Times Of Swaziland: NO SEATS FOR DIPLOMATS’ FRIENDS IN PUBLIC GALLERY

NO SEATS FOR DIPLOMATS’ FRIENDS IN PUBLIC GALLERY
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BY NTOMBI MHLONGO on 08/02/2018 01:46:00


LOBAMBA - Diplomats will not be allowed to sit with their friends and companions
inside the Parliament public gallery during the official opening next week.
This is one of the strict precautions that the organising committee has taken as
a means of avoiding overcrowding at the much anticipated event.
Having been faced with the challenge of overcrowding especially in the public
gallery in previous years, the committee has taken a stand that diplomats will
not sit with their companions and only their spouses will be allowed.
During a meeting by the different committees yesterday, it was noted that the
gallery seats where diplomats sit usually become overcrowded as most diplomats
come with their companions or friends who accompany them. This leads to a
situation where extra chairs have to be supplied which leads to less breathing
space inside the chambers.
Clerk to Parliament Ndvuna Dlamini, who chaired the meeting, called on the
committee to ensure that protocol officers, who would be managing the sitting
arrangement to allow only the diplomats and their spouses inside the chambers.
Another strict rule communicated yesterday was that only the high commissioners,
ambassadors and heads of missions would be afforded the opportunity to meet and
greet His Majesty the King.
This comes after concerns were raised that during the greeting session many
people, including those from the business sector, ended up joining the queue to
greet His Majesty even when the opportunity is strictly for the specified
dignitaries like high commissioners.
Chief Protocol Mphiwa Dlamini also had a say at the meeting where he raised a
concern that the adding of extra chairs at the gallery to accommodate more
guests was risky and needed to be avoided this year.