Candidates were not given the opportunity to sell themselves

Sir,

From the Times Sunday I learnt with ‘surprise’ that according to the laws governing national elections (EBC Act) it is an offence for those nominated to stand for Primary Elections to give lifts to voters.

Minister Wilson Ntshangase was quoted to that effect. My question is why, especially when his colleague from Maseyisini Inkhundla was doing just that. He was busy ferrying voters to his voting centre. He did it in his black van, not even using his campaign agent. If what Ntshangase said is true then this is a challenge to the EBC since people like Ntshangase lost due to adhering or ‘respecting’ the law.

It therefore stands to reason and fairness that Minister Dlamini be disqualified for breaking the law. He was campaigning yet the laws don’t permit it at the moment since campaigning is supposed to begin immediately after the results from the primary elections are announced, and not a moment before. If such is not done then the whole process is not ‘fair’. The EBC must not give critics of the elections a point to use to prove us otherwise. This is not what the nation wants.

For those who lost in the Bucopho category, I am with them in their sorrows. One thing that was unfair with the process is that the nominated candidates were not given the opportunity to sell themselves to us. This is a competition and as such they also deserved to be given the chance to campaign. However, as it is the law does not allow this, it’s unfair.

To all the losers, I wish to tell them that it’s not the end. There will always be a next time. Keep giving us those free cabbages and free lifts, we shall vote you in next time.May the next stage of the elections be incident free, I pray.

Qhushu umbutfo.

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