I’m not bothered by Chief Magudvulela - Du Pont

MBABANE – Ex-member of Parliament (MP), Jennifer Du Pont, said she will not be troubled by Chief Magudvulela’s ‘360-degree’ turn around on his stance on voting for MP nominees who were in mourning.

The chief was on national radio yesterday morning saying that at no point during a meeting at his Ludzibini Royal Kraal on Saturday, did he discourage his subjects from voting for such nominees. 

Du Pont is one nominee whose mourning period for her deceased husband was reduced to only three months so that she could compete during the national elections. The Times SUNDAY alleged that the chief put off people’s possible intentions of voting for those who were still in mourning.
However, Du pont, in an interview yesterday, found the chief’s statement on the radio’s morning talk show incredible.

“The journalists for the Times SUNDAY reported what was correct, even the people who attended that Saturday meeting can attest to that.
“I think our elder really blundered by what he said at that meeting and that’s why he could not repeat his statements on radio. But I’m not perturbed by this episode,” assured the former MP.

Du Pont is seeking to have another five-year term in Parliament. 
Meanwhile, during the radio talk show, the chief denied that he told his subjects not to vote for nominees in mourning. He said the people who attended the meeting could confirm this.
“It’s just not true,” he said.

However, a resident who happens to be a member of the Ludzibini Royal Kraal family alleged that the chief did tell his subjects not to vote for nominees in the mentioned circumstance.
“I was there and it didn’t go down well to hear him say it. No one can tell me who to vote for and not. The chief blundered, period. The meeting itself was wrong because it de-campaigned Du Pont, but it is the people who will decide with their votes in the end,” said the resident who could only be identified as Nkosi.

The chief could not be reached for comment as his mobile phone was switched off.
The Elections and Boundaries Commission (EBC) PRO Sabelo Dlamini said this was a difficult matter because the EBC was not at the meeting.
He said EBC Deputy Chairperson Mzwandile Fakudze was the one who can respond since he had indicated on the Times SUNDAY that he would consult first.
Fakudze’s mobile phone was off when called yesterday.

Post your comment

Your name:

Your e-mail address:

Add your comments:

Please enter the code you see in the image:

Image:

Code: