Africa-Press – Eswatini. Relatively new faces dominated the Senate nominations as Members of Parliament (MPs) nominated candidates to fill the elected quota of 10 Senators in the 12th Parliament.
In what was a busy day for the candidates, 35 aspiring senators were nominated comprising 12 females and 23 males.
A majority of the new faces were among the male nominees, while most of the female nominees, were former politicians and minister.
Among the new faces was Simanga Cleo Thwala (38) who hails from Nyakatfo in the Hhohho Region, who received the highest number of nominations. Thwala is a Cadet Officer in the Umbutfo Eswatini Defence Force (UEDF) Air Wing Department.
Another new face was Sherq Professionals Solutions Director Wandile Hlatswayo, Patrick Mavimbela, Zombodze Magagula and Phinda Mlangeni Dlamini to name a few.
Among the male nominees, the familiar faces included former Deputy Senate President Ndumiso Mdluli, Tony Sibandze, Bhutana Dlamini and former Eswatini Football Association (EFA) President Adam ‘Bomber’ Mthethwa.
In the female category, the new faces in politics included Eswatini Tourism Authority (ETA) Chief Executive Officer Linda Nxumalo, Cheshire Home Director Nonhlanhla Khabo Dlamini, Fezeka Nothando Dlamini and Lindiwe Patricia Ngwenya. Out of the 35 nominees, only 10 will make it as five from each category will be elected.
The remaining 20 seats will be appointed by Their Majesties following the election of senators by Members of Parliament.
The nomination exercise will be followed by the vetting process before the MPs cast their votes during the next sitting scheduled to take place tomorrow afternoon.
This was confirmed by Clerk to Parliament, Benedict Xaba, who assured that by the end of Parliament business tomorrow, the elected senators would be unveiled. Also present were aspiring regional women MPs who also canvassed for votes.
Most of the aspiring politicians both males and females arrived in Parliament early and were seen making last ditch efforts to gain favour before the nomination exercise. Among the female nominees was former Minister of Health, Sibongile Ndlela who was among the first to arrive in Parliament to canvas for votes while other nominees arrived during lunch time.
Nominees
Other nominees included former Minister of Health in the 11th Parliament Lizzie Nkosi, former deputy prime minister Themba Masuku’s wife Dimpho Masuku, former senators Busi Dlamini, Khanyisile Malambe, former Lubombo regional MP Lorraine Nxumalo, and Ezulwini Mayor, Bongile Mbingo.
During the female category nominations, three of the new faces, Nonhlanhla Khabo Dlamini, Bongile Lungile Mbingo and Fezeka Nothando Dlamini attained two nominations together with former senators, Lorraine Nxumalo and Khanyisile Malambe, who were part of the 11th Parliament, while the rest of the nominees attained a single nomination each.
One of the ballot papers was spoilt after a male candidate, Wandile Sizwe Themba, was nominated under the female candidates.
Themba was later nominated among the 23 male candidates who comprised mainly of new faces.
Following the successful nomination, the candidates had their pictures and finger prints taken pending the vetting exercise. This was followed by the male category nominations, where a majority of the nominees were new faces.
Worth noting was that former Senator Bhutana Dlamini was once again nominated after he was disqualified during the controversial Senate elections where he was contesting to replace the late Senator Jimmy Hlophe, who replaced Mike Temple.
Temple was among the senators who passed on during the 11th Parliament.
Other familiar faces included the former Deputy Senate President Ndumiso Mdluli and former Senator Tony Sibandze, who were also nominated yesterday while the rest of the male candidates who included well-known business people were relatively new in politics.
The nominees have until tomorrow after lunch to continue canvassing for votes before the House of Assembly sitting at 14:30pm where five out of the 12 female nominees will be elected as Senators.
Following the adjournment of the sitting, the nominees were seen conversing with the MPs who nominated them, while they continued to rub shoulders with other MPs before leaving the Parliament premises.
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