SENATE HOPEFUL DEMANDS HER MONEY BACK

MBABANE – A women Senate hopeful who crashed out in the elections is demanding her money back from those she allegedly paid to vote for her.

The Senate hopeful, whose name cannot be revealed as the matter is still under investigation, in an interview with this publication, emphasised that she wanted her money back and was prepared to face the law. She said she wanted to set a precedent in order to assist other women who might fall victim to such in the future.

“If the briber and the bribed one are guilty, then I am guilty as charged and will face the law,” she said.
The senate hopeful alleged that parliamentarians demanded between E20 000 to E40 000 as payment in return for their votes. She said they operated under a slogan; ‘Kuhlantwa emacatsa,’ loosely translated; ‘you gain votes according to your payment’.

The Senate hopeful said she was left stunned yesterday after she was left in the cold and her name did not make it to the list of five women who were elected. “What shocked me was the fact that I knew I had secured the seat following the engagement with several of the male MPs who promised me votes,” she alleged.

She further alleged that she was approached by several Members of Parliament, who convinced her into paying them for a seat.
“I am in so much pain because I did not campaign but these parliamentarians approached me and took advantage of my vulnerability,” she alleged.
She further alleged that some of the MPs would travel from various parts of the country to engage her on the matter, promising her their votes in return for the cash.

She said most women were vulnerable to the male MPs who took advantage of their desperate situation to occupy the leadership position, especially in Parliament.
Further, she said the patriarchal society in the country had proven that women failed to succeed and therefore were at the mercy of their male counterparts.

Fast Money

However, she alleged that the male MPs were making fast money out of the situation.
Chief Police Information and Communications Officer Superintendent Phinindile Vilakati said the matter had been brought to their attention.
Vilakati said they heard of the matter from the Senate hopeful who came to the police station to seek advice but had not laid any formal charges.
Director of Public Prosecutions Phila Dlamini said he was also aware of the matter, which he said was still under police investigation.

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