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By THEMBEKA DLAMINI | 2018-08-19
Imprisoned members of society have been remembered by aspiring politicians as they get periodic visits aimed at currying favour while canvassing for votes.
A convicted prisoner revealed how they were coining it as they lobby for their constituencies’ aspiring parliamentarians who visit them at correctional facilities in order to ascertain how many will vote for them. The inmate revealed that the excitement over elections was palpable as they were participating and being considered by those who aspire to be elected.
He said they looked forward to reading the daily newspapers in order to learn about contenders they are not familiar with.
“We have a lot of money these days,” the inmate said, adding how they were allegedly approached by different parties with the aim of garnering votes ahead of their Tuesday special voting day.
Revealing the name of a prominent member of society who is aspiring to be MP, he said the person promised to deliver money yesterday or today intended to grease the palm of the handful voters from his home area.
“The MP said I should ensure that all the people here from our area vote for him,” he said, further, revealing that he had received money from other inmates from his home area for the same reason. Residents within correctional facilities will be voting for the primaries on Tuesday and a scramble for their consideration is said to have started prior to the registrations as they were visited by either the aspiring MPs or their representatives who encouraged them to register.
Thereafter, several visits were made to ascertain that there was agreement on how voting preferences would go. The inmate revealed that there were four aspiring MPs who had visited his peers from his chiefdom.
When asked to quantify the numbers of registered prisoners, Electoral and Boundaries Commission (EBC) Mbonisi Bhembe said they could not divulge this information as it could be abused.
He said he was unbelieving of the allegations as he did not think it was possible that aspiring MPs could ‘campaign’ within the confines of prison.
He referred questions to the EBC Chairperson Chief Gija.
Stop corrupting inmates – ex-convict
“Corruption during elections is symptomatic of a corrupt government,” says Khazi Mkhwanazi, who is fresh from serving 21 years in prison.
He is disappointed by reports that aspiring members of Parliament are trying to taint his former peers through bribes for votes.
The Swaziland National Federation of Ex-prisoners (SWANFE) member said he was arrested in 1997 and released June 1.
“As a person who stayed for so long in a correctional facility, I think it is all about abusing the rights of prisoners by those aspiring to be MPs.”
He said he was disturbed that an aspiring politician could try get employment by taking those that are incarcerated for a ride by campaigning, even illegally, whereas there have been no MPs in history who have stood up and championed for their welfare.
“The sad thing is that they are members of the community yet are ignored for the most part only to be remembered now because of the power of their vote,” he said.
He lamented how, even on visiting those in prison, the aspiring MPs have no time to listen to issues pertaining to prisoners’ welfare.
Unfortunate
Mkhwanazi said it was unfortunate that the encounters with prisoners were one sided whereas there was need for MPs to be creative in dealing with them in order to hear out their issues further accusing them of toying with those who are held up.
“Not that I am saying they should not receive gifts from them but at the end of the day, their welfare is ignored which is a real travesty.”
He said in this scenario, it showed that the MPs were not upright and deserving to lead the country because they were not upstanding in their day-to-day dealings with others.
Looking at how several of his former peers are repeat offenders, he said MPs who were really concerned would make the environment conducive enough, so ex-convicts can live in communities fully rehabilitated.
Adding, it’s time to investigate why those who serve time resort to going back to crime and if they are given opportunities to be functional members of the economy.
“People should stop trying to get votes through corrupt means.” Mkhanazi said further accusing the recently disbanded Parliament of being corrupt in its dealings as they passed the Correctional Bill without engaging prisoners.
SWANFE is an organisation of former prisoners which is aimed at looking after their socio-economical welfare once they leave the confines of correctional facilities.
‘Such reports seem aimed at tainting election’
The Electoral and Boundaries Commission (EBC)says it is hard to believe that prisoners have been roped in the bribe for votes.
“It is unfortunate if it is true. However, every vote, regardless of whether the voter is incarcerated or free; if an aspiring MP buys votes from prisoners with a lot of money, I wonder how much is being paid to those who are free,” said EBC Commissioner Chief Gija, in disbelief.
He said he would be disappointed if such reports were aimed at solely marring the election process of the country.
He further requested to know which correctional facility the prisoner is based in order to mobilise assistance from Commissioner General Mzuthini Ntshangase to ensure that the alleged ‘campaign manager’ is brought to book.
“If there are people acting as campaign managers, they need to be identified because Ntshangase assured that nothing untoward would occur and the law stipulates that there can be no campaign managers in prison,” said Dlamini.
Adding, he said the allegations, if true, called for the prisoners acting as campaign managers to be charged for breaking the law and be handed fresh sentences on top of what they are serving. On the other hand, His Majesty’s Correctional Services’ Gugulethu Dlamini said they had tried to investigate as to where such alleged activity had taken place and were confident it was not in any of their facilities.
Voters getting VIP treatment
Aspiring members of Parliament are recognising the need to treat their voters with care.
Hiding behind being benevolent, some are loudly stating that they are not campaigning but recognising the needs of their neighbours whereas others are outrightly voicing their expectation for votes. The biggest winner, for now, is the voter registration card bearing member of the public.
An aspiring MP said he had hoped his campaign would be better and would steer people towards talking policy.“I have visited every meeting held in my home area and have tried to engage people to no avail. Seeing as I drive a car they term fancy, I noted that engaging people with empty words whereas the economic situation has people thinking about their next meal, is not working for me,” the private sector employee said.
He admitted that he has had to rethink his strategy, “People hear you better when they are full and assured of food in the future.”
In every constituency, soccer tournaments are the order of the day and players are fed and given drinks. Some long-forgotten beauty contests have been revived whereas some areas have seen ‘talent scouts’ brought by aspiring members of Parliament who promise and deliver prizes which were unavailable two years ago.
In Siphofaneni, an aspiring MP was captured giving out bread and sodas to members of his constituency this past week. He is said to have encouraged members of the public to vote for him if they want to continue getting the parcels.
Another aspiring MP is reported to be allegedly giving out chicken portions in Matsapha to textile employees from his parked vehicle while his contenders are giving out sums of money.
In Manzini, another is reportedly giving out a minimum of E50 notes to registered voters who sing his praises as soon as he appears.
In Mbabane, food parcels are given out in the dead of night while drinks are given freely by agents at drinking spots with a reminder as to who funded them.
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