Africa-Press – Eswatini. Four Mbabane councillors-elect have been taken to court over the Mbabane local government elections, which are said to have not been fair and transparent.
The petitioners who approached the courts want the Mbabane local government elections to be conducted again and they want the councillors-elect not to be sworn in while the matter is still determined by the High Court.
The people who took the councilors-elect to court are Solomon Masilela, Lindani Dlamini, Thamie Dlamini and Bhekisisa Hlophe. The four are referred to as first, second, third, and fourth petitioners in this case. They contested and lost the elections under Mbabane Wards 11, Four, Eight and Five, respectively.
The four councillors-elect in question include Themba Malaza, Mbutfo Nhlengetfwa, Thandayena Mkhonta, and Thulani Mkhontfo who won the elections under Mbabane Wards 11, Four, Eight and Five, respectively. The councillors-elect are referred to as fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth respondents in this case.
Other respondents included the ministry of housing and urban development, Mbabane Municipal Council, Bhekithemba Matsebula and others, and the attorney general, who are first, second, third, and fourth respondents, respectively.
The ministry has been cited because it is the ministry responsible for local government issues. The Mbabane Municipal Council has been cited as an institution under which the local elections in question were held. Matsebula was cited because he was the returning officer of the Mbabane local government elections.
The attorney general was cited as a legal advisor in government.
Masilela is the one who deposed to a founding affidavit at the High Court on behalf of the other petitioners. The petitioners are represented by Lawyer Hasso Nkosingiphile Magagula from Dynasty Inc. Attorneys.
Violations
Masilela submitted that during the Mbabane elections, there were allegedly many violations that were committed by some of the respondents.
The petitioner also alleged that some of the respondents were seen giving voter registration certificates to people who had not even registered for the elections.
He also said some voters were forced to leave because the opening time at several polling stations were not kept.
According to the petitioner, some polling stations ran to the following day, without proper consultations taking place. Some of the polling stations, according to Masilela, were changed at the 11th hour and this left a lot of voters confused because they did not know where to vote. As a result, some voters ended up not voting, according to Masilela.
Adding, Masilela submitted that some voters were denied their right to vote, as national identity cards were demanded from them, yet they were in possession of voter identification certificates.
That is why Masilela and his colleagues wanted the elections to be conducted again so that voters who were not able to vote should be given a chance to exercise their right to do so. Masilela also alleged that employees of the Municipal Council of Mbabane were actively involved in the elections, yet the municipality had a direct interest in the outcome of the elections.
Masilela further alleged that some voters gave their voters certificate to go and vote twice, impersonating the persons in the voters’ registry, something Masilela said was a violation of the election regulations.
He made an example of what happened at a certain polling station at Msunduza. He said when a probe was made, it was discovered that there was a certain person who voted, yet he was not registered to vote.
Masilela alleged that this person was asked further on how he got the voting certificate, he said it was allegedly given to him by a certain Themba Malaza.
Masilela pointed out that it was reported in the country’s local print media outlets that the local elections were in disarray. He said this was also confirmed by Minister of Housing and Urban Development Prince Simelane, who issued a statement, pleading for mercy from members of the public.
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