By Nozipho Sibiya | 2018-08-28

Disgruntled candidates and electorate from Buka Chiefdom and Lobamba Lomdzala, respectively, want the Elections and Boundaries Commission (EBC) to start afresh the counting of ballot papers exercise.

The suspected foul play in the two chiefdoms has sparked complaints, thus the groups marched to EBC offices at Nkhanini. Allegations by voters from Buka area are that the aspiring Member of Parliament Allen Stewart allegedly stole some votes.

So serious is the matter that it has since been reported to EBC for investigation.  A formal complaint from aggrieved candidates and electorate will be filed with the EBC today. 

Voters from Buka Chiefdom wrote a questionnaire to the EBC, demanding clarity on certain things that they felt went wrong during the elections on Saturday. Some of the questions read: ‘What made the voting boxes from Somnjalose to be late since the closing time was 7pm?’

They alleged the boxes arrived at 10:30 pm.

Secondly, they wanted to know what made the figures not tally with the registered voters that were announced.

“Why do we count a rejected ballot paper,” read some of the questions. They, therefore, requested EBC to recount the votes. 

On the other hand, the electorate from Lobamba Lomdzala, where former MP Marwick Khumalo won, said they suspected foul play happened on Saturday. They, however, said they were going to draft their grievances.

“We are going to compile our complaints and send them to EBC as per their request today (yesterday) when we visited their offices,” they said, further stating that they were attended to by EBC Commissioner Ncumbi Maziya. 

Meanwhile, Maziya confirmed that other than the two above mentioned chiefdoms, there were many other complaints they received.

“We have received complaints from Ezulwini, Lobamba Lomdzala, Kwaluseni and some from Mpolonjeni in the Lubombo region,” he said, further adding that he told them to fill the complaints forms.

He said the commission would follow the proper channels in addressing the complaints by the electorate.

“I also advised them to go to the court if need be so that their concerns could be addressed expeditiously,” he added.

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