BY MBONO MDLULI
MBABANE – Over 2 000 people have registered for the upcoming Bucopho by-elections, which will be held on November 22, 2025.
The registrations were conducted in Macudvulwini and Mphumakudze chiefdoms, signalling strong community interest in the local governance process.
According to figures released by the Elections and Boundaries Commission (EBC), Macudvulwini chiefdom, which falls under Ngwemphisi Inkhundla in the Manzini Region, recorded 1 198 registered voters. Meanwhile, Mphumakudze chiefdom under Siphofaneni Inkhundla in the Lubombo Region registered 893 voters.
With registration now complete, the EBC will move on to the crucial stage of voter validation. This process is designed to confirm whether those who registered are indeed bona fide residents of the respective chiefdoms, ensuring that the mandate to elect leaders rests only with genuine members of the communities.
Speaking to Eswatini TV, EBC Communications Manager Mbonisi Bhembe stressed the importance of this step. He explained that validation safeguards the integrity of the elections by guaranteeing that only eligible residents can participate in the selection of their local representative.
“The validation process is critical because it ensures that those who will vote are genuine residents of their chiefdoms. The people who will eventually be voted for as Bucopho must receive a legitimate mandate from their true community members,” Bhembe said.
He further highlighted the significance of the Bucopho position in Eswatini’s administrative structure. Bucopho representatives serve as essential links between the chiefdoms and the Inkhundla system, playing a central role in community development initiatives and local governance. “The Bucopho position is very important in the administration of Eswatini, which is why everything has to be done properly,” Bhembe emphasised.
The by-elections come as part of Eswatini’s commitment to ensuring active citizen participation in governance and maintaining accountability at the grassroots level. The EBC is expected to announce further details on the election dates once the validation exercise is concluded.
For now, the focus remains on verifying the legitimacy of the 2 091 registered voters across the two chiefdoms, a process that will ultimately pave the way for transparent and credible by-elections.
The strong registration numbers are seen as a positive sign of public interest in shaping leadership at local levels, reaffirming the importance of inclusive governance in Eswatini.
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Courtesy Pic)
