It’s Trusty Gina vs Hans Steffen

MNDOBANDOBA – It is Trusty Gina versus Hans Steffen in this chiefdom.

The nominations of the former Member of Parliament (MP) and the first-time candidate threw voters into a frenzy yesterday.

Steffen’s nomination was made by Betty Malinga. He was nominated first in the category for an MP candidate in that chiefdom; he had been quietly observing the proceedings near the front of the hall at Big Bend High School where the nominations were held.

Gina, who was sitting on the other side of the hall, watched with a small smile on her face as people nominated Steffen first. Later she explained that since 2003 she had always been nominated second and now considered two to be her lucky number.

The 44-year-old Steffen is also the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Matata Group and he confirmed that he was indeed standing for the elections for the first time. When asked if he believed he would win the elections he enigmatically stated that only the people knew that as they held the votes.

The former MP who served as Deputy Speaker from 2003 to 2008 and earned a reputation for being a no-nonsense legislator was supported by a large crowd of women as she stood up to confirm her participation in the general elections.

Steffen was nominated by 63-year-old Malinga who said she wanted him to help the community and believed that he was best equipped to do this job because even at the moment he was the one who bailed her out of any difficult times she faced.

Siphiwe Dlamini, 70, nominated Gina to a rapturous applause and said her nomination was motivated by the fact that she was a woman who worked well with the community and her reputation was stellar.

Steffen seemingly has the youth vote as when he walked into the hall there was a murmur that swept through the arena and some were heard saying “sifuna umlungu tsine, siyayishintsha lentfo” meaning, ‘we want the white man, we’re changing things now’. While Gina’s supporters sat around her they often participated in the nominations for Bucopho and indvuna yeNkhundla.
Both of them stood up to resounding applause with the only difference being that Gina’s nomination was met with boos from Steffen’s supporters.

Former Lobamba Lomdzala MP Marwick Khumalo made a brief appearance to support Gina who had also made the trip to Mahlanya on Saturday to support him.
Other candidates who were nominated to be MPs in this chiefdom were Sabelo Mdlovu, Bhekuyise Shongwe and Welcome Mamba. In the Big Bend Chiefdom among those elected as potential MPs were former Indvuna yeNkhundla Nonkhululeko Nzima and police officer Siphiwe Dlamini.

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