BY DELISA THWALA
MBABANE – The elections will see the government spend E8 million.
This information was confirmed by Minister of Finance Neal Rijkenberg. He mentioned this during an interview with this publication.
The minister said a budget had already been drawn for the local government elections and it was presented to the ministry. He said the money would be made available for the municipal election as soon as possible.
Rijkenberg said the supplementary budget was passed through the ministry’s Planning and Budgeting Committee (PBC) and went through the Parliament Sessional Committee (PSC) for consideration and approval.
“The municipal elections also needed a supplementary budget to go ahead with elections and that was also passed by the same process as above. I assume that the money will be available to them soon. They asked for E8 million and it was approved by the committee,” he said.
The Ministry of Housing and Urban Development was expected to start the registration process leading to the local government elections on today and will run until February 24, 2023.
According to the internet, the Municipal councils; Mbabane, Ezulwini, Hlathikhulu, Ngwenya, Nhlangano, and Piggs Peak will open registration stations from 8 am to 5 pm daily basis until February 24, 2023. At least 39 registration supervisors and 250 officers were trained and will be posted in the various stations according to inside sources.
To be eligible to register and vote, a person should own property, land, and a business for a period of at least six months. The rules also reflect that for a voter to be registered, he or she should be a native of the country.
The rules also dictate that a person should physically be present and bring a national identification proof, title deeds for those owning land in towns and proof of registered businesses, period in the municipality, status, and a ward number.
