Times Of Swaziland: Lutfo works his magic again

Lutfo works his magic again
================================================================================
BY KWANELE DHLADHLA on 27/08/2013 02:37:00


NDZINGENI – The Minister of Labour and Social Security, Lutfo Dlamini, stands
another chance of being elected to serve as Ndzingeni MP for the third
consecutive term after winning the Primary Elections by a difference of 248
votes.
The Ndzingeni Inkhundla Returning Officer, Mkhululi Mamba, announced that the
minister amassed 656 votes and was closely followed by Mavalane Malaza who was
voted for by 408 people.
Out of the total number of aspiring MPs who were voted for at all seven
Chiefdoms under the Ndzingeni Inkhundla, the minister was the only aspiring MP
who amassed over 600 votes.
The second highest after Dlamini was Ebulandzeni MP nominee, Jeremiah Ndwandwe,
who made it through to the next stage of the 2013 General Elections by 568
votes.
Ndwandwe was closely followed by former Ndzingeni MP Dumisani Maphanga with 507
votes. The 53-year-old Maphanga served as MP from 1998 to 2003.
MP nominees who amassed the lowest number of votes were Thabsile Mhlanga and
Cebile Mabuza who only received two votes.
Another nominee who received the least votes was Sarah Dlamini, who only managed
to amass four votes.
Notably, all three MP nominees who received the lowest number of votes were
women.
The poor voting turnout in favour of women was despite the numerous campaigns
and laws that were enacted to encourage the electorate to vote for women.
At regional level, a number of countries, including Swaziland, even adopted and
ratified the SADC Policy on Gender Development which stipulates that women
should form 50 per cent of leaders in political and decisive positions.