Times Of Swaziland: PETROS MAVIMBELA IS NEW PARLY SPEAKER

PETROS MAVIMBELA IS NEW PARLY SPEAKER
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BY SIBONGILE SUKATI on 12/10/2018 06:44:00


LOBAMBA – Themba Msibi’s era as Parliament Speaker is over.  This unfolded
yesterday when he was beaten hands down by the new Speaker Petros Mavimbela, who
is also Mhlambanyatsi Member of Parliament (MP).
All 69 Members of Parliament (MPs) participated in the voting which saw
Mavimbela amass 47 votes and the loser Msibi receiving only 22.
Mavimbela’s ascent to the seat was preceded by an emotional and convincing
motivation by newly elected Hosea MP Mduduzi Bacede Mabuza, who was the mover of
the motion.
He said it would be amiss if the elected MPs chose someone from outside the
House to represent them.
Although he made no mention of Msibi, he stated that the country was in a bad
financial state, and to add an additional member from outside the House would be
an extra burden to the taxpayer.
Msibi was nowhere to be seen in Parliament, although others had said he was
present within Parliament premises.
“We would be very wrong to leave out someone who was given to us by the people
of Mhlambanyatsi, particularly since the economy is down,” said MP Mabuza.
He continued to state that he believed that the Speaker should be one chosen by
the people.
He said it would be absurd for the MPs to elect a Speaker who had sent threats
and promised others ‘Mbabane jobs’.
By ‘Mbabane jobs’, he meant a post in Cabinet.
At this point, Maphalaleni MP Mabulala Maseko stood up on a point of order and
said no person had promised anyone a Cabinet post or threatened others.
However, MP Mabuza was adamant that he had evidence in the form of text messages
(SMSes) and phone calls that were made.
“I have all the SMSes and if I am supposed to reveal them, I will not hesitate
to do so,” said Mabuza.
He continued to state that he had previously worked with the Speaker (Mavimbela)
during the Ninth Parliament and he was an impartial man.
MP Mabuza was seconded by Mhlume MP Victor Malambe, who said he had also worked
with Mavimbela between 2008-2013.
MP Malambe said the MPs should be the first to put trust in the people who had
elected Mavimbela.
“If we love emaSwati, we should not put them into more expenses, because how
would we justify it?” asked Malambe.
He said Mavimbela was a humble and honourable man who would not cause any
disarray in the House.
Meanwhile, MP Maseko in motivating for Msibi, said he was an old horse in
politics as he also was once a minister in various portfolios.
He said Msibi was impartial and did not pick and choose between MPs. He said
Msibi had worked very hard during his last term, even when things got tough.
He was supported by Sigwe MP David Ngcamphalala, who said Msibi had served
Parliament diligently and held no grudges, adding that he (Msibi) was very
respectful.
However, it all came down to the ballot box where the MPs, by secret ballot,
voted in the new Speaker Mavimbela.