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5 ministers crash out of elections

26/08/2013 05:34:00 BY SIBONGILE SUKATI

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MBABANE — Five Cabinet ministers have been rejected by the electorate and will not be part of the 2013-2018 government.

Vocal Minister of Public Works and Transport Ntuthuko Dlamini was one of the casualties along with his counterpart, Minister of Sports, Culture and Youth Affairs Hlobisile Ndlovu. The Minister of Agriculture, Clement Dlamini, who was serving his third term as Kukhanyeni Member of Parliament, also lost.

Minister of Education and Training Wilson Ntshangase also lost at Shiselweni Inkhundla and Minister of Tinkhundla Administration and Development Rodgers Mamba, who resigned from the civil service in order to stand for the second term in office, also failed to win the Primary Elections which were held on Saturday. Minister Ntshangase said he would relax at home as he does not have plans for the near future. He said he would be at home until he makes up his mind in terms of what he planned to do.

“I have no future plans and I am looking forward to spending time at home until I decide what to do next,” said Ntshangase.
However, the Deputy Prime Minister, Themba Masuku, said because there had been no instruction removing them from office, the ministers would remain in office until such time that they were told otherwise.
Just a month ago a Joint Sitting of Parliament passed the Senate Elections Act of 2013 which states that unsuccessful candidates in the elections were not eligible for a Senate seat.

The legislation’s provision effectively dashes any hopes for the ministers, in case they harboured any such ambition, to return to Parliament as senators. Prime Minister Sibusiso Dlamini also told the sitting that His Majesty King Mswati III had also stated that he would also inform his advisors not to consider the elections’ losers for appointment into Parliament and other committees.
It was not only the ministers who failed to win over the majority of the voters, but also seasoned politicians like former Nkilongo MP Trusty Gina and former Nkwene MP Aaron Sotsha Dladla.

“We will sit back and watch others take over, there is nothing one can do as the people have spoken,” said a disappointed Dladla during an interview yesterday. Dladla was not in a position to state what his immediate plans would be.
Another vocal MP who lost out was Nkhaba MP Enock Dlamini who was popularly known as EJ.
It was an election of shocks as Lobamba MP Majahodvwa Khumalo also did not make it.

Timphisini MP Jennifer Du Pont, who was in the spotlight recently because of utterances allegedly made by Chief Magudvulela that widows should not be voted into Parliament, also lost at the primary stage to Apton Ndlovu.
Another upset was experienced by Kwaluseni MP Sibusiso Mabhanisi Dlamini and Hlane MP Mduduzi Magagula whose last involvement in Parliament was to expose the rotten food scandal at the Matsapha Government Stores.

Ministers who won the Primary Elections include Minister of Health Benedict Xaba, Minister of Public Service Patrick Magobetane Mamba, Minister of Tourism and Environmental Affairs Mduduzi Dlamini and Minister of Labour and Social Security Lutfo Dlamini.