Africa-Press – Eswatini. Mangololo Movement Eswatini says there is a need to abolish the piece of legislation that empowers Members of Parliament to elect senators.
This is amid allegations that money exchanged hands ahead of the election of the 10 senators.
Mangololo Secretary General, Nhlanhla Zwane, said the buying of Senate votes was an unfortunate situation, which must be scrapped if not reviewed.
Zwane said this was because the processes were guided by an Act but this was being abused by the legislators.
“This is a real concern, which raises the question of whether it is still necessary for the MPs to be given the opportunity to vote for senators. Because it seems they are now taking advantage and using the law as a get rich quick scheme,” he said.
According to Zwane, this was a pity because the piece of legislation was made holistically in good faith and that democratic aspect `of electing people from the different tinkhundla even in Senate.
The Senate Elections Act states that every candidate for election shall be proposed by a Member of Parliament and seconded by another member in making a proposal for candidacy.
Zwane argued that if these individuals were elected by MPs, it meant they (MPs) had and knew the candidates’ background from the different constituencies.
“It would seem that credibility is no longer taken into consideration if MPs attach monetary value as a pre requisite and nothing else we will find ourselves with senators who will be mafias,” he said.
Zwane said it boggles one’s mind on where a Senate candidate would get so much cash amounting to around a million Emalangeni.
He further stated that it did not make sense for one to pay such a huge amount for a Senate seat when he would be paid E60 000 monthly.
“Not unless I just want to go there to commit money laundering and clean that dirty money, we will be stuck with senators who have dirty hands,” Zwane stated.
He said this placed Parliament in a compromised position because it meant that the elected senators did not have the country’s interest and were only interested in making money.
According to Zwane, it would be better to only have appointed senators because no bribery could happen.
“Those are legit and credible parliamentarians as opposed to those who are elected by MPs,” the secretary general stated.
“The Act giving MPs powers to vote for senators should be abolished or reviewed in such a way that it excludes MPs’ involvement in electing senators,” said Zwane.
Former speaker, Petros Mavimbela, shared similar sentiments with Zwane highlighting the need for the review of the elections legislation.
Mavimbela said the Elections and Boundaries Commission had a mammoth task at hand because there was a need to educate the nation on elections.
He said there was also a need to review the country’s legislations when it comes to elections and what should be done to individuals found on the wrong side of the law.
The bribery allegations according to Mavimbela start from constituency level up to the Senate elections.
He said it was a pity because bribery, if it did happen, was done in secret, hence it was difficult to tackle.
“Even the legislation in place does not say much on what should happen to offenders.
“The legislation is quiet and there is a need for Parliament to work on it,” he said.
Mavimbela said the sad part was that undeserving people would end up in Parliament, which would end up being a place for people without the country’s interest at heart but merely there because they had cash.
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