Africa-Press – Eswatini. Some aggrieved senate elections losers are alleged to be demanding their money back from the Members of Parliament (MP), they feel betrayed them during the voting exercise on Thursday evening after allegedly paying them for their votes.
It has been reported that after the exercise, some of the aggrieved losers went after the MPs who had promised them votes demanding their monies back.
Information gathered by the Saturday Observer was that one of the MPs from the Manzini region was refund forced to refund after the candidate got wind that the legislator had switched sides and not voted for him during the dramatic exercise.
However, some sources said as much as the reports could be true, there were dangers that some people were exaggerating just to taint the images and integrity of some MPs.
It was reported that the legislator allegedly took monies from more than one candidate while promising them that they would get first preference votes.
“The moment the candidate got wind about the MPs betrayal, they immediately demanded that a refund as they had lost trust in him,” said a source.
It was also reported that first preference or original votes cost E60 000 while some candidates were allegedly said to be willing to part way with as high as E100 000 during the last days before the elections to gain favour with the MPs.
However, some losers took their loses graciously. Quizzed on the alleged payments of votes strategy, some senate hopefuls said they didnot even consider that route; but instead used other strategies like promising to partner with the MPs on development programmes throughout their tenure in office.
Votes
They said it would not have been honourable for them to buy votes as it would have compromised their relationship over the next five years.
Information gathered was to the effect that some of the losing candidates followed the MPs out of Parliament after the elections and demanded their monies back.
The bitter losers’ actions were despite the fact that Clerk to Parliament Benedict Xaba had urged the losing senate hopefuls to be exemplary leaders and accept their fate graciously.
To those who lost, Xaba said it was not the end of the road, but it only meant that their time had not come and they should graciously accept defeat and move on.
He also urged them not to hold grudges against the MPs, who they had lobbied and in the same breath urged the MPs to be honest and priorities integrity.
“To the nominees, I would like to say now is the time and the hour and the moment you will know your fate as only 10 of you, five from each category will emerge victorious,” he said.
The clerk emphasised that the elections were an important national exercise and crucial for building the country just like the recent general elections where the MPs were elected.
He reminded the MPs that this was their first test they had to pass as honourable members of the chamber.
“We understand that you wished they would all make it and be elected as senators but at the end of the day only 10 of them will make it,” said Xaba.
The clerk reminded the nominees that every person had their season in life and only those whose season had come would be elected.
Mbabane East Member of Parliament, Welcome Dlamini said if people had accepted senate hopefuls’ money and promised to vote for them then that must not affect them who have nothing to do with it.
Nkwene Member of Parliament, Sikhumbuzo Dlamini, asked that Dlamini withdraw his statement as it insinuated that as parliamentarians they were corrupt. One of the losing candidates said he refrained from taking the route of buying votes for a seat because he would then automatically be declaring the MPs not honourable.
“Paying money to get votes is not honourable according to me, if that is the case with some contestants, then where is their honour and also how will the MPs be honourable to me,” he said.
The Senate hopeful further revealed that he was approached by some MP who informed him that the elections had drained them and wanted money for his vote.
Informed
He said he blatantly informed the MP he was not prepared to go that route and but only offered partnering on development programmes that they would implement over the next five years.
“I told the MP who approached me that I was not prepared to buy votes, but was willing to partner on development programmes,” he said.
The senate hopeful added that the ideology of crying after losing elections and complaining that one was drained financially meant that the person was not a conqueror because all conquerors had to undergo a period where they would be bruised in order to achieve success.
He added that buying of votes made the whole exercise not honourable and he did not want to point fingers but he made his position clear from the start.
Another losing candidate Dimpho Masuku graciously accepted her loss and said losing did not mean one should give up on their dreams.
“Losing does not mean you should give up as it is part of life. Every day you lose some and win some and this is part of everyday life, there is nothing new about it. You just have to accept defeat and shake hands with the winners,” she said.
Masuku added that the competitors and what they aspired for goes a long way towards developing and empowering people and improving their well-being.
“We all went there expecting a win and we were all passionate about helping those who are destitute so they could have better lives,” she said.
She said they were all in the race so they could try and improve the nation and the lives of all Emaswati.
Meanwhile, Ezulwini Town Board Chairperson Bongile Lungile Mbingo also graciously accepted defeat and said she did her part and would continue to work for the betterment of the country elsewhere and wished all the winners all the best and hoped all would go well as they continued to work for the nation.
“My advice and plea to the female winners is that they should represent all of us as women with integrity and put more into evolution, development and remain strong and represent us well,” she said.
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