BY DELISA THWALA
MBABANE – The Elections and Boundaries Commission(EBC) is smiling from ear to ear thanks to the good reviews that keep flocking in about the app they developed.
Instead of waiting for news reports and social media updates for election results, the nation got prompt updates through the EBC’s latest innovation, the elections mobile APP.
This app sought to ease the nation’s concerns on the fairness and transparency of the election process.
“ I do not want to lie, but when EBC developed that app, they knew what they were doing. For me it was easier to keep up with the elections on the go without waiting for media publications the next day,” said Mxolisi Malindzisa who has the app and used it during the secondary elections during the weekend.
Another member of the public said “ I really would love to see the developers of the app. It was such a convenient way to keep up. It is a hassle free app with no long process of logging in or Google Authorisation. Even an old person could use it,” said Mbhele Zubuko.
The app was designed by the Elections and Boundaries Commission (EBC), in collaboration with the Royal Science and Technology Park (RSTP).
It was already up and running, and available for Android and iPhone users during the secondary elections which took place on September 29, 2023.
EBC Communication Officer Mbonisi Bhembe confirmed the release of the mobile app, and its convenience.
He said it provided information about candidates who were participating in the elections in recent primary elections; who they were, how many votes they got, as well as the status of the polling stations.
Bhembe also worked on even updating the app periodically, to show in terms of the voter turnout and how far it had gone.
Bhembe revealed that the commission would also update results, so that people could easily get information on their fingertips.
“We have developed an app which will make it easier for locals to follow the elections, especially the youth, who we are hoping will be excited by this product,” said Bhembe
Explaining further he said, the rationale behind the designing of the mobile app, was the great need for data, adding that the commission’s mandate was to be transparent in its dealings in the elections processes.
“This is to ease people, because there are always suspicions that the elections are not conducted fairly, in that we are said to be favouring some candidates against others. So we then decided to dispel those myths with these innovative ideas,” Bhembe said.
Worth mentioning is that the app is available on Google PlayStore, where you simply search for EBC Eswatini.
The EBC logo is visible and then one has to download and install it.
Bhembe said they were hoping that Eswatini would be ranked among the first to have used a web application in the dissemination of election information.
WHAT OTHERS HAD TO SAY
Setsabile Sibandze
EBC really said hold my cup, with the Election app what a breeze to be able to get real time results and information on elections.
Martha Thwala
I’m sorry but they really went in hard with that app. The last time I voted we had to wait for phone calls and papers to know who won, now? EBC upped the scales.
Sizwe Maziya
This was a transparent way they used to give us real time results that were not altered or overlooked. We really thank the EBC team for the app.
Mcebo Mhlanga
Wow. When I saw the app and how easy it was to navigate through it I knew then that EBC had won me over.
London Dlamini
What EBC did is show us that we are really moving into full time and full use of technology and we better catch on now before we are left behind.
Zama Mthembu
No one was really left behind hey? Imagine how many people were assisted by the app instead of waiting for reports and fake Facebook counts. It was a good one EBC
