HEADACHE FOR NOMINEES AS VOTERS START MAKING DEMANDS

MBABANE – It’s a headache for aspiring MPs as would-be voters are already making demands in exchange for votes.

In random interviews, some aspiring candidates alleged that they were visited by people who posed as their potential supporters. They said the individuals were demanding money, food alcohol, cigarettes among other things, in order to have them (aspirants) voted into Parliament.

The aspiring MPs were interviewed after a man who is at his youthful stage was overheard selling an idea to others at Sigangeni last Thursday. The man was inviting other residents to visit all those who showed interest in contesting for the position of bucopho, indvuna yenkhundla and MP in the area.

“These people should buy beer cases before they could be nominated and elected into Parliament. We should use this opportunity because we will get them the job,” he said.

“Sitabatjela kutsi indzaba yabo sitayiphetsa lembili uma bangafuni kwenta lelesikushoko,” added the man in vernacular, loosely translating that: “We will tell them that we will finalise the matter during the nominations and elections if they refuse.”

When interviewed, one of the nominees said: “It is difficult to show hard feelings when these people engage you because nobody knows what the future holds for him/ her. This is a big challenge for us because the EBC is also on the lookout against those who campaign before the allotted time.”

The nominee said another challenge was that reporting the individuals to the police would result in them losing the votes.
Another nominee alleged that more than four teams from one royal kraal had requested for soccer kits before the Primary Elections. He said on top of the soccer kit, the teams demanded that he sponsored a soccer tournament before he could be voted into Parliament.

“I have not yet responded to the request because I am not sure whether I will be able to provide. Contesting the positing of MP comes with a lot of challenges,” he said.
Another aspiring MP wondered if EBC could come up with strategies to save them from the voters who were bound to lead them into temptations. The aspiring candidates made a similar observation that the individuals who were making demands were engaging all the aspirants.
“It is clear that these people are just desperate for money, food, alcohol among other things, however, there is no way to avoid them because their votes are very important,” said another aspiring MP.
Some aspirants were accused of giving out food parcels to the targeted voters.
Temptations
When sought for comment, the EBC Public Relations Officer Mbonisi Bhembe, advised the nominees to portray their real characters as the country was looking for candidates who would not be overcome by temptations.
Bhembe said it was a responsibility of every liSwati to uphold the rule of law.
He said as far as the EBC was concerned, buying of votes was a criminal offence, which could result in the disqualification of the candidates if found guilty.
“We want free and fair elections that would not be spoiled by people who buy votes. What good it is for an MP to be known as someone who buys votes. They should know that if they give out money and buy alcohol for the voters, they will be forced to do it forever,” he said.
Bhembe said the best way was to call the individual to order by interpreting the law before they could ruin the elections.
He also warned emaSwati against buying votes, as such was tantamount to corruption.
The system of buying votes was also condemned by Eswatini Gender Consortium yesterday morning. Speaking   during ‘Letishisako’ yesterday, Xolani Hlatjwako, who is member of the consortium, said the tendency of buying votes was working in favour of those who had a strong financial muscle.
She said the buying of votes was one of the things that were reducing the chances of the election of women in the country.
“EmaSwati should not be convinced by chicken portions, money and alcohol, but strive to form a prefect government.

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