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BIG GUNS CRASH OUT IN SENATE RACE

By Mbono Mdluli | 2018-10-17

It was a day of surprises yesterday as big guns crashed out of the Senate race during the elections of senators.

Members of Parliament (MPs) elected 10 senators, according to Section 94 of the Constitution.

They decided to eliminate the big brothers of the upper chamber, through their vote. Former Senate Deputy President Ngomuyayona Gamedze crashed out of the race. The MPs gave him only one vote, ending his 15-year period in Senate. Eswatini Football Association (EFA) President Adam ‘Bomber’ Mthethwa also crashed out of the race. Mthethwa managed to get only three original votes. Along the way, one vote was added to his name, making his votes to be four. However, this did not help as it eventually emerged that his votes were the lowest. Other big guns that crashed out included former Senator Bhutana Dlamini, Mbabane Swallows General Manager Sandile Zwane, and former Senators Lungile Gama and Lindiwe Ngwenya. Retired police top brass Leckina Magagula and wife to National Commissioner of Police Isaac Magagula became the first candidate to win the race. She won the race soon after reaching 12 votes, which were considered as the quota. This means once a candidate reached the 12 votes, that candidate was considered as the winner.

The second candidate to win the race was Lizzy Nkosi, who was followed by Winile Nxumalo, Khanyisile Malambe, who is wife to MP Victor Malambe and Busi Alexia Dlamini. These senators were the first to win the five seats of the 10 that were available. Among the males, Tony Sibandze was the first to win a seat. Sibandze seemed to be a favourite among the MPs as he easily amassed the 12 votes, becoming clear to everyone that he had done his homework in lobbying the legislators. Sibandze was followed by Alberto Samuels, Mike Temple, Ndumiso Mdluli, and former Hhukwini MP Mkhululi Dlamini.

Khanyisile Malambe, Ndumiso Mdluli, and Michael Temple were the only returnees to the upper chamber. This means the seven other candidates will be new in Senate.

Former Senators Adam ‘Bomber’ Mthethwa, Ngomuyayona Gamedze, Lindiwe Ngwenya, and Lungile Gama were running for another term in the 11th Parliament, but could not make it into Senate.

Senator Michael Temple has promised to help MPs in their constituencies. He said he was grateful to them for trusting him with a senate seat. Since 1993, he has been a Senator because of the MPs in the House of Assembly.

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