MTHANDENI’S WIFE ASKED TO BE NEXT MP

NGWEMPISI – Incarcerated Member of Parliament (MP) Mthandeni Dube instructed his constituency not to elect his wife into Parliament next year, despite their request for her to stand.

The instruction, according to Bucopho member Sibusiso Mazomba Dludlu, was conveyed by Dube through a phone call in August while the Elections and Boundaries Commission (EBC) was at the helm of conducting by-elections to replace ousted MP Mduduzi ‘Gawuzela’ Simelane at Siphofaneni.

Replaced

Simelane was eventually replaced by his wife LaZwide, which prompted the people of Ngwempisi to offer their 2023 seat to Dube’s wife, Hazer Baxter. Baxter, known as LaBaxter in the area, was approached by representatives of close to 10 chiefdoms under the constituency who requested her to stand for the 2023 National Election. According to Dludlu, the community members made the request based on the fact that they were still not sure if their MP would be released from jail by the time the elections start.

Dube was arrested alongside Hosea MP Mduduzi Bacede Mabuza over a year ago on charges under the Suppression of Terrorism Act of 2008. Their co-accused, Simelane, subsequently skipped the country after a warrant of his arrest was issued. “It was at this time when MP Simelane’s wife, LaZwide, was elected to replace her husband in Parliament when residents also made known of their desire to canvas for the election of our MP’s wife in the coming national elections in 2023.

Imposed

“It was then that we, as members of bucopho, tried to engage our MP based on the intended move or plan by the constituency, but he basically made it clear that candidates shouldn’t be imposed based on sympathy,” said Dludlu. Dludlu said the people of Ngwempisi relayed their intentions to members of bucopho in the various communities under the constituency. He said they made it clear that they wanted to have the wife of their incarcerated MP represent them in the upcoming elections. He added that upon receiving the mandate from the people, they then relayed the message to their MP in jail and he vehemently opposed the idea. “Our MP called us and instructed us that his wife shouldn’t be imposed as the next MP candidate but the opportunity must be given to other individuals. He pointed out that imposing candidates beats the very same course him and Mabuza were advocating for in Parliament before their incarceration.

Sympathy

“He told us that if they were calling for a democratically elected PM and not appointed one, it would then be hypocritical of them to impose their own candidates for personal gain or sympathy. “He made it clear that imposing a candidate was not different from appointing one,” further said Dludlu.
He emphasized that as members of bucopho they eventually conveyed the message to the people. However, Dludlu could not elaborate whether the people, accepted the MP’s instruction but said they were humbled by the level of leadership displayed by Dube in addressing the matter. He added that Dube showed his selflessness as a leader and said they should elect a person who was capable of meeting their needs as compared to imposing someone for reasons of sympathy.

Dludlu further stated that Dube impressed to them that although he did not doubt the capabilities of his wife, he wanted the people to make a genuine decision than one that was influenced by emotions. The bucopho member further highlighted that their MP was very active in the running and decision-making within the constituency even though he was behind bars at the Matsapha Correctional Institution. Dludlu disclosed that their MP constantly calls and assists them in development projects undertaken in the constituency which were set to improve the lives of the people of Ngwempisi.

Neglected

He said their MP never neglected his responsibilities and duties as an MP despite that he was physically not available due to his imprisonment. He said if it was not for their MP, most of the projects in the constituency would have stalled. In an earlier interview, HMCS Department’s Public Relations Officer Superintendent Gugulethu Dlamini confirmed that incarcerated inmates were allowed to communicate with their relatives and communities through telephones made available by the Eswatini Posts and Telecommunications Company (EPTC) at all Correctional facilities.

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