Mabhanisi wants Kwaluseni results nullified

A police officer denies voters entry into the Kwaluseni Primary School. The voters arrived at the polling station after 5pm. (Pic: Ashmond Nzima)

MBABANE - Former Kwaluseni Member of Parliament (MP) Sibusiso Mabhanisi Dlamini alleges that 1 000 people under his constituency were turned back during the Primary Elections.

He wants the Elections and Boundaries Commission (EBC) to nullify the results and to also restart the process.
He further alleged that about 7 400 people registered but only 2 700 voted, hence he feels that at least two days for voting would have been sufficient. 

This is contained in a letter of complaint he has lodged with the EBC. Complainants in the letter are Dlamini and one Jabulane Nkambule who was contesting for the position of Indvuna YeNkhundla.

In the letter it is also alleged that most voters were frustrated due to the fact that they were turned back after queuing for about six hours and were also made to walk about five kilometers to the polling stations.
It was alleged that a husband to one of the winners was using an Elections and Boundaries Commission (EBC) vehicle to ferry voters to the polling station on Saturday.

Dlamini also alleged that voters from other chiefdoms were registered to vote under Kwaluseni Inkhundla.
In the letter, Dlamini further alleged that nominations were conducted at Kwaluseni Central Primary School whereas during the elections there were two polling stations being Kwaluseni Primary and Mbhikwakhe Primary School.

“Some voters were turned back from Kwaluseni to vote at Mbikwakhe and some were turned back from Mbi-kwakhe to vote at Kwaluseni.  More than 1 000 people were turned back because gates were closed at 5pm and the presence of OSSU (Operational Support Services Unit) police officers intimidated them,” he stated.

He said they are of the view that more people wished to vote but could not exercise their constitutional right to do so.
“As a result we humbly seek your urgent intervention in this matter by setting aside and starting afresh the Primary Elections for Member of Parliament and Indvuna YeNkhundla. Your prompt response would highly be appreciated and we expect it within two days from receipt of this letter,” he stated.

... winners accused of campaigning illegally

MBABANE - Nominees for the positions of Member of Parliament (MP) and that of Indvuna YeNkhundla at Nceka under Siphofaneni have alleged that the eventual winners visited homesteads to distribute salt and sugar.

Through their lawyer from Mkh-wanazi Attorneys they have since lodged a complaint with the Elections and Boundaries Commission (EBC).
They alleged that the winners also told the people to vote for them.

“This is in contravention of the Electoral laws of Swaziland as campaigning had not already been allowed or permitted. Voters were transported free of charge from as far as Mbabane and Manzini to cast their votes at the Royal Kraal and the eventual winner (name withheld) confided in church that he hired a sprinter to ferry votes from faraway places to vote for him and he thanked God that his illicit plans succeeded,” reads part of the letter.
They alleged that they raised these objections with the presiding officer but were simply brushed aside.
The complainants further allege that some people who were not from the area ended up running away and abandoned the voting upon being accosted by the police.

They stated that these irregularities were also reported at the Sipho-faneni Police Station without any meaningful success.
“We are instructed, therefore, that the Primary Elections at Nceka were irregular and unfair. Kindly investigate the said irregularities within the next 48 hours and stop any campaign by the irregular winners until this matter has fully been investigated and addressed,” reads the letter.

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