Forget it!
MBABANE – The Parliament resolution to restore the 10 per cent on the salaries of legislators has reportedly been met with strong resistance from government.
The resistance manifested itself during the caucus between Members of Parliament and some Cabinet ministers on Monday afternoon.
Deputy Prime Minister Themba Masuku is said to have told the MPs in no uncertain terms that they should forget about the restoration of the-now contentious 10 per cent on their remuneration.
Masuku, who is currently the acting Prime Minister, is said to have submitted that it would be absurd for the government to move back and forth on the issue of pay cuts.
The DPM is said to have told the MPs: "Once you make a decision you have no choice but to stick to it."
He told the parliamentarians that it was for this reason that it would be practically impossible for government to implement the Parliament resolution. Masuku is said to have submitted that he "can’t be part of such a move".
The DPM, according to insiders, told the MPs that the restoration of the 10 per cent on their salaries would lead to labour unrest by unions in the Kingdom.
The sources said the veteran politician debated strongly that it would be arduous for government to prevent the labour struggle after the implementation of the Parliament resolution.
When contacted Masuku said he was prohibited by the Parliament Standing Orders to publicly divulge the contents of the caucus. A majority of MPs interviewed confirmed that the DPM told them point blank to forget about the restoration of the 10 per cent on their remuneration.
Government, as per the resolution, was supposed to restore the 10 per cent at the beginning of last month.
Finance Minister, Majozi Sithole, in a recent interview, assured the legislators that the restoration would be back-dated to the effective date, but to no avail.
The MPs are said to be awaiting the return of the Prime Minister Sibusiso Dlamini to forward their grievances on the non implementation of the resolution.
MPs vow to get reversal
MBABANE – Members of Parliament are adamant about the restoration of the 10 per cent on their salaries.
Almost all the interviewed MPs yesterday said they would not rest until government implemented the Parliament resolution.
"All we want is for government to stop effecting deductions on our salaries much against our will," said one MP from the Hhohho region.
A majority of the MPs hoped government would abide by the Parliament resolution and restore the 10 per cent on their remuneration.
"That the implementation of the Parliament resolution would spark a labour unrest is not our baby. All we want is our money," said another legislator.
Lobamba Lomdzala MP, Marwick Khumalo, who is also the Chairman of the Finance Committee, last week vowed that they would not back down, but would ensure that government implements the resolution. Other MPs had also been vocal during Parliament sessions about the need to have the cuts reversed even going as far as suggesting that they be back-dated.
MPs were not happy that government had not implemented the salary cuts on the civil servants as they had suggested when it first called for the cuts.
Way to go DPM - civil servants
MBABANE – The union for civil servants believes that the restoration of the 10 per cent on the salaries of parliamentarians would demonstrate nothing but abuse of power.
This was said by Vincent Dlamini, the Secretary General of the National Public Service and Allied Workers Union (NAPSAWU), in an interview yesterday.
Dlamini said the implementation of the Parliament resolution would mean both Parliament and Cabinet do not care about the interests of the citizens – thus doing things haphazardly.
"I fully concur with the said view of the DPM, Themba Masuku that the restoration of the 10 per cent would lead to a labour unrest," he said. He further said: "As civil servants, we would definitely demand an increase in our salaries.’
He stressed that the labour force would not take kindly to the restoration of the 10 per cent pay cuts.
"The labour unrest would be inevitable the moment the Parliament resolution is implemented," he added.
Comments
His Majesty must just dissolve letidli leti. They have once again proven that they only care about their stomachs and nothing else. Why should they have the ten percent reinstated when the country still faces a financial crisis? Cabinet is even more decent than this lot! The sooner this parliament is dissolved, the better. Cabinet can govern for the remaining months until the elections. Hawu safa tidli!!!!
May 23, 2012, 4:27 AM, Lobusika Dlamini
It appears at least that some sense is prevailing in the head of the DPM now. I now understand that if somebody had done so many bad things like the likes of DPM ( remember the controversial circular #1) that person then develops a sixth sense. Parliamentarians have exposed themselves on how dull they are. One thing left though Mr DPM;THE CIRCULAR,my foot!
May 23, 2012, 4:27 AM, Khaya Mpembe
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