CHAOTIC HHOHHO FA AGM: ELECTIONS DEFERRED

PIGG’S PEAk –  After all has been said and done, the eagerly-awaited agenda item of the HRFA AGM was put off.

This was after the Siphosini Dlamini-led Ethics Committee called the Hhohho Regional Football Association (HRFA) elections off, as they felt there were some discrepancies. “We were told by the executive committee that some of those who were candidates for the elections have been suspended. According to the constitution if you have been suspended, you cannot stand for elections. We further want to put it to light that it is the same constitution that gives the general assembly the power to suspend members.

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“We therefore call off the elections and we will report to Eswatini Football Association (EFA) on why we felt it was not right to continue this last item,” said Dlamini who is the Chairperson of the Ethics Committee. HRFA had its annual general meeting (AGM) at Mhlatane High School in northern Hhohho yesterday. He further questioned why those standing for elections had to be suspended on the day of the elections. “If the executive felt there were burning issues to be addressed, they should have called an extraordinary meeting. They cannot therefore wait for the last minute and suspend members. We advise HRFA and its affiliates to sort their house in order; we cannot proceed with elections when there are pending issues. Our job is to ensure that the elections are free and fair,” he said. He also advised Hhohho affiliates to do a self-introspection on why things were not going accordingly.

Reached for comments after the Ethics Committee decision, Stan Nkambule of Hotspurs, who also was among the nominees that were suspended, said the Ethics Committee’s decision was fair. “The Ethics Committee made the right decision to call off the elections because the ground was not level. The motion to suspend us was not fair because there were four people who wanted to contribute towards the motion. However, the executive pointed those who were for the suspension to be effected and left those who were against the decision,” said Nkambule. This happened earlier in the meeting where a certain Linda Thobela from Timpisini moved a motion that the interim committee be suspended and he was seconded by Ian Nxumalo.

However,  there was drama when those who were suspended wanted to overturn the motion. At some point, Nkambule demanded from the executive that he must be given a chance to make a submission. However, the Chairman Nigel Shongwe declined and said they could not be given a chance to have a say because they were conflicted. However, Nkambule heard none of it, until he was given a microphone to speak. He told the assembly that they could not suspend people without hearing the other side. However, they passed this item and it was concluded that the interim committee were suspended and those who were nominated would not stand for the elections. The meeting had to adjourn for lunch and some were heard saying the Ethics Committee would overturn the suspension.  

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Comfort Shongwe who was also nominated for presidency declined to comment. HRFA Secretary Nkosingiphile Shongwe said: “The general assembly is the highest body which suspended the interim committee which unfortunately they some of its members were also nominated for elections.” Asked why the HRFA had to wait until the AGM, before Shongwe could respond, Ian Nxumalo of Mbabane Arsenal clarified that the executive did not suspend the said members but the assembly did. “There was no way the executive could have called an extraordinary meeting because the notice for the AGM had been issued on July 29, while the interim committee was effected on August  14,” said Nxumalo. He said the decision to call off the election was not fair. The suspended members who were also nominated in the elections are Comfort Shongwe, Donald Nkonyane, Stan Nkambule and Charles Jele.

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