MBABANE. – Over 6 400 candidates have been nominated to contest for 448 political positions in eSwatini parliamentary polls, the Elections and Boundaries Commission (EBC) announced on Monday.

ECB chairperson Gija Dlamini said a total number of 6 486 people, comprising 1 579 women and 4 907 men, are vying for the 59 Member of Parliament seats as well as other positions in elections set for later this month.

In addition to the MP positions, another 59 will become constituency heads while 330 others will be appointed community counsellors, representing the 330 chiefdoms under the 59 constituencies.

Dlamini said the figures indicated that the nation has more confidence in men than in women as the general trend was that there were more male nominees than females in all the four regions of the country.

“For example, there were no female nominees in about three chiefdoms, yet the constitution dictates that there should be at least 30 percent of women in each of the two houses of Parliament: the Senate and House of Assembly,” Dlamini said.

Women and the Law in Southern Africa director Colani Hlatshwako however said the figures showed that Swatis are not far from reaching the desired goal of gender equality in leadership.

The Kingdom of eSwatini will hold primary elections on 25 August to elect members of its 11th Parliament, with a second round of polls set for September 23. – APA.

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