10 years she had been working as our MP?”
Thobhi said: “This is a sign how the minister regards us voters. It is an
indication that she regardS us as cheap and its very embarrassing.”
Nosipho said: “Good move minister give us money, we want more.”
Boy said: “Chief Gija said we must accept gifts and the minister is giving us
one, bravo.”
Sibusiso said: “At least we have received E20. It shows we have an MP in
Pigg’s Peak. Let’s vote.”