Home | News | Elections Expenses Bill tossed out

Elections Expenses Bill tossed out

Font size: Decrease font Enlarge font
image Some of the MPs inside the august house.

LOBAMBA— Members of Parliament (MPs) yesterday tossed out the proposed Elections Expenses Bill of 2013.


The Bill in essence states that candidates who want to stand for elections should declare monies which they will use for their campaign within three days of winning the primary elections for reasons of accountability.


 The Bill had further proposed that the Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs stipulate the amount of money to be used during campaigning, a clause which the MPs felt that the minister had no business in telling potential candidates how much money they would use especially since there was no money from government.


“This Bill is meant for countries which have multiparty democracy because they have to account for the money which they use and we do not have any money to declare,” said Mhlangatane MP Mbalekelwa Ndwandwe.


 motivated


 The Bill was motivated by Mba-bane East MP Esther Dlamini who was supported by Nhlambeni MP Frans Dlamini and they rallied the MPs to adopt the Bill.


However, the MPs unanimously said the Bill was meant for countries with political parties. 
The Attorney General Majahe-nkaba Dlamini tried to respond to the MP’s questions, but he was ruled out of order and told to only comment on the legality of it. 


 disappointed


The Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs Chief Mgwagwa Gamedze said he was disappointed that the MPs did not approve of the Bill because it had even been given a thumbs up by international organisations.


 “It was meant for other countries to also witness our campaigns and it is not true that money is not used during campaigns and therefore we should amend the clauses which we do not approve of,” said Gamedze.


During the vote 21 MPs agreed that the Bill be tossed out whilst nine were for it to be adopted. 
On another note the MPs passed the Elections and Boundaries Commission Bill of 2013 which states how the body will operate.


They however expressed their displeasure that the report on the demarcation of constituencies had still not been made public.    

 

Post your comment comment

Please enter the code you see in the image: