WHO WILL GO THROUGH?

MBABANE – The 2018 National General Elections contest hits fever pitch today. In a number of polling divisions around the country, big name nominees are expected to crash out of the race to Parliament as they will suffer defeat at the hands of their equally prominent rivals.

Such rivalries are aplenty.
Perhaps the fiercest of them all is that of outgoing Minister of Commerce Industry and Trade Jabulani ‘Buy Cash’ Mabuza and former Minister of Sports Culture and Youth Affairs Hlobisile Ndlovu.
One of these two will bite the dust at the end of the vote count tonight at the centre of the northern Hhohho town of Pigg’s Peak.

Although the focus is almost entirely on Mabuza and Ndlovu, businesswoman Nokunceda Bujela is expected to give the two a run for their money.
Already, the Pigg’s Peak town voters are divided into three camps and this is something they do not hide as they openly wear T-shirts of their favoured candidates.
‘KuHlobile’, ‘Buy Cash Hardware’ and ‘The Hope’ are some of the slogans branded on these T-shirts associated with these three contestants.

Tough

Another outgoing minister who faces a tough hurdle today is Phineas Magagula, who leads the education and training portfolio.
He is up against his predecessor as Lomahasha Member of Parliament, outgoing Senator Meninjeni Mahlalela.
There is no doubt that Mahlalela is a popular figure at Lomahasha and this is evidenced by the two consecutive terms he served as MP (2003-2008, 2008-2013) before deciding not to contest the 2013 elections, which Magagula won.
As if to prove that he is a born winner, Mahlalela joined the tightly contested Senate seat race in 2013 and won but now wants to return to the House of Assembly.

If the screams of jubilation witnessed when Mahlalela was nominated at the Lomahasha chiefdom on July 28 are anything to go by, then Magagula is up against a tough opponent. 
The capital city, Mbabane, will also witness its own fierce ‘derby’ as longest-serving Mbabane East MP Esther Dlamini comes head-to-head with renowned former national soccer team Sihlangu coach Harries ‘Madze’ Bulunga.

Clash

The clash between the two headlines the voting under Msunduza chiefdom and only one of them is expected to proceed to D-Day – the Secondary Elections on September 21, 2018.
Dlamini, the only female MP elected into the august House by the public in the 10th Parliament, is bidding for a fourth consecutive term as Mbabane East MP.
Bulunga is seen as the strongest opponent to come up against her in the primary election. The last time Dlamini had a tough time was when she came up against trade unionist and former Ward 11 councillor Jabulani Nxumalo.
Dlamini is thought to be popular with the elderly voters in the chiefdom while Bulunga, who is a teacher by profession, is said to be a favourite among the youth.

Witnessed

This will not be the only ‘derby’ that will be witnessed in the capital city; the other one pits Mbabane Municipal Council Mayor Zephania Nkambule against Ndlavela Dlamini, the outspoken leader of Lalufadlana – an association of elderly Mbabane residents.
Whoever is victorious at the end of today will be looking to represent the Nkwalini Chiefdom in the secondary elections contest for the Mbabane West MP position.
Another interesting clash to be witnessed will play itself out at Ekuvinjelweni Chiefdom under Nkhaba Inkhundla where former MP Enock Dlamini, popularly known as ‘EJ’, is up against outgoing MP Menzi Dlamini.
Both are known to have a large following in the area and focus will be on who is really the people’s choice to go on and contest the secondary elections.

‘EJ’ was MP between 2008 and 2013 before going on to lose the position to Lucky Xolani Mabuza who, however, later died while holding office and was replaced by Dlamini.

Attractive

At Motshane, the electorate will also have to decide another attractive contest involving outspoken football administrator and former MP Robert Magongo and another football administrator Sipho ‘Tsetla’ Bhembe.
Also in the mix is former footballer Thulani ‘Mau Mau’ Dlamini.

Magongo comes from the Mbabane Swallows FC family, Bhembe is owner of another premier soccer league side Vovovo FC while ‘Mau Mau’ used to turn out for Swallows’ bitter premier league rivals Mbabane Highlanders.  
Magongo, who, in 2013, had his bid for re-election infamously thwarted by eventual winner Phesheya Hlatshwayo, is remembered for his ‘mara why?’ statement he made after suffering the shocking defeat.
The country’s busiest city, Manzini, also has its own attention-grabbing rivalries, one of which is between former Cabinet minister Macford Sibandze and socialite cum-businessman Webster Lukhele.
Sibandze served as Manzini North MP between 2008 and 2013 before losing out to leader of the Swaziland Democratic Party Jan Sithole whom he is likely to face-off with in the secondary elections should he triumph over the likes of Lukhele today.

Interesting

The hub city also has another interesting contest on the cards in the form of outgoing Minister of Public Service Owen Nxumalo, who is up against vocal ratepayer and businesswoman Inalda Antonio Jorge.
The two are contesting under the Ngwane Park chiefdom and are looking to proceed to the secondary elections for a ticket to parliament as Manzini South MP.
Close to the Manzini city are two other ‘mouth-watering’ matches under the Kwaluseni Inkhundla.

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