…As over 260k votes
…EBC Retariates on no campaigning before allocated time
DELISA THWALA
MBABANE– Over 260 000 people have registered for the 2023 National Elections so far.
Figures that were issued by the Elections and Boundaries Commission (EBC) showed that the overall number of people who have registered for the elections since May 10, 2023 increased to 263 551 from 249 844 on Sunday.
This means 13 705 people registered yesterday only. A total of 140 776 women had registered yesterday. At least 5 249 women registered yesterday alone.
Male registrants were 122 775 from 116 988 on Monday. Yesterday, 5 787 males registered. Overall, women still lead the registration. The voter registration will last until June 14, 2023.
While some people have registered their worry about others whom they deem campaigning, EBC says there is no way one can campaign before the allotted time.
By allotted time, the Elections and Boundaries Commission (EBC) Public Communications Officer Mbonisi Bhembe said after the nomination of candidates, who would be standing for the upcoming national elections.
Bhembe was responding to concerns raised by the public on Eswatini Broadcasting and Information Services (EBIS) this morning. He said the commission had no definition of any act linked to campaigning except to say it was unheard of.
He said campaigning was reserved for candidates who had been nominated to stand for the elections, after the primary elections.
Bhembe said procedurally, campaigning would start after the primary elections, which are scheduled for August 26, 2023. He said campaigning would be open to every nominated candidate on August 27, 2023 until September 27, 2023.
“For a candidate to campaign, he/she must first be nominated by the people at royal kraal level to stand for the elections, be it for bucopho, indvuna yenkhundla and MP positions. No one can be said to be campaigning unless he/she has been nominated to stand for the elections. All nominated candidates are expected to start campaigning after the nomination process,” Bhembe said.
