SIVE PUSHES FOR POWER

Times Sunday

10 August 2008

Sive pushes for power

BY MAKHOSI MAGONGO

MBABANE—As suggested by the then party Chairman after the 2003 elections, Sive Siyinqaba National Movement members look set to occupy a significant number of seats in the next Parliament.

Over 40 people who were nominated last week to stand for elections are members of Sive Siyinqaba, and counting was still ongoing at the time of compiling this report.

Sive Siyinqaba is a political party that was formed as a cultural organisation in April 1996, and had quite a number of Members in Parliament that was recently dissolved.

However, political parties are still prevented by law from participating in political governance and people can only stand for elections as individuals.

According to the organisation’s Publicist Secretary, Zibuse Simelane, about 40 members had confirmed their nomination on Tuesday.

However, he said the figure applies to those who will stand to be elected for Member of Parliament and Constituency Headman (Indvuna Yenkhundla).

Although evasive at first, Simelane said all their members called the members of their executive to report on results during the nomination exercise.

Confirm

"So far, I can safely say over 40 members have called to confirm their nomination. However, the number is subject to the Primary elections out.

"We were not too surprised by the number because our organisation encouraged members not to boycott this national assignment. As a result, many of them participated and have been elected," he said.

Simelane, however, clarified that the nominees were chosen in their individual capacity, not as members of Sibahle.

"They have been nominated because residents can see that they can bring change or can improve the social well-being of their communities," he said.

He said not all the nominated members would be elected.

"However, the high number of nominees does not mean that they will all go to parliament. In some cases, we have two of our members nominated in one chiefdom," he said.

Simelane said he had not been mandated to disclose the names of the people nominated, as some were not ready to disclose their membership. However, some of the known members, which he also confirmed include Marwick Khumalo, Gideon Dlamini, Bomber Mamba, Masalekhaya Simelane, Mgabhi Dlamini, Gibson ‘Cracker’ Hlophe and Govane Mvubu. Some of the contacted members declined to be named at this stage.

Understand

"You have to understand that in some constituencies, in particular those located in rural areas, people still associate a political party as an evil force. Therefore, that they know I am a member of Sibahle, they might not elect me based on an ill informed view," said one nominee from the Manzini region.

Sive Siyinqaba’s Chairman Musa Nkambule said they were happy with the response from members who were encouraged to avail themselves for nomination in their respective constituencies.

"I am happy with the number, we have quite a number of our members nominated. I have actually asked in our Tuesday meeting for a list of all the members nominated. We are still getting the exact number per Inkhundla and we will let you know soon.

"We encouraged our members to go for positions in Bucopho to MP because governance is in many levels," he said.

Sibahle was initially formed as a cultural organization, often associated with the status quo by some rival political organizations.

However, in 2006, it was transformed into a National Movement, and was re-launched on August 5, in a colourful event held at Ezulwini Sun’s Convention Centre.

During the re-launch, the party presented two sets of documents to members: the Philosophies and Policies, and the revised constitution. Both documents sought to re-launch the organization as a national movement.

The organization has members in high places, including some legislators from the previous parliament. Some of those who were in the lower house had been elected in their respective constituencies, while a majority of Senators appointed were members of the organization.

After its re-launch, the party embarked on a recruitment campaign, where branches were formed in all four regions.

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