Africa-Press – Eswatini. These are words from some of the candidates who won the race to the Senate yesterday.
The dramatic voting process which saw 35 nominees battling for only 10 positions was conducted at the House of Assembly in accordance with the Senate Elections Act.
It was a fierce battle both for the females and males categories as new faces battled with experienced former senators and MPs for both male and female category.
From the 12 female candidates, two were eliminated from the onset as they did not get a single vote while in the male category eight were also eliminated without attaining a single vote for first preference.
In the male category, this included Adam Bomber Mthethwa, who previously served as senator, Robert Zombodze Magagula, William Magagula and the soldier, Simanga Thwala, who received the most nominations on Tuesday.
Thwala was eliminated after amassing five original votes.
Some of those who believed that they have already lost even before the counting of votes was completed went to the extent of leaving the House of Assembly chambers dejected.
One of those was former deputy senate president Ndumiso Mdluli, who made a dramatic comeback to win the senate seat after trailing behind with only five votes.
Mdluli was eventually announced the winner in absentia as he had already left the gallery.
Interviewed after being announced the winner, the elated Mdluli said things were not looking good and had already started preparing himself mentally for whatever outcome.
“It was tough!” Mdluli stated.
Another candidate who made a dramatic comeback was former minister of health Lizzie Nkosi, who had only six votes when the first count was conducted but managed to get transferred votes, which elevated her to be among the winners.
The same is what happened with Mdluli.
Sibongile Ndlela-Simelane, whose votes were promising, was shocked when she was eliminated.
Ndlela left in a hurry after seeing that she had no chances of making it through.
Another contestant who made a dramatic comeback was former Maphalaleni MP Sicelo Cedusizi Dlamini.
“I almost died,” Dlamini stated.
Dlamini said he was not new to Parliament and was glad that the MPs voted for him.
He said the country was faced with an unemployment crisis and he wanted to focus on that.
“We also have to work on the country’s infrastructure and also ensure that our legislations are all inclusive,” he stated.
Tony Sibandze was among the candidates who amassed most votes and followed Siphelele Majaha Mkhonta, who had 13 votes and was the first to be announced the winner.
Sibandze said he was glad to be back and explained that it was not easy but he was happy that the MPs trusted and voted for him.
He said in the 11th Parliament there was a lot of work that they left hanging due to COVID-19 and the unrest and would now be able to complete those tasks.
Sibandze said the succession plan was very important in everything that was being done.
“Continuity is very key and we will work together with those who are new in Parliament.
The country needs us to hit the ground running and we must do that as a collective,” he stated.
He thanked all those who have been with him in prayer, especially the elderly women whom he has been assisting through Scalisa Foundation.
He said more than 27 of them had been praying. Celumusa Ernest Mndvoti, who was among the frontrunners in the male category, said he was still in shock and was out of words. He said to him this victory was like a dream.
“I am still trying to grasp what has just happened,” Mndvoti stated.
At some point, it seemed as if he would be eliminated after Ndumiso Mdluli who had six original votes was elected ahead of him despite that he had nine original votes.
Mndvoti was the last male candidate to be elected after Cedusizi Sicelo Dlamini also through transferred votes was elected before him, adding to the drama.
Cedusizi initially had five original votes. Another upset was Thokozani Mamba, who had eight original votes after the first count but he was dramatically eliminated, losing to Cedusizi Sicelo Dlamini who initially had five original votes.
Mamba was among the frontrunners when counting in the male category started. Speaker, Jabulani Mabuza, congratulated the winners and comforted those who were unsuccessful.
The Clerk to Parliament Benedict Xaba said it must be noted that great leaders are those who go through losses and come out stronger.
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