Finance Minister Neal Rijikernberg and his State controlled journalists’ attempt to discredit our story suggesting that the Minister did not register for 2018 elections has backfired.
Firstly, let me state that the Minister’s Voter Registration Card published by the Times with an intention to discredit our story is allegedly fraudulent, there’s no Bhunya Chiefdom in eSwatini.
It is possible that after I questioned the Minister on Friday afternoon, he might have rushed to fraudulently produce the Voter Registration Card to the Times of eSwatini.
But,both the Minister and the journalists who were assisting him failed to notice that Bhunya is not a Chiefdom but a village under LaMgabhi with a large part of it under Zondwako Chiefdom.
Bhunya Village was named by King Sobhuza II after officially opening the Usuthu Pulp Company, the machine was producing a smoke(kuyaBhunya)hence the name of the village.
As mentioned, part of Bhunya is under Zondwako under Chief Velamuva Maseko, Indvuna Petros Mavimbela, the current Speak in the House of Assembly.
Perhaps, let me further assist the Minister that Mbabane is not a Chiefdom, the south-eastern part of the capital city is under LaMgabhi eTiyeni Chiefdom while the north western part is under Pholonjeni uMphakatsi.
The capital city was named after M-BA-BA-NE Kunene, a traditionalist whose home was at the city-centre, Neal does not know all this historical information that’s why he produced the alleged fraudulent voter card.
My questionnaire was very clear to the Minister on Friday, if he had registered for the 2018 elections, he could have produced the card to me to avoid the political mess he has found himself-in now.
Neal Rijikernberg allegedly misled the King by accepting an appointment as a Member of Parliament(MP) and subsequently, a Minister of Finance knowing very well that he had not registered for elections thus violating the Elections Act.
The Elections and Boundaries Commission(EBC) voter registration system was programmed in a manner that automatically identifies a voter’s Chiefdom as per the Identification(ID) number.
Perhaps now,after exposing this,I am expecting the State controlled journalists to publish another story, this time, trying to convince the public that the elections registration system was faulty.
Now, if a whole Finance Minister can produce such alleged fraudulent document, we have a reason to believe that public funds are not safe under his administration.
Finance Minister Neal Rijikernberg alleged fraudulent Voter Registration Card.