UPROAR AS MP HOPEFULS PITTED AGAINST PRINCE GCOKOMA’S WIFE

MBABANE – It will be the survival of the fittest at Mbelebeleni Chiefdom as one of the Member of Parliament (MP) nominees is a wife to Prince Gcokoma, who is also the chief of the area.  

Prince Gcokoma is also the Regional Administrator for the Manzini Region.
Some residents and nominees of the area are of the view that the chief’s wife, Fikile Shongwe-Dlamini, could have an unfair advantage because of her marital status to the chief.

Shongwe is one of the nine candidates who were nominated under the chiefdom which falls under Mkhiweni Inkhundla, for the position of Member of Parliament.   

Of the nine nominees, five of them are females, including Shongwe.
The other female candidates are Khetsiwe Dlamini, Nancy Nurse Khumalo, Maureen Ngwenya and Goodness Shabangu.
The male candidates, on the other hand, who will be competing against the Inkhosikati on Saturday during the Primary Elections are Sizwe Khumalo, Joseph Magagula, Compose Musa Matsebula and Patrick Mazibuko.       

Although the residents were not specific on what sort of advantage Shongwe would have, they stated that some voters could simply vote for her because they paid allegiance to the chief.

Shongwe is not the first female member of the royal family to be elected to contest for the position of MP. Inkhosikati LaMavimbela, the wife to Prince Guduza, is also expected to be contending among over 50 candidates with the likes of Former MP Michael Masilela, Pastor Buddy Msibi and Dumisani Mnisi, among others under the Lobamba Constituency.

The 59-year-old was the first member of the royal family to stand for elections, changing the narrative that people of her calibre have lived with for years.
Before the Constitution of Eswatini came to being, the Swazi Administration Act was against the participation of royalty and chiefs in such national activities because of the influence they have in society.

However, when the Constitution was promulgated, it allowed everyone to participate as long as they qualified, according to the stipulated requirements which include; having reached the age of 18 years, being of sound mental health and being a liSwati.
Another nominee who spoke on condition of anonymity in fear of victimisation said they already felt defeated because of the Inkhosikati’s move to stand for the elections.

“During the nominations, when her name was called out, there was a lot of ulululations to the extent that some of the community members said there was no other need to pick anyone else,” she alleged.

She said as this was the year of ‘Vote for a Woman’, they had hoped that as Mkhiweni Constituents, they could have a chance.
“However, because emaSwati are respectful and they pay allegiance to royalty, I honestly do not think that some of us stand a chance,” said one of the nominees.

The nominee said although they were not yet allowed to campaign, they were afraid of going to greet other community members in their homesteads because there was already that feeling of ‘why are you competing against royalty.’
Another nominee said the status of Prince Gcokoma was already a hindrance to their campaign because the position of RA was one of the highest in the Tinkhundla system of governance.
However, another nominee said they still had faith that they would do well in the Primary Elections despite the Inkhosikati’s standing in society.

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