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MASSIVE TURNOUT FOR BUCOPHO ELECTIONS

01/03/2021 00:14:00 BY THOKOZANI MAMBA

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MPOLONJENI – The bucopho nominations at Mpolonjeni Umphakatsi exerted a lot of pressure to the Elections and Boundaries Commission (EBC) officials when they tried to ensure that the COVID-19 regulations were observed by the over 300 residents who crowded the area.

In total, according to the register of people who participated during the nominations for bucopho held on Saturday at the chiefdom, 330 were in attendance. The umphakatsi voters roll has 1 891 people eligible to vote.

According to the register of temperature screening by the polling staff, the highest recorded temperature during the event was 37.5 degrees Celsius with the lowest stood at 33 degrees Celsius.

People started to arrive at the umphakatsi as early as 8am and the nomination process started at around 11am and finished at 1pm.

Ideally, not more than 100 people are allowed in outdoor gatherings, according to the COVID-19 regulations though an exception was made for the nomination process.

EBC officers, Lubombo Elections Officer Siboniso Nhleko, Mlamuli Shabangu and Zikodze Khumalo were kept on their toes for the better part of the day trying to control and sensitise people to observe social distancing during the exercise.

Even though some complied, others were seen seated closer to each other and some were mingling without adhering to the social distancing rule.

Notable was that the commission made sure that temperature screening and sanitising was done at the point of entry when people registered their particulars.

Officers

The presence of police officers also ensured that order was maintained for the duration of the nomination process.

About 12 candidates were nominated for the bucopho position.

In essence, during nominations, eligible voters are expected to nominate their preferred candidates.

In the upcoming elections slated for March 27, the commission has identified three polling stations under this chiefdom namely; Emncitsini, Nyetane and Emphakatsi with only Egushede for the Sitsatsaweni Chiefdom.

This has been done to avert overcrowding. The nominated candidates have been vetted; a process that determines if the individual complies with the laws of the country in paying taxes and not have been sentenced to more than five years in jail.

Present during the event were Mpolonjeni Member of Parliament (MP) Jacob Siwela, EBC Commissioner Bishop Sipho Tembe and Mpolonjeni Umphakatsi Indvuna Magunya Dlamini.

EBC Head of Secretariat Richard Phungwayo acknowledged the massive response from the residents.

He said the commission did a commendable job in making sure that everyone adhered to the COVID-19 regulations by wearing masks, sanitising and temperature screening.

He said the commission hired the polling staff to make sure that the regulations were being followed.

“We have tried our best to make sure that the exercise is conducted in a manner that will ensure we comply with the regulations. We have our staff and police officers who continue to remind those mingling to stop and maintain social distancing,” he said.

Phungwayo further lauded the turnout of the residents and observed that people had embraced a positive attitude towards politics compared to the past.

massive

“In fact, people now want to elect candidates they want to put in power. That is evident with the massive turnout today and we are optimistic that the elections would also see the same figures even though they won’t be together like today as we have tried to separate the polling stations to ensure that we comply with the COVID-19 regulations,” he said.

Meanwhile, MP Jacob Siwela thanked the residents for coming in numbers to support and make sure that the event was a success.

Siwela also appealed to the residents to elect someone who would embrace and execute their wishes.

“I wish all those nominated today luck, but they should know that they have to work hard to convince the community members that they are the right candidates ahead of the elections next month. It is commendable that the event started and finished in peace and we expect the same conduct even in the upcoming elections,” he said.