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I don't want another term'

02/11/2012 00:00:00 SIBUSISO ZWANE

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MANZINI - Prime Minister Sibusiso Barnabas Dlamini is not looking forward to another term in office.

The PM disclosed this when he officially opened the renovated Southern Africa Nazarene University (SANU) and the Raleigh Fitkin Memorial (RFM) Hospital kitchen yesterday.

The head of government also launched the Medical Laboratory Sciences and Pharmacy Assistant Programmes.

He was outlining the importance of continuity in projects of the Nazarene Mission when he made the statement that seemed to shock the over 200 people in attendance.

"I do not know if the one to take over (as PM) will take the projects further because I am not determined to serve another term in office," the Prime Minister said.

The projects that he mentioned included putting on the same scale the terms and conditions of workers in missionary clinics with those in government health institutions.

He said this would minimise the exodus of medical staff from missionary clinics to public institutions.

Dlamini said he did not know who would be entrusted to take the work further because he would ‘not campaign in next year’s elections.’

At this, the crowd murmured, some saying that a PM did not have to campaign for elections.ã€€

Dlamini is currently in his second stint at the helm of government having first been appointed from 1996 to 2003. He was reappointed by His Majesty the King from 2008 to date.

When asked to comment on the PM’s declaration, acting Ludzidzini Governor Timothy Velabo Mtetwa said anyone could say whatever they wanted because this is a free country.

He said according to the country’s Constitution, a Prime Minister was supposed to be appointed.

"So, anyone can be appointed at anytime," Mtetwa said.

Chairman of the King’s Advisory Council, Liqoqo, Prince Logcogco preferred not to comment about the matter stating that his comment would not change anything that the PM had said.

The Swaziland National Teachers Association (SNAT) Secretary General, Muzi Mhlanga, said the problem with Dlamini’s declaration was that Prime Ministers were not elected but appointed.

He said this, therefore, led him to believe that Dlamini would not walk away if he were appointed again.

‘PM’s constituency can extend his term’

MANZINI – Deputy Prime Minister Themba Masuku said only the Prime Minister’s constituency can end or extend his term in office.

"Most of us know he has done a lot, but it is not in my or anybody’s capacity to say he can have another term or not.

"Only his constituency can decide whether he end his term or not," he said.

PM disrespectful to Sibaya - Jan

MANZINI – President of the Swaziland Democratic Party Jan Sithole said Prime Minister, Sibusiso Dlamini was disrespecting the Sibaya submissions by waiting until the end of his term to vacate office.

"If the rule of law were to be followed, he and his Cabinet would have vacated office just after Sibaya. To say that he is not looking for another term means he will not go until the end of the current term.

"He has a duty to carry the people’s interest and doing the opposite is belittling the intelligence of the Swazi people. I think the best that he could do is to address the Swazi people and ask them to bear with him and his Cabinet and ask that they be allowed to finish their term. This government has done so many negative things to be allowed to finish their term," he said.

COMMENTS:

- He lost a vote of no confidence - he should not be in office now, never mind next term. The MPs have the power to pass a supplementary budget. They should take a vote to amend Circular No 1 so that it replaces all salaries, allowances and end of term benefits for this PM and the other Minsters with a payment of E1 per month.
November 2, 2012, 12:00 pm, Laura Norder

- my only prayer here is that the Authorities of the land appoint Mr Barnabas Sibusiso Dlamini Prime Minister for life in order for him to fix the damage that has been done. It would really be unfair to make it another person's responsibility. Yizwa Nkosiyami imithandazo yethu!
November 2, 2012, 12:00 pm, Dzingiswako, The Wonderer.

- What matters to me is not whether the current PM or his Cabinet wants a return to public office or not, but is the wrongful, illegitimate and unopular manner in which they assume the very public office they occupy. The appointments of these people (without any mandates from the Swazis) is indicative of the tinkhundla system that centralises power and pushes Swazis to the corner in the country of their birth. When are Swazis going to decide their future, their destiny and their leader? Can this happen in a faulty, backward and archaic political system like tinkhundla? Aren't we grown up enough to handle issues of our country without fear or favour? Aren't we political mature enough to decides who or which group of people lead us? Time will tell; watch this space!
November 2, 2012, 12:01 pm, Mboniswa Lukhele