MONENI RESIDENTS THREATEN TEXTILE WORKERS: COME NEAR OUR POLLING STATIONS, WE WILL WHIP YOU

MANZINI – Elections threats.

Some Manzini South residents have threatened, in particular textile workers, who might want to vote in the constituency yet they do not belong there, not to set foot at their constituency. The  citizens, mainly the youth from the various chiefdoms under Manzini South, claimed that they had noticed that most of the time, some of the electorate who voted under their inkhundla, were people not part of them as they belonged to other communities.  

Allegations

Though they could not prove this allegations when asked to substantiate them except to say they had ‘seen’ it happen in the past elections. Chiefdoms under Manzini South include, Moneni, Mhobodleni and Mjingo. Others are Zakhele, Ticancweni and Ngwane Park. In that regard, they said; “We have had enough, now we want candidates who will represent us because they will be voted into office by us  residents.” They alleged  that there were candidates who disregarded them in the communities because they allegedly had money to buy votes from textile workers.

Highlighted

They highlighted that during the previous general elections (2018), some of them managed to stop some public transport vehicles, which had brought people, whom they believed were textile workers, to vote at some of the chiefdoms under the constituency. According to the residents, in some of the previous terms, their fate, in terms of who represented them in the various positions (Member of Parliament, constituency headman and chiefdom councillor), was decided by non-residents. As a result, they claimed that after winning the elections, the candidates ignored  issues that they raised.

Preparations

As the preparations for the elections were ongoing, they claimed that they received information that despite the numerous warning by government and the Elections and Boundaries Commission (EBC) against voting for money, some of the candidates allegedly approached textile workers from Matsapha and as far as Nhlangano.

Influence

They said some concerned elderly people asked them why they were allowing ‘foreign’ people to decide influence who should represent them in the various positions of the general election. Thereafter, they said it was in that regard that this year they decided to mobilise each other as members of the youth from the various chiefdoms under the constituency and put an end to such practices. They said this year, starting today, during the primary elections; they would have ‘checkpoints’ where they would ‘screen’ the electorate, especially those who would be unfamiliar to them. They said their aim would be to ascertain if they indeed belonged to the constituency.

Warnings

A source among the residents said they have prepared sjamboks to make sure that only residents would partake in the elections under the constituency. He added that they have sent  what they call warnings by circulating social media posts because they did not want to come across a scenario where people claimed that they were not forewarned. “People who do not belong to Manzini South should come to vote at their own risk,” they said. When they were asked if they were aware that what they were planning was against the law, as they would be physically harming  other people instead of repoting them to law enforcers like the police,  they said they have raised it with the community police members and some police officers, who promised to be visible on the ground.

Fear

Acting Manzini Police Station Commander Mabamba Shiba, however, warned that police will be stationed at the Manzini South Constituency to ensure order. “Nothing formal has reached my office regarding the issue you are talking about, but in any case, we will definitely be there to ensure that the elections are not disturbed by any form of unruly behaviour. Voters under the Manzini South Constituency should feel free to attend the elections tomorrow without any fear,” Shiba stated.

EBC’s Public Relations Officer (PRO) Mbonisi Bhembe reminded emaSwati not to be swayed into breaking the laws of the country at Manzini South.
“We have not been informed about that situation at Manzini South, but we must remind emaSwati that an opportunity to reject candidates for elections was given to them. People got the chance to object those they felt were not part of their constituency. There were no complaints whatsoever,” Bhembe stated. Adding, the EBC PRO said: “Law prohibits people from using illegal means to intimidate those who want to go and vote.

Aggrieved

“If the intentions of some of the Moneni residents are true, then that kind of behaviour is not within the law. “Those aggrieved are always welcome to approach our offices and lodge their complaints. Taking  the law into their own hands is certainly not advisable and will not be allowed.” In some of the posts on social media platforms yesterday, some of the Moneni residents in question reiterated that they would deal with the voters from ‘emafemini’ a slang word for factories. “Let us be on high alert of these candidates labatsenga emavotes emafemini. Let the community decide Manzini South primary elections. Sinibukile nine basemafemini, come August 26,” read one post.

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