MBABANE - Some residents of Enyonyane community in Ezulwini were left dejected after police officers allegedly forced them to abort their meeting, which had been convened by a nominee for the MP position.
The officers later left with the nominee and his campaign manager (galajane). Enyonyane is an area situated in Ezulwini under Lobamba Inkhundla.
The purpose of the meeting could not be immediately ascertained, but there were talks that it had to do with the ongoing general elections. It was gathered that the nominee, who had just been nominated for the Member of Parliament (MP) position, had requested to meet the elderly, but the agenda was not disclosed.
Gathering
Information gathered was to the effect that the police officers, who were driving in a white double-cab motor vehicle, arrived at the gathering shortly after a woman believed to be the nominee’s campaign agent (galajane) had started addressing the elderly. At the time, it is said that the elderly were eagerly waiting to hear what the nominee had in store for them. However, it is said that the police officers forced the residents to abort the meeting even before the nominee could greet the residents, most of whom were the elderly. One of the dejected elderly registered her disappointment over the arrival of the police at the gathering. She said the arrival of the police deprived them of an opportunity to get goodies from the nominee.
“We were told that the nominee would greet and give us something. What good is it to come here and go back home empty handed?” she asked. It is said that some residents hurled insults as they left the meeting venue. Information obtained was that the residents had been called to the gathering without having obtained permission from the area’s authorities. Enyonyane is one of the zones forming Ezulwini Royal Kraal. The incident was confirmed by the area’s Zone Leader, Boy Sihlongonyane, who said he only went to check after he had received information that the residents were gathered in the area.
Sihlongonyane shared that the police officers arrived just after he had parked his motor vehicle. “The police officers approached me and asked about the purpose of the gathering. I did not have an immediate response because nothing had been communicated to us at the royal kraal. I called indvuna to ascertain if he knew anything about the gathering, however, he responded to the negative. A woman who was addressing the gathering tried to apologise but there was nothing I could do as permission is only granted by the royal kraal,” he said. He stated that the man, who was said to be the nominee and had called the gathering, left with the police immediately.
Sihlongonyane stated that his presence at the gathering was solely to enquire how the meeting came about, since there was nothing communicated to him as the zone leader by the royal kraal, as per the procedure. He stated that procedurally, permission for an activity was sought from the zone leader, who then sought approval from the royal kraal.
“Let me make it clear that as a zone, we are not against anyone but our duty is to make sure that the laws are observed. Anyone is allowed to approach the zone for whatever and approval is determined by the circumstances. In this case, we would have ascertained the purpose of the meeting and advised accordingly,” he said. Sihlongonyane emphasised that the zone remained impartial when it came to the general elections. Ezulwini Royal Kraal Inner Council Indvuna Ndlavela Mavimbela confirmed having received a report of the meeting in the area. Mavimbela stated that he got a report that an unknown man met the residents without permission from the royal kraal. “I heard that there was an unknown man to the zone, who had called a meeting, it means he is also unknown to the royal,” Mavimbela said.
Comment
When given a chance to state his side of the story, the nominee requested not to comment on the matter. He stated that inasmuch as he respected the work of journalists, he felt duty-bound not to comment. Asked if he was ever at Enyonyane, the nominee responded to the negative. “I was never at Enyonyane yesterday. I respect the work of journalists but with all due respect, may I not comment on this subject,” the nominee said briefly. He had also been asked about the purpose of his purported visit to the area.
The nominee referred all questions to the police and the parties concerned. Police said the incident was not in their records. The Elections and Boundaries Commission (EBC) Communications Officer, Mbonisi Bhembe, said the office was not aware of the matter. Bhembe said it would be unfortunate if the allegations were true. He said what people needed to know was that no one had qualified to be an MP candidate for now.
Candidates
He said people needed to understand that the nominee remained the suggested candidates until after the vetting process. It should be noted that a nominee may be disqualified if he/she is found to owe tax. A nominee may also be disqualified if he/she has been convicted of a crime under the Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Act of 2018 or has not completed five years after serving a sentence of an offence falling under the fourth and fifth schedule.
“People need to understand the significance of self-determination and leave emaSwati to exercise their right to elect their favourite candidates.
Police would have done a good job if they aborted the meeting and we would like to see the law taking its course,” Bhembe said.
He also mentioned that the stage of the ongoing elections had not reached a stage of having campaign agents (bogalajane).