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YOUR SEATS SAFE - ASPIRING WOMEN MPS

15/11/2018 03:46:00 BY NTOMBI MHLONGO AND THEMBINKOSI MAVIMBELA

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LOBAMBA – “We are not here to sabotage you.” The above quote was the buzzing statement issued by most of the women hopefuls who are vying for the four seats available in Parliament as per the provisions of the Election of Women Members of the House of Assembly Act No.9, 2013 and the Constitution.

This took place yesterday when the 20 women were given an opportunity to ‘charm’ MPs by campaigning through presentations.
While they focused on the stipulated topic of describing how they would assist the MPs in reviving the country’s economy, the women emphasised that they were not in any way going to sabotage the political aspirations of the legislators or take away their shine.

Some of them were serious in their emphasis so much that they even vowed to not compete with the MPs during the next national elections come 2023.
Furthermore, some of the women even pointed at the MPs from their constituencies and assured them that instead of being competitors, they would just work with them in the event that they were voted into Parliament.

“Angeke ngitsatse situlo semhlonishwa wami. Ngitosebentisana naye,” said Flora Gwebu, who is from the Hhohho Region.
This seemed to do the trick as the MPs would now and again clap hands or scream in support of the speakers.

Elections

The presentations were made before Speaker Petros Mavimbela and the Elections and Boundaries Commission (EBC) Chairman Chief Gija.
Joining the MPs in listening to the presentations were Cabinet ministers who included Princess Sikhanyiso, Lady Howard Mabuza, Prince Simelane, Harries Bulunga, Princess Lindiwe and Jabulani Mabuza, to name a few.

The aspiring MPs were each given about three minutes which they used to justify why the deserved the votes of the legislators.
Before being given the microphone, the hopefuls were addressed by the chairman of the EBC, who said he believed they were mature individuals who needed no guidance in terms of the critical issues to touch on.