SLIGHT IMPROVEMENT IN GENDER PARITY AS 8 WOMEN WIN

MBABANE – Though not impressive as might have been anticipated, there was a slight improvement in the number of women candidates who won in the secondary elections held last Friday.

This is reflected in the results of the secondary elections, which were held in the 59 constituencies last Friday. The results, as at 9:07pm, as the EBC was still updating, reflected that out of the 35 women who were vying for a seat in Parliament, about eight of them made it through as MP-elects. This is an improvement when compared to the elections held in 2018, where only two women emerged victorious. The victory of the eight female winners means that 20.8 per cent of the women candidates who were vying for the MP position from the constituencies have earned themselves a seat in the 12th Parliament are now MP elects. Even though the figure is once again not impressive, it reflects a slight improvement when compared to the previous elections.

In the previous ones, secondary elections results for females under the MP category indicated that only one per cent of the nominees won the election respectively. This is contained in the 2018 Elections Report presented by the Elections and Boundaries Commission (EBC). In the report, the EBC noted that when reflecting back to 2008 and 2013, there was a considerable decline in the election of women MPs. Whereas in the 2008 election, a total of seven female MPs won seats in Parliament, only one in 2013 and two in 2018 elections made it into Parliament. It should be noted that in a recent article, this publication predicted that while about 35 women were nominated, most of them faced an uphill battle, judging either by the power and popularity of their competitors or the support they garnered during the primary elections at their different constituencies.

victorious

The prediction was that only seven of the women candidates seem to be right on track to emerge victorious. The 35 elected women meant that they constituted about 59.3 per cent of the total number of candidates vying for a seat in Parliament from the 59 tinkhundla centres. However, out of the 25, less than 10 of them looked guaranteed to garner as many votes to beat their male competitors. The prediction was based on the women candidates’ popularity and in comparison with their competitors when looking at the number of votes they amassed during the primary elections. Some of the women candidates who lost in this year’s secondary elections include Bahlelisiwe Luhlanga who competed under the Mhlangatane Inkhundla.
Luhlanga lost despite that in the primary elections she amassed 699 votes and looked ready to put up a brave fight against her two main competitors in former MPs Madala Mhlanga and Victor Malambe.

Meanwhile, among the five victorious women in this year’s secondary elections is Lomkhosi Masuku, who competed under the Ludzeludze Inkhundla. She proved her prowess as she managed to beat former MP Vusi Swali, who was her biggest competitor. Another winner among the female candidates is Nomalungelo Simelane, who participated under the Siphofaneni Inkhundla.

popularity

Widely known by her stage name LaZwide, the Gospel musician proved her popularity when she amassed over 5 000 and beat her biggest competitor, businessman Moshoeshoe Nkambule. Also on the list of female winners is Nokuthula Dlamini, who participated under the Maseyisini Inkhundla. She obtained an impressive 3 090 votes and beat her competitor Bongani Hlophe, who managed 2 216. The fact that less than 10 women candidates won the secondary elections, it means that the country has, once again, failed to ensure gender balance in the exercise as has been the case in previous years. The impact of having a few women winning Parliament seats in this year’s general elections automatically means that, as was the case in 2018, the country’s authorities will have to enforce the election of regional women MPs. This will be done in accordance with the  Election of Women Members to the House of Assembly Act (2018) aimed at giving effect to Section 86 of the 2005 Constitution to increase the participation and representation of women in politics.

The Women’s Caucus in Parliament initiated the legislation to enforce the Constitutional provisions in the 2018 elections. The Act provides for the election of the women members to the House of Assembly where, after any general election, it appears that the female Members of Parliament will constitute less than 30 per cent of the total membership of Parliament. This gives effect to Section 86 (1) in the Eswatini Constitution which states that: “Where at the first meeting of the House after any general election it appears that female members of Parliament will not constitute at least 30 per cent of the total membership of Parliament, then, and only then, the provision of this section shall apply.” From a regional perspective, the Kingdom of Eswatini is not the only country that has for years had a challenge when it comes to the election women to leadership positions.

empowerment

In its Gender and Development Monitor 2022 8th Edition Report titled ‘Women in Politics and Decision-Making’, the SADC Secretariat stated that it recognised its well-intended efforts towards gender equality and women’s empowerment cannot be achieved without the meaningful representation and participation of women in politics and decision-making. The general elections in the Kingdom of Eswatini are structured in such a way that 59 members are elected from single-member constituencies corresponding to the tinkhundla. Candidates are first nominated at the tinkhundla level through 385 chiefdoms in the four regions nationwide. In the primary elections, the top three finishers by secret ballot then proceed to a general election, also by secret ballot, in a first-past-the-post system of voting, where the candidate who receives the most votes is elected. The King appoints the other 10 members, at least half of whom must be women.

The Senate consists of 30 members (called senators). The House of Assembly elects 10 Senators (by majority vote) and the King appoints the remaining 20. Appointed senators include chiefs, princes and princesses (bantfwabenkhosi). Of the 10 senators elected by the House of Assembly, at least half should be women. Of the 20 appointees to Senate, at least eight should be women.

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