BY SIFISO NHLABATSI
MBABANE – Prime Minister Russell Mmiso Dlamini has led by example by registering to vote in the 2028 National Elections, urging emaSwati to follow suit while there is still ample time to do so.
The Prime Minister registered on Friday during a voter registration exercise conducted by the Elections and Boundaries Commission (EBC) at the Private and Cabinet Office in Mbabane.
Following the registration, Dlamini encouraged eligible citizens to take advantage of the ongoing exercise rather than waiting until the last minute.
“We encourage the public to register whilst it is still early to avoid registering in haste,” the Prime Minister said.
He said the EBC had started the registration process well ahead of the 2028 elections, giving emaSwati sufficient time to ensure that they are registered and ready to participate in the electoral process.
“EBC has started well ahead of time with two years remaining before another government takes office,” Dlamini said.
The Prime Minister said the registration process would allow citizens to prepare themselves to participate in choosing representatives who would serve in Parliament during the next term.
“We are happy that we have registered to elect people who will represent us in parliament in the next term,” he said.
Dlamini also called on the nation to make use of the opportunity presented by the EBC, saying he hoped emaSwati would respond positively to the registration drive.
“We hope the nation will grab the opportunity to register,” he said.
The Prime Minister’s registration comes as the EBC conducts civic and voter education alongside continuous voter registration ahead of the 2028 General Election.
The commission is currently encouraging eligible citizens to visit their nearest voter registration station and complete the registration process.
The exercise is being taken closer to communities, with voter registration stations clearly branded with EBC identification, while additional registration centres are expected to open in the coming weeks.
The EBC has also been conducting voter awareness activities, including engagements with learners at schools, as part of efforts to promote youth participation and civic awareness ahead of the elections.
Continuous voter registration is provided for under amendments to Eswatini’s electoral laws. Government has previously highlighted the introduction of continuous voter registration as one of the changes intended to improve the electoral process.
The commission has also been conducting civic and voter education in communities ahead of the 2028 elections, with issues around participation, eligibility and the electoral process forming part of its engagements. Recent EBC outreach has included community discussions on who can contest elections and other aspects of electoral participation.
At the Prime Minister’s registration, Acting Government Spokesperson Thabile Mdluli and members of the media who were present also took the opportunity to register.
The Prime Minister’s call comes at a time when the EBC is seeking to build early participation in the electoral process, giving eligible citizens the opportunity to register well before the 2028 General Election.
With registration already underway, the message from the Prime Minister is clear: emaSwati should not wait until the last minute.
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