Times Of Swaziland: ... some MPs got kickbacks - MP

... some MPs got kickbacks - MP
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 ZWELAKHE MOAHLOLI on 20/10/2012 00:00:00


MBABANE – It has been revealed that some Members of Parliament (MPs) were
allegedly promised incentives to reverse the vote of no confidence passed on
Cabinet by the House of Assembly.
On Monday, members of the House took about eight hours of debate to reverse the
vote of no confidence which was passed on Cabinet on October 3, 2012. This was
after a caucus.
When debating the issue on Monday, Nkhaba MP Enock Dlamini, who is against the
reversal said even if he was offered an ambassadorial post he would not
compromise his integrity.
Later interviewed Dlamini alleged that some members had been promised lucrative
government jobs.
"I had asked one of the MPs why he had a sudden change of heart and he told me
he was now with Cabinet. I asked what they had offered him. He responded that I
would never hear him ask for airtime from me again. He said he was now getting
more international trips," he alleged.
Dlamini, who was the seconder of the motion that had called for the King to
dissolve Cabinet, did not come out clear to give names of the individuals who
lobbied for the reversal of the decision.
Interestingly, on Wednesday, some parliamentarians made fun of Mafutseni MP
Joseph Madonsela, calling him a Cabinet minister.
Madonsela and Kwaluseni MP Sibusiso ‘Mabhanisi’ Dlamini were part of the
legislators who were behind the motion that resulted in the reversal of the
vote.
In separate interviews, both MPs denied being promised or offered anything by
Cabinet.
Madonsela said he has never even received, at least, airtime from any Cabinet
minister.
He elaborated that at times he would ‘buzz’ (call and quickly cut-off call
before it is answered) a minister, who would then call him back.
In addition, Madonsela said he informed members of his constituency that he
would never take any form of bribe from anyone.
Madonsela’s colleague, Kwa-luseni MP who is popularly known as Mabhanisi said
he heard from the grapevine that some MPs were promised food parcels to be used
during their campaign for next year’s election.
Asked about promises of lucrative jobs, Mabhanisi succinctly stated that this
would be impossible because Cabinet had about six months left in power. "How
would they know they are coming back in 2013? To me this does not make sense,"
he said.
Meanwhile MP Mabhanisi stressed that they were never pressured or influenced by
anyone.
"We did this voluntarily. I had a change of heart after carefully looking at
some technicalities and at the situation. Cabinet was working, and we were not.
People need services out there.
"Let me make an example, the recent rains have damaged roads – they need to be
repaired. If we went ahead with the vote of no confidence, where would we have
reported the problems because we would have fired Cabinet? We need to give
people the services they need," the Kwaluseni MP justifying his reason of
calling for the reversal of the vote of no confidence.
‘... I’ m getting mild threats’
MBABANE – MP Joseph Madonsela has claimed to have received threats.
The Mafutseni MP pointed out that he has been receiving the threats through his
telephone.
"The threats I’m getting vary. Some of these people are asking why I renegaded
because they wanted Cabinet out. Others are saying, your chances for the 2013
elections are slim, while the rest are saying what they wanted is the truth," he
elaborated.
As a result of the reversal, Madonsela said he had also been getting compliments
from different sectors.
"People are saying that I had shed light on the matter. And they are saying the
fact that what you had lobbied has passed it shows that it contained elements of
truth," he said.
On the change of the Order Paper, Madonsela responded that the House could
regulate itself.
"It shows that the House was on board. I was excited and happy to see that the
House was on board," he said.
Initially, Madonsela was supposed to be the mover of the motion reversing the
vote of no confidence while Kwaluseni MP Sibusiso Dlamini was to second it.
Meanwhile, Dlamini said he has not received any threats.
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COMMENTS:
- Well here is to ACC. Just be proactive and not waitf or the PM to tell you who
to go after as is the perception where I am sitting. This is a shameful system
corrupt to the core, characterized by cronysm and God knows what else...how
tragic! Trouble is we have nowhere to look for this to be addressed...what a
state! The leaderes of this nation they will regret having missed the
opportunity to address this decay; when the chickens finally come home to roost,
and roost they will one day.
October 20, 20121, 11:00 am, Burns Dlamini (Lobhoncela)