2 MINISTERS, OVER 10 OUTGOING MPS LOSE ELECTIONS

MBABANE –Two Cabinet ministers and over 10 outgoing Members of Parliament (MPs) have crashed out of the race to Parliament.

The primary elections held on Saturday left heavyweights wondering what had befallen them, but obviously giving hope to the giant killers. Lutfo Dlamini is among the high profile and seasoned politicians to bow out of the race to the House of Assembly. The secondary elections meant to set up the 12th Parliament will be held on September 29, 2023. Lutfo, the outgoing Ndzingeni MP, appeared to have done his homework in terms of constant project initiation and implementation in his constituency. The former minister lost to Bhekithemba Magagula in an election contest that took place at Nkamazi Chiefdom, in the northern part of the country.

Voting

This is the first time for Lutfo, who first joined politics in 1998 as a senator, to lose elections at the elementary stage of voting. In 2013, he lost in the secondary elections, but returned to Parliament in 2018. Upsets did not only punctuate Nkamazi’s primary elections, as two Cabinet ministers also suffered setbacks. Lady Mabuza, the Minister of Education and Training and Moses Malindane Vilakati, the Minister of Tourism and Environmental Affairs, were unsuccessful in their quest for a return to Parliament. Vilakati had been serving his second term as an MP for Ntondozi under Manzini Region. His 498 votes were not enough to deny Samuel Shongwe the opportunity to contest the secondary elections. Instead, Shongwe received 684 votes.

While they failed to progress to the next elections stage, familiar faces like former MPs Sikhumbuzo Dlamini, Dr Titus Thwala, Johannes Shongwe and Maqhawe Mavuso have booked their place in the final. Sikhumbuzo (ex-Nkwene MP) outwitted outgoing Nkwene MP Vulimpompi Nhleko in an election contest that had been tilting to Siboniso Hlatshwayo’s favour until 4am yesterday, when scales began to shift. It must be said that the official results for the primary elections will be released by the Elections and Boundaries Commission (EBC).
It is not yet clear if the results from emaSwati outside the country would change the current electoral outcomes that have been celebrated by many candidates and their followers.

On the other hand, the minister of Education and Training, in her first term as an MP, lost to Philemon Mkhatshwa. Experiencing the heartbreak for the second time, outgoing Motshane MP Robert Magongo, who bounced back to Parliament in 2018 after his defeat in 2013, was outwitted by Selby Sihlenge Shongwe at Nduma Chiefdom. In 2013, he was defeated in the secondary election by Phesheya Hlatshwayo, a former police officer, and did not understand why and how he lost it and exclaimed; “Mara why (but why).” Magongo is the Rapporteur for the Pan African Parliament (PAP). He received 390 votes against 611 recorded by Shongwe, a businessman who has since set an interesting secondary elections encounter with Mbabane stationery entrepreneur, Wilton Nkambule from Mpolonjeni Chiefdom.

There was also a famous defeat in the south of the country, where outgoing Maseyisini MP and former Minister of Tinkhundla Administration and Development Mduduzi ‘Small Joe’ Dlamini lost the primary elections at Vusweni Chiefdom.He has been in Parliament since 2008. Mduduzi also served as a minister of Tourism and Environmental Affairs. Outgoing Mkhiweni MP Michael Ndlelayekuphila Masuku lost to ex-MP Machawe Mavuso, who is determined to return to Parliament. Sihle Dlamini caused an upset when he defeated outgoing Lugongolweni MP Ntsetselelo Magongo, a relative of Robert. There were surprises at LaMgabhi where Busisiwe Maziya outwitted the ongoing lawmaker, Dumisani Dlamini. Zwelithini Zwane did the same in Ngudzeni, when he outsmarted outgoing MP Big Boy Mamba. Mamba bounced back to the august House in 2018, after he was defeated in 2013 at secondary level.
Sibusiso ‘Scorpion’ Nxumalo suffered one of the heaviest defeats in the primary elections as he managed 263 votes against the winner, Bongani Mdluli, who received 930 votes at Tfuntini under Madlangampisi Inkhundla.

Mdluli is the former Madlangampisi MP. Sifiso Shongwe, the son of incarcerated Sipho, left many smiling after defeating Sibusiso ‘Mabhanisi’ Dlamini. This was the second time for ‘Mabhanisi’ to lose the primary elections as it happened in 2013. In another development, outgoing Lobamba Lomdzala MP Marwick Khumalo is close to making history as the longest serving legislator of all time. He is still holding the record as there hasn’t been any politician who has been in Parliament for five consecutive terms. The outgoing Lobamba Lomdzala MP has never lost an election. Khumalo won the primary elections at Mahlanya by 814 votes and followed by Thandeka Angel Mavuso with 544 votes. It effectively means Khumalo won by 270 votes to set an interesting final with, among others, Mpendulo ‘Nyakanyaka’ Dube. After winning, ‘Nyakanyaka’ declared his readiness to face Khumalo in the secondary elections. He got 589 votes at Kufinyeni Chiefdom.

Favourite

Jabulani Clement Mabuza, the Minister of Agriculture, is now a favourite to retain his Pigg’s Peak seat in Parliament after emerging victorious in a highly contested election with Victor Rodrigues. Mabuza got 1 274 votes against Rodrigues’s 1 265. David ‘Cruiser’ Ngcamphalala is marching to the secondary elections alongside his colleague Dr Thambo Gina, the Minister of Economic Planning and Development, who outwitted his brother, Sanele, who is a former Moneni Pirates player. Popularly known as ‘Cyclone’, he also played in the premier league in South Africa. Minister of Labour and Social Security Phila Buthelezi is through to the secondary elections after defeating Sibusiso Nyawo at Mambane Chiefdom. The minister received 609 votes.

Outgoing Siphofaneni MP Nomalungelo Simelane has also booked a place in the secondary elections to compete with, among others, Moshoeshoe Nkambule and Vusi Mkhumane, the former ESERA Chief Executive Officer. Outgoing Mhlume MP Victor Malambe was successful at Mangweni under Mhlangatane Inkhundla. He moved to Mhlangatane, where he is expected to compete with Madala Mhlanga, who also progressed to the secondary elections.  

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