I AM NOT A SORE LOSER - MABHANISI

MANZINI – Ex-Kwaluseni Member of Parliament (MP) Sibusiso Mabhanisi Dlamini has clarified allegations that some losers in the primary elections de-campaigned those in the secondary elections.

Allegations were made by runner-up Simoene Simelane that his loss to incumbent MP Sifiso Shongwe was a result of interference from a ‘bunch of losers’. The former Tolex Academy School Director from Mbikwakhe secured 2 890 votes and was declared number two with 257 votes short of winning the elections. Simelane told our sister publication, Times of Eswatini, that his investigation on how he lost in the secondary elections revealed that there were three candidates who lost in the primary elections who teamed up against him. “I lost because there was a bunch of losers who teamed up against me. I will not mention names, but it was three individuals who teamed up against me. They knew I worked with people because I am always on the ground,” he said.

Dlamini retaliated to the comments made by Simelane and said he was aware that as someone who lost in the primary elections, he might be among the people Simelane was referring to. He said he was shocked by Simelane’s statement and could not help but feel implicated. Dlamini said the averments shared by Simelane were indirectly implicating everyone who lost during the primary and he did not take kindly to that. The former Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs Portfolio Committee Chairperson minced no words as he said Simelane’s sentiments were evident that he needed to ‘grow up’ and accept the result.

composure

“He needs to grow up. His sentiments show that he still needs to learn composure in politics and stop pointing fingers at other people for his own failures. I lost and I did not point any finger to anyone but the Elections and Boundaries Commission (EBC). How would I blame other candidates for doing what was merely going to make them win? Simelane needs to be strong and accept that he lost and go back to the drawing board, otherwise he will lose again in 2028 if he still carries the same attitude,” he said. Dlamini mentioned that he was one of those who were backing Simelane based on the fact that he had displayed his desire to serve the people. He said the fact that Simelane lost twice before the elections this year, he was convinced that he was now politically matured and ready to serve the people.

He said he spent his own money trying to advocate and garner votes for Simelane and was, therefore, surprised that he became indirectly implicated as part of the ‘bunch of losers’ who orchestrated his defeat. “I went out of my way to convince people to vote for him; not because the other candidates were not capable but because he participated twice and showed great potential. It is disturbing to hear him say such things when he should be supporting the winner and getting himself acquainted to politics ahead of the 2028 elections. In fact all of us who lost in the election should be supporting Shongwe as the winner because anything good that he will do will impact our community and that is what we should be fighting for,” he said.
Dlamini revealed that he spent almost E25 000 in the elections, which was utilised in transporting and feeding his agents during the campaign period. He further revealed that he did not have any sponsor for the elections and funded everything from his own pocket.

coerce

He emphasised that the money he spent was not for buying votes or trying to coerce the people to vote for him, but he used it to pay costs related to the execution of his campaign. He said he was ready to face life outside Parliament and was not scared. “I am lucky that my life did not change much when I entered Parliament, I drive a low cost car and I refused to change friends or alter my lifestyle. I still attend the same events and places I used to go before I became an MP, so there is nothing to fear. I made some investments and I am accustomed to the life of hustling so ngitawuchubeka nekuphanda (I will continue hustling),” he said.

It is worth mentioning that Dlamini, after his lose in the primary elections, blamed one of the commissioners at EBC and claimed that he crafted a strategy to reduce his votes from His Majesty’s Correctional Service (HMCS). He also made allegations that the commissioner told church members not to vote for him. The name of the commissioner cannot be revealed as the allegation made by Dlamini were not tested. The outspoken MP also stated that he was a member of the King’s regiment and, therefore, he was not going to starve because regiments did not starve. This was the third consecutive time that Simelane lost the elections and became a runner-up as he previously lost to former MPs Mabhanisi and Mkhosi Dlamini before losing to Sifiso Shongwe this year, who won the elections after being voted for by 3 846 people. Police officer and Lubasiwe Investments businessman Celumusa Mbingo came third with a total of 1 689 votes.

declared

Immediately after his loss to Shongwe, Simelane declared that he was going to run for the elections again in 2028. “Life goes on even after you’ve lost elections. Although this was my third consecutive defeat, I will still run for the elections even in 2028 and contest against the other MP candidates. Out of the votes I garnered, I think I have spent approximately E10 000 in both the primary and secondary elections. This money was mainly used for transport and other logistics. Otherwise, the people who voted did that out of love and trust that I can represent them in Parliament,” said Simelane. Incumbent Kwaluseni MP Sifiso Shongwe was among the new legislators who were sworn in on Friday and he is taking over the reign from Mabhanisi who served after Mkhosi.

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