The nation will in two weeks’ time converge at the Ludzidzini national cattle byre, where many expect His Majesty King Mswati III to dissolve parliament.
The important national meeting is scheduled for July 11, 2023.
This emerged at a press conference held at the country’s traditional headquarters, where Indvuna Themba Ginindza extended the invitation from the Head of State to the nation to attend the all-important meeting.
The agenda for the meeting was not specified, but it is largely expected that on this day it would be the last day in office for the incumbent parliamentarians as many anticipates the king to dissolve parliament in order to pave way for the forthcoming national parliamentary elections.
Registration for the forthcoming poll scheduled for August and September has just concluded and currently voters are busy with the inspection of the voters’ roll, and it is expected that the next step would be for the king to allow the current parliamentarians to go home to prepare for the stiff contest.
Government Spokesperson Alpheus Nxumalo could not provide answers when queried about the agenda of the national meeting. He avoided the question, saying he cannot comment on the subject because his opinion could be misconstrued as the official position of government on the meeting and yet everything would be unveiled on the big day.
“I cannot speculate,” he said, insisting that he respected the purpose and significance of the expected national gathering.
However, predictions indicate that the king could make the important announcement of dissolving parliament on the day in question to pave way for the election.
Usually when the king dissolves parliament he allows his team of cabinet ministers some last moments to wound up business, before their end of term shortly before the primary elections.
The poll will determine which candidates will represent the electorate in the legislative chambers for the next five-year parliamentary term, as the current one has come to its end.
Local citizens are expected to cast their ballots from August to September to come up with each representative from the country’s 59 Constituencies. The election will be contested by candidates identified by the electorate from each of the constituencies.
Apart from parliamentary representatives, voters are also expected to elect Chiefdom Councillors (Bucopho) and those to fill the positions of Constituency Headmen.
Participation for the contested position is on individual basis and no one is permitted to enter the race under the banner of a political party.
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