SWADEPA’s Sayed gets a short at elections

Political activist Archie Sayed toyi-toying in this file photo.

MBABANE – Political activist Archie Sayed has been nominated to contest a parliament seat in the 2013 National General Elections.

The Swaziland Democratic Party (SWADEPA) Secretary General was nominated at Bhunya under the Mhlambanyatsi Inkhundla.

Sayed is a well-known resident of Bhunya as he is a former employee of Sappi Usutu and was Secretary General of the workers union there.
SWADEPA is one of two political parties – the other being Sive Siyinqaba Sibahle Sinje –which that openly stated would participate in the elections.

Other political parties, including the Ngwane National Liberatory Congress, the banned duo of the People’s United Democratic Movement and Swaziland Youth Congress, said they would not participate unless the elections were held under multi-party democracy.
PUDEMO even issued a statement yesterday confirming their stance that they were against the elections and called for ‘Multiparty Democracy Now’.

Before the elections process got underway, SWADEPA, a relatively new political party, claimed to have around 10 000 members under its belt and declared that it would win a majority of the seats in parliament.
Sayed confirmed his nomination and said he will contest the primary elections with three other nominees namely Sikhova Mabuza, Clinton Mabuza and Sibusiso Nkomo.

Asked how many other SWADEPA members had been nominated for the elections, he said they were still reconciling the figures. “There is also Titus Thwala (former Zombodze Emuva MP) who has been nominated,” he said.
SWADEPA President Jan Sithole has also been nominated under the Manzini North Inkhundla.

Sithole, like Sayed, is also a former Sappi Usutu employee and is arguably Swaziland’s most prominent trade unionist after leading the Swaziland Federation of Trade Unions for decades.
Sayed said, as SWADEPA, they were of the view that the nomination process proceeded excellently because no incidences of violence were reported.

“All we are saying is that the people have spoken like they did during the Sibaya last year where they said they want change. The people of Swaziland now have the chance to bring about change by electing SWADEPA members who have experience. Every Inkhundla must look out for SWADEPA members because they are there in numbers.”

He reiterated that none of their members who have entered the race for a parliament seat will be funded by the organisation.
“Everyone will fund themselves. Members will rely on their popularity because that is what the Tinkhundla system of governance demands.”
Sayed then took a swipe at those political entities that have elected to boycott the elections.

“We pity those who didn’t join the elections because they’ve failed to come up with alternatives. If you want to be in the game, you should enter the field of play and lose inside rather than stand on the sidelines,” he said.

Post your comment

Your name:

Your e-mail address:

Add your comments:

Please enter the code you see in the image:

Image:

Code: