Africa-Press – Eswatini. His Majesty King Mswati III says there should be free and fair elections and no one should be threatened or intimidated.
The King was speaking during Sibaya yesterday at Ludzidzini Royal Residence. His Majesty noted that on the weekend of July 22 and 23, 2023, the country will embark on the nomination stage of the 2023 General Elections. The nominations will then be followed by primary elections. He said as the elections process would be taking place, no one should be threatened for participating. He said the elections were free and fair, therefore, votes shall decide who would be elected into Parliament, not threats. “Wonkhe umuntfu akaye ebhokisini nangabe akuhambi kahle kutikhanyele kona nje, hhayi kutsi bekukhona lokuhle kumjubela ngendlela,” he said. His Majesty said there was a saying known as kungahlwa kwenile, where there would be people disturbing others. He called for that mentality to stop in order for the elections to be free and fair.
Violence
The saying kungahlwa kwenile was mostly used during the unrest to mean when it gets dark, the violence would start. “I pray that our lections be free and fair, no one will threaten another or conduct intimidating tactics on anyone, the ballot shall be the deciding factor this year. There should be no one who will be doing dirty work in the dark, because we have heard in the past that kungahlwa kwenile, I hope and pray that such tactics will not be attempted in our nation, so that we have a free and fair election in the kingdom,” he said. The King also urged emaSwati to be understanding, that the country was in the path of attaining First World status. “I believe that as the nation conducts the elections, it should be, at the back of each and every electorate, that the country aspires to be in the First World status, therefore, the people who will be elected will need to have this mindset and lead the country there as they will be part of government,” he said.
Adding, the King highlighted that those people should also have integrity, respect and prioritise the nation, not their personal agenda. “I hope as you go for the elections, you will elect people of noble character, people with integrity and people who will have the nation at heart and not propagate their own selfish agendas,” he said.
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