BY KWANELE TSABEDZE
LOBAMBA – “The House of Senate should be capable of taking the country to first-world status.”
These were the words of Clerk to Parliament Benedict Xaba when orienting the newly sworn-in Members of Parliament (MPs) on the elections of Senators which begins today.
The nominations happened by category of gender, whereby the female Senator candidates were nominated first. This is all In accordance with the Senate Elections Act of 2013.
The female nominees were as follows (number of nominations in brackets): Sibongile Nonozi Ndlela, Nkhosingisite Lorraine Nxumalo who was nominated twice, Nonhlanhla Khabo Dlamini (2), Bongile Lungile Mbingo. Fezeka Nothando Dlamini (2), Mcebo Shongwe-Dlamini, Dimpho T Masuku, Goodness Khanyisile Malambe (3), Lizzie Funekile Nkosi. Linda Nxumalo, Busie Alexia Dlamini, Lindiwe Patricia Ngwenya.
Notably not new to politics were Lizzie Nkosi who was the Minister of Health in the previous Parliament. Another politically involved nominee was Dimpho Masuku, who is wife to the former Deputy Prime Minister Themba Masuku.
The candidates will face off in elections following the vetting process, before the end of the week.
