Times Of Swaziland: MPs pass vote of no confidence MPs pass vote of no confidence ================================================================================ SIBONGILE SUKATI on 04/10/2012 00:00:00 LOBAMBA — History was made yesterday as Members of Parliament passed a vote of no confidence on Cabinet over the switching off of SPTC’s Fixedfones and data components. A total of 42 MPs voted that Cabinet must vacate office while six voted against the motion and two abstained. Section 68 (5) of the Constitution states that where a resolution of no confidence is passed on the Cabinet, by three fifths of all members of the House the King shall dissolve Cabinet. Three fifths majority constitutes at least 39 MPs. It was an emotionally charged debate as MP after MP expressed their disappointment at the Prime Minister Sibusiso Barnabas Dlamini-led Cabinet, charging that they only had their own personal interests at heart and not those of the Swazi nation. "Let us be brave, it has been too long and they have had it coming," said mover of the motion Manzini South MP Thandi Nxumalo. Nxumalo said it was high time that the MPs carried out their duty and also fulfilled the wishes of Sibaya which called for the dismissal of the current Cabinet. "Ijob, yijob, we are the only people who can ensure that they go home, let us not then disappoint the people," said Nxumalo. The MP said she was not warned what would happen to her thereafter adding that "it was nice while we were together, we shall meet again, but right now they must go". Nxumalo was seconded by Nkaba MP Enock Dlamini who accused Cabinet of being corrupt. Dlamini said on one hand, Cabinet had claimed that Swaziland Posts and Telecommunications Corporation (SPTC) was its ‘baby’ and would not let it collapse, yet at the same time they were giving Swazi MTN the better deal. "We have been trying to see the King since 2010 and our efforts have been blocked. We want to know who owns shares where, why are you always hiding the identity of these shareholders?" wondered Dlamini. He claimed that all Cabinet did was lie to royalty about the MPs. "Cabinet brags of wanting cheaper communication in the country yet they switched off the cheaper phones, all they report is lies," alleged Dlamini. Motshane MP, Robert Magongo, told the MPs that if they did not vote Cabinet out they would be in for a rude awakening at the national elections in 2013. "You will get to the voting centres and the electorate will hit you with these useless gadgets. Do this for yourselves and the Swazi nation," said Magongo. He said they were expecting the King to approve Parliament’s decision and there would be a way forward. Marwick fires at SBIS LOBAMBA — Lobamba Lomdzala MP, Marwick Khumalo, yesterday described the local radio station as a ‘heap of manure’. This was after the MPs expressed their disappointed in the manner that the station covered Parliament business. The MPs said the radio station on Monday reported that they had just gone to the House to sign for E350 sitting allowances and did not mention that the reason business was adjourned early was because the matter of the switching off of SPTC Fixedfones could not be discussed.   -------------------------  COMMENTS - Please Editor, publish my letter. FINALLY, and I repeat, FINALLY, parliament has woken up after over four years to smell the coffee! Whether these (previously) useless MP's have earned themselves enough respect to be voted back to parliament in 2013 remains to be seen. But what they've done is commendable as it gives us the opportunity to 'test' the validity of our constitution for the 1st time. I suppose the vote of no confidence is in respect of government failing to take the necessary steps on time to prevent the shut-down of the ONE and Fixed Phones. To begin with, the matter didn't have to reach the International Arbitration stage because gov't would have been able to strike a compromise between the two companies if gov't wasn't sleeping on the job. But instead gov't followed their personal interests at MTN where there's their 'cash register' ringing all the time. This is arguably an unprecedented feat by the MP's who showed courage under fire on behalf of the people who voted them into parliament. No one believes in this Cabinet anymore as exemplified by what your columnist Sibisi refer to as the "Boo Brigade" on 'Gospel Sunday' and at Sibaya. And I'm happy that if they're finally vacate office, benefits of Circular no.1, 2010 won't apply because they would have been fired for "incompetence" as spelt out by that insensitive self-enrichment Circular. The MP's have saved the day,,, win or lose and I take my hat off for them. October 04, 2012, 8:00 am, Keep Exhaling - Now it's left upon the head of state to prove himself. People voted cabinet out during the sibaya and he chose to ignore him. Hope he will play his cards well because such will expose him to the outside world and destroy the little that is left of the country's image. He is from a UN meeting and he is expected to uphold and protect the constitution. Seyime ngawe wena wekunene!!! October 04, 2012, 4:00 pm, Lord Anthony - ah! thats it...thats just it!! what do you expect from someone who has just a few months remaining in office and almost no chance of being re-elected back into the same seat? this is hogwash - and believe me it won't last! for how long have these people played this game on us? for how long have they made empty promises to us, only never to materialize? I can excuse a foreigner for buying into this idea of theirs, but for someone who has lived in this country for as long as I can remember, to believe this would qualify him to be called a FOOL!! Hey, if I may ask, when has this war between MTN and SPTC started? what have the MPs done? Nothing! and now that they are about to be kicked out of office, they are making all this noise. while one may argue that this won't last, we have no option but to listen and to read about them in the local media because they are given the spaces, otherwise one is better off with a blind eye or deaf ear! thank you October 04, 2012, 4:31 pm, Sifiso Dlamini - Thank God the mps have finally saw light,we respect you for that and yes its high time the cabinet vacated office we rather be without leadership than to be led by a self centred cabinet. Thumbs up to the mps hope your decision will be implemented. October 04, 2012, 4:31 pm, Thabile - ya....its high time the cabinet vacated the office, they've done enough damage already. They are supposed to be the nation's people, but what have they given back to the community?nothing,they only think of themselves and tend to forget why they are even voted for. October 04, 2012, 4:31 pm, Nosipho Thwala - thats what we have been waiting for since the land issue and that minister who was brought by cops to the PM office. we can now say we do have paliarment in Swaziland. Now the MPs must sort out the issues where there are aciting chiefs who fail to bring peace in communities and the issues Swazis being relocated without a reason October 04, 2012, 4:31 pm, Manzi Ngwenya - AT LAST, FREE at last. time to celebrate siyabonga bo mp. cishe safa October 04, 2012, 4:31 pm, chuck - This is a defining moment for the supremacy or otherwise of Swaziland's 7-year-old Constitution. I hold my breath as I anticipate what happens next. Will the PM's "Cabinet won't budge" hold sway over the people's representatives? October 04, 2012, 4:31 pm, Dr Sikelela Dlamini - If only enough Swazis would use their heads and vote ANYTHING but not Clown MPs. The vote of no confidence can be argued in Court and who will foot the bill once again?Us the Tax Payers. Vinny October 04, 2012, 4:31 pm, Vinny Ocean - At last this was long overdue.This cabinet will be remembered as the most arrogant & selfish cabinet to ever exist in Swaziland. October 04, 2012, 4:31 pm, Concerned citizen