WE HAVE NOT PAID ANYONE- ASPIRING REGIONAL WOMEN MPS

MBABANE – Today marks the beginning of the race for regional women Members of Parliament amid allegations of bribery.

Following the bribery claims during the Senate elections, which are still being investigated by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) and police, allegations of bribery have also been associated with the women regional MPs. However, the aspiring parliamentarians have denied any involvement in bribery. Those interviewed yesterday all shared one position - that they had not paid anyone, nor did they receive any cash for votes request from the MPs.
Hhohho Region aspiring MP Gabsile Siyaya said she did not pay any legislator but relied on her ideas and what she would bring to the table if she was voted in as a regional MP.

Speculation

She highlighted that the bribery allegations were there and people were making all sorts of speculations but her conscious was clear. “I have confidence in myself and I believe that I have a good vision that is set to carry the country forward. I want to contribute to the country’s growth economically, socially and otherwise,” she said.  Manzini Region aspiring MP Pauline Bhembe also asserted that she did not pay any MP anything in exchange for votes.

“With regard to the rumour doing the rounds on bribery, I haven’t heard anything. All MPs willing to assist me haven’t spoken to me about money,” she said.  Hhohho Region aspiring MP Tenele Magagula, who hails from Mbabane, Hilltop, mentioned that she did not believe in paying people to get favours. She asserted that in this instance, she believed that if she pitched her story well and presented her vision to the satisfaction of the MPs, that is all it would take for them to vote for her, not to pay them.

“There is absolutely no need for me to enhance my vision with bribery. Besides, even if one pays the money, it is the discretion of the MP at the ballot box, paid or not paid. This is not about money but it’s about the vision one presents and whether it moves the MPs,” she said. Busisiwe Lomadlozi Maziya, a Manzini MP aspirant, said she also did not believe in paying bribes to get things done ,but strongly believed in her capabilities.

Confident

She said she was confident about her capabilities, so much that she saw no need to convince the MPs with bribes to get them to vote for her. Following a communication from the Chairperson of the Elections and Boundaries Commission (EBC) Prince Mhlabuhlangene , today, MPs will be sitting for the nomination of the four women members to the House of Assembly according to Act No.9 of  2018 and the sitting is slated for 10am.

Clerk to Parliament, Benedict Xaba said for a woman to qualify for nomination, she should have been registered as a voter in terms of the Voter Registration Act of 2013 and qualifies to be a Member of Parliament in terms of Section 96 of the Constitution of Eswatini and has been nominated from umphakatsi in terms of Section 31 of the Elections Act of 2013.

“The people who are expected to be nominated should come with an acceptance letter, after which they will be vetted and will take pictures for the ballot paper. MPs are expected to nominate a minimum of three women per region and maximum of five women per region,” said Xaba.

Worth noting, as highlighted by Xaba, is that the 12th Parliament has drastically improved by achieving 25 per cent of women parliamentarians as compared to the 17 per cent from the previous 11th Parliament. Xaba reminded attendees that the dress code was strictly formal or imvunulo, even to those who will be seated in the public gallery, including media personnel.

Below are profiles of some of the aspiring MPs:
Pauline Bhembe Manzini MP: “I’m from Mbikwakhe under Kwaluseni Inkhundla and I’m married with three children, one boy and two girls. I’m currently self-employed, running a griller mobile kitchen. I also have a sugar pre-packing company, which for now is not active due to uncontrollable reasons.

I once worked as indvuna yenkhundla for Kwaluseni Inkhundla. To be a Regional MP would put me at an advantage of working with all MPs across the country. The road map/mandate has been spelled by His Majesty to all MP’s across the country. Holding hands with other MPs we can also support to uplift and eradicate hunger.

I want to support the call to declare GBV a national disaster. The country is continuously losing our lovely sisters, children, mothers through GBV issues. I want to also collaborate with all Manzini Regional MPs and beyond and hold hands with MPs to bring sustainable development. I want to support all government initiatives aimed at fighting unemployment and creation of jobs, especially for young people.

If and when I would be elected as the regional member of the august House, I would with the help and assistance of the entire 18 tinkhundla centres within Manzini Region and all 69 tinkhundla centres across the country work in coalition and together to lift both the economy of the country and the general well-being of each and every liSwati from any location.

Tenele Magagula – Mbabane:

“I am Tanele Zanele Magagula (Dlamini), 41-year-old liSwati citizen. I am a Teacher and a Preacher at Salvation Explosion International Ministries at Hilltop Mbabane. I served  as a teacher for 17 years and worked  as a vice chair in National Committee of Eswatini Schools Arts and Culture from 2013 to 2018 working mostly  with constituencies in the  country. I am  highly  interested in serving  constituencies in all the regions to help introduce infrastructure that will enhance  self-development in each and every community. I am passionate about doing activities that will enhance unity and working towards one goal to deal with the ongoing poverty disaster. Another area of focus is mainly involving the society in curriculum writing to improve education in the country.”

Gabsile Makhosazane Siyaya – Mbabane
“My name is Gabsile Siyaya from Nkwalini Zone 4 Mbabane West. I am single, divorced with children.
I completed my High School at St Michael’s girls High in 1993 and I obtained AAT level 3 Certificate, obtained a certificate in Public Procurement from the University of Eswatini and also pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in Humanities at UNISWA. Politics is my passion. I have a keen interest in changing people’s lives for the better, especially the youth because they are the future of the country. If I am successfully voted into Parliament, I would work collaboratively with the MPs of the region and contribute in projects that they are pushing for the betterment of the nation. I will look into the rights and the welfare of women and I want to contribute in the fight against gender-based violence which is now a big challenge in the country.

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