Times Of Swaziland: VOTERS IN FIST FIGHT AT MAHLANYA NOMINATIONS

VOTERS IN FIST FIGHT AT MAHLANYA NOMINATIONS
================================================================================
Mfanukhona Nkambule on 23/07/2023 16:50:00


MAHLANYA – The nomination exercise at Mahlanya Umphakatsi under Lobamba
Lomdzala was punctuated by ugly scenes – on the sidelines.
Young men engaged in a fierce fist fight that left some elderly women screaming
for quick police intervention. This was after one of the fighting voters had
been punched to the ground. As he was sprawling there, one man trampled upon
him. The nomination exercise had to stop for a while as voters rushed to the
scene to watch. It was unclear what the young men were fighting for, as they had
been enjoying some drinks together, sharing experiences and jokes. Sources said
certain jokes cracked by one of them irked one of the voters who was involved in
the fight. The fist fight happened right at the gravel road near the nomination
centre. Security officers found it difficult to mediate as the fighters ignored
advice for calm and continued to exchange blows.
As the sound of the punches was heard, elderly people screamed in sorrow and
dismay. Kicks, particularly as one of them was seen lying on the ground as if he
had been hit by a stone, prompted a group of police and members of Correctional
Services to intervene and calmed the situation. They were seen escorting the
troublemakers to a certain spot. It could not be ascertained if police arrested
or intended to press charges against them at a later stage.
safety
They (police) returned to the nomination centre to provide safety and security.
After the situation had calmed down, the presiding officer and election officers
continued with the business of the day, which was to nominated candidates for
MP, Bucopho (constituency councilor) and indvuna yenkhundla (constituency
headman). On another note, jubilation or ululation superceded the agenda at
Mahlanya umphakatsi as soon as Siphiwe Nkambule had nominated Marwick Khumalo.
It took the presiding officer about three minutes to request the voters to sit
down and allow her to ask Khumalo if he would accept the nomination.
His followers mobbed him as he was sandwiched, with songs being sung in
appreciation of his nomination. Others who will compete with him at primary
elections are; Mkhuleko  Magongo (35), Lunga Mbuli (25), Mduduzi Dube (41),
Dumsani Emmanuel Dlamini, Lobamba Mkhaliphi, Mkhuleko Hlatshwayo (36), Celumusa
Thwala (43) and Simon Mvubu. Notable nominees in the indvuna yenkhundla category
under Mahlanya umphakatsi were; Sabelo Magagula, an experienced counsellor in
local government and son of the late former Minister of Transport and
Construction (now Ministry of Public Works and Transport) and Bruno Busika,
whose popularity was evident when he was nominated. His followers shouted
‘Bruno, Bruno.’  Qhazile Mkhize was a was also nominated. She is a
28-year-old woman with a disability. She was nominated for the position of
constituency councillor.