Times Of Swaziland: UNPOPULAR CANDIDATES DEFEAT 17 EX-MPS

UNPOPULAR CANDIDATES DEFEAT 17 EX-MPS
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Mfanukhona Nkambule on 01/10/2023 17:03:00


MBABANE – Ex-Speaker Petros Mavimbela is one of the high profile casualties of
the 2023 General Elections.
By 8pm yesterday, Mavimbela and 16 ex-MPs who served at various terms lost to
candidates who were not so popular in the political space. This is based on
results that were released by the Elections and Boundaries Commission (EBC).
After surviving numerous attacks during the civil unrest, the ex-presiding
officer of the House of Assembly returned to the polls, where he faced Dr
Bonginkhosi Dlamini in a two-horse race. Dr Dlamini, a tertiary lecturer,
produced one of the elections upsets since the general election for the 12th
Parliament began in July. He defeated Mavimbela by 707 votes. He obtained 2 192
votes against the former Speaker’s 1 485 votes. While Dr Dlamini was
accomplishing his mission to unseat the seasoned politician, former MP Ndumiso
Masimula was experiencing the same at Lomahasha, where he was outclassed by
Zanele Mashaba.
Mashaba did not only secure a seat in the House of Assembly, she also left
Masimula wondering what might have hit him as the Lomahasha elections turned out
to be a ‘catch-me-if-you-can situation’. This is due to the fact that the
vocal former MP, a teacher by profession, was defeated by a large margin. In
fact, it must be said that it was an undoubtedly landslide victory for the
Lomahasha woman who beat the ex-MP by 1 960. As Mhlambanyatsi and Lomahasha were
recording bad results for ex-MPs, there was something that was attracting
attention at Kubuta in the Shiselweni Region, where there was a ‘bring-them-on
situation’. Masiphula Mamba, an unpopular candidate, faced what appeared to be
a challenge to overcome two former MPs, Musa Mlamuli Mabuza and Njabulo Mabuza,
the former Minister of Health. Mabuza has been in and out of the House of
Assembly, and is one of the experienced ex-lawmakers. Undeterred by their
exposure and experience in politics, Mamba overcame Mlamuli who was an MP for
Kubuta in the 11th Parliament by 902 votes. Njabulo also failed to match him as
he was defeated by 1 037 votes.
masterminded
Sifiso Shabalala, not so popular as well, produced an upset at Dvokodvweni,
where he masterminded the defeat of two former MPs. These are Mduduzi Magagula
who was an MP in the 11th Parliament and Musa Sitezi Dlamini who served as a
legislator in the 10th Parliament. Sitezi was a Member of Parliament for
Dvokodvweni from 2013 to 2018. On the other hand, Magagula began as an MP for
the defunct Hlane. Meanwhile, Shabalala conquered Magagula by 1 236 votes and
went on to do the same to Sitezi by defeating him by 1 254 votes.
Bonginkhosi Dube faced a similar situation at Phondo in Mankayane, where two
former MPs competed against them. These are former Ngwempisi MP Veli Shongwe and
ex-Phondo MP Xolani Vilakati.
Dube defeated Shongwe by 133 votes. Vilakati was serving Phondo in the previous
Parliament, but failed to match him (Dube) as he trailed him by 1 096. Based on
released results for Mkhiweni and in a spirit of fair elections, former MPs
Machawe Mavuso and Gideon Dlamini, the ex-Minister of Commerce, Industry and
Trade should both shake hands with Mandla Tshawuka. Tshawuka caused a major
upset here, as he outclassed or conquered Gideon, touted in the 1990s as a
future prime minister, by 3 110 votes. However, Mavuso was in the game as he was
defeated by 584. Alec Lushaba, a journalist and editor, deprived ex-MP Nkhanyeti
Ngwenya of a second consecutive term in Parliament. Ngwenya had defeated Lushaba
in the 2018 General Elections. The editor received 2 517 votes against
Ngwenya’s 2 237.
At Nkhaba, there was shock as well, after Hope Shiba, a transport businessman,
secured a seat in Parliament at the expense of ex-MP Zakhele Magongo. Magongo,
who was vocal in the House of Assembly, got votes that were not enough to
counter those of Shiba who obtained 2 673. It effectively meant that Shiba
defeated him by 671 votes. Gilgal witnessed its recent MP Sandla Fakudze handing
over the baton to Sifiso Gadlela, who outclassed him by 1 935 votes. Second
placed Sithembiso Mamba received 1 414. At Mahlangatsha, award-winning farmer
Mgucisi Dlamini, who has developed a habit of conquering former MPs maintained
this feat.
won
He started with ex-MP Musa Ngcobo in the primary elections and finished off
former MP Bongani Hlophe in the secondary elections. Dlamini obtained 2 897
votes against Hlophe’s 2 764. Allen Vilane also won against a former MP,
Bongani Mavuso, at Madlangampisi in the Hhohho Region. Vilane got 2 891 while
second placed Mdlui obtained 2 464 votes.
Another major upset happened at Mbabane West, where former MP Johane Shongwe was
conquered by Jane Mkhonta-Simelane by 874 votes. Nomkhosi Masuku unseated ex-MP
Vusi Swali of Ludzeludze. Wilton Nkambule, a businessman, shocked the chiefdoms
under Motshane as he became the first candidate from Mpolonjeni to win the
elections. In this constituency, MPs came from either Nduma or Kupheleni.
A couple of days after the primary elections, Sihlenge Shongwe of Nduma, was
fancied as a favourite to have won the elections. This was based on the size of
his community which is the largest. He had also scored victory over ex-MP Robert
Magongo. All eyes were, therefore, on him to conquer Nkambule and Maxwell
Masuku, the former Principal Secretary (PS) in the Ministry of Information,
Communications and Technology.
votes
The ballot box continued to make surprises as Nkambule received 2 774 against
Shongwe’s 1 597. In fact, he came third and the second spot was occupied by
Masuku with 1 651 votes.
Apollo Maphalala, who, at some point, served as a former Chief Executive Officer
(CEO) of Nhlangano Town Council, defeated ex-MP Vincent Malavi Sihlongonyane by
1 191 votes. Maphalala had to sweat to conquer Cel’colo Dino Dlamini, a Head
teacher and former CEO for Mbabane Highlanders and Mlamuli Innocent Motsa, an
attorney. It was almost a tie as he managed to defeat Dino by 10 votes, but he
beat Motsa by 120 votes.