Madam,

When attending the annual mayoral election of the Siteki Town Council, the representative from the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, Gordon Mbuli, took the opportunity to comment that the town council was tasked with bringing services closer to the people. While at the same time, warning against corrupt practices within the council. Urging councillors to always have a listening ear for legitimate complaints from the people and to respond accordingly, by attending to their grievances in a timely and professional manner. Mbuli also emphasised the fact that the residents are a critical stakeholder of any municipal and town councils. The points were well made and hopefully well received by the new mayor - a message which applies equally to all the other municipal and town councils.

After the annual general meeting (AGM), the annual mayoral election of the new mayor and other office bearers for the next 12 months is probably the most important event in the civic calendar for any responsible municipal or town council. It is an opportunity for a council to demonstrate to the residents and ratepayers it serves, local democracy in action at the grassroots level.

My perception from reading the feedback in the Times is that a majority of the mayoral elections went well. Though the fact that some mayors were re-elected unopposed is obviously a cause for concern, because it suggests a certain political inertia or even a disillusionment with local government.

It, therefore, came as a huge relief after two years of a dysfunctional and divided council under the stewardship of a mayor who has done absolutely nothing to improve the quality of life for the residents of Malkerns that, at the mayoral election held on Tuesday of this week, a new mayor was elected.

As clearly stated in the Annual Report of the Malkerns Town Council for 2024/2025: “The office of the town clerk presides over all administrative matters.” Council Standing Orders also make it very clear that the mayoral election is an open meeting. The council’s vision talks about ‘treating all residents fairly and with equality’ and about ‘impartiality’, ‘integrity’, ‘professionalism’, ‘accountability’ and ‘transparency’ with open meetings not being held in secrecy behind closed doors.

It would appear to be a document that the town clerk has yet to read. Because, despite being reminded by one appointed councillor at the April month-end open Board meeting of the need for transparency and better communication and the need to treat all stakeholders with respect. The town clerk made the conscious decision not to communicate with all interested stakeholders by not posting the date/time of the annual mayoral election on any of the town Board’s social media platforms until the morning of the event. Transparent and timely communication is in action the Malkerns town Board’s way.

The election of the right candidate to be mayor is a key part of a properly functioning local democracy and needs to be witnessed. Electing the right person is critical because he/she influences the direction of travel for local priorities such as roads and potholes; the collection of waste; public utilities and bus ranks; local markets and other essential services.

An effective mayor will also take a keen interest in budget oversight and town planning and will actively encourage ratepayer participation - viewing the exercise as an opportunity rather than a threat.

Effective local democracy matters because it will result in greater accountability. Assuming, of course, that the elected mayor makes a conscious decision to engage with the local residents and ratepayers, seeing the benefits of making it easier to find local solutions to local issues through ratepayer engagement in the decision-making process.

In the recent local mayoral elections in the United Kingdom, residents and ratepayers had a direct say in who is voted in as the new mayor. The Eswatini voting system is different. The elected and appointed town councillors choose the new mayor and deputy mayor from among themselves, which leaves the door open for tactical voting. As was witnessed at the 2024 and 2025 mayoral elections of the Malkerns Town Council, when the mayor was re-elected on the toss of a coin.

Rather than vote for the best-qualified person to fulfil the role of mayor, the more easily influenced elected councillors chose to cast their vote for the re-election of a mayor who is neither a Malkerns ratepayer nor a property owner; is neither the owner or occupier of immovable property nor a permanent resident of Malkerns.

So serious had the situation become in Malkerns that in November 2025, MP Marwick Khumalo raised an oral question in Parliament, which is still to be debated in the House of Assembly. It is anticipated that the outcome of the debate will not make for pleasant reading for the ministry and may even result in the call for a commission of inquiry. At this week’s mayoral election, common sense prevailed, resulting in the election of a new ethical mayor. A person of integrity who will bring the two factions together and who will have the aspirations of the residents of Malkerns to the fore in any resolutions taken. Finally, the residents and ratepayers of Malkerns have the mayor they deserve. A mayor who sees that his role is to serve the residents and ratepayers of Malkerns to the best of his ability. Who does not view his election to such an important position as a licence to print money, and our agricultural town now has the opportunity to prosper and to reach its full potential for the benefit of all stakeholders.

Siteki Town.