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Govt has shortage of drafters

02/08/2010 00:00:00 SENZO DLAMINI

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MBABANE – Government is currently faced with an acute shortage of drafters of legislative Bills.

Deputy Attorney General Sabelo Matsebula, in an interview last week, confirmed the prevailing scenario which he said was presently rendering the legislative Bill drafting process moribund.

Matsebula said at the moment, the kingdom had only four drafters yet they were supposed to be at least eight in total.

He made an example of Lesotho, saying the king- dom boasts of 18 draft- ers.

"Ours is a very serious situation when it comes to the shortage of drafters," said the deputy AG.

"The vacancies are there, but the only problem is that there’re very few drafters in the country.

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"No one is available to fill the posts."

Matsebula said the office of the AG relied heavily on the foreign expertise provided by the Commonwealth Secretariat on a contract basis.

The drafters, according to the deputy AG, are responsible for the drafting of legislative Bills, legal and general notices, regulations, treaties including contracts involving the governent.

He said the Legislative Bills were the ones tabled by Cabinet ministers in the various ministries before Parliament for debate and approval thus becoming an Act.

Matsebula said treaties largely touched on International Conventions ratified by the kingdom.

"As drafters, we’ve to ensure the international conventions suit local standards," he add- ed.

Ex-principal magistrate is in Ghana

MBABANE – Selby Gama, the former Principal Magistrate in the Manzini region, is currently in Ghana.

Gama, according to Deputy Attorney General Sabelo Matsebula, jetted out of the country a fortnight ago to Accra to attend a three-month course in legislative drafting.

Matsebula said Gama, currently employed by government as Principal Crown Counsel, would return home armed with a diploma in legislative drafting.

He said the course is organised and fully sponsored by the Commonwealth Secretariat.

"Government only bought Selby a return air ticket," said the deputy AG.

"It’s a very good course and I’ve no doubt that it will benefit the country.

Gama, who was once engaged by government as a Coroner in the case of the two boys belonging to a Jele family, is expected back home at the end of October 2010.

He assumed the position of Principal Crown Counsel around April this year.

"It was a direct transfer as the position is equivalent to that of Principal Magistrate," clarified Matsebula.

Gama succeeded John Magagula, who was transferred to the Ministry of Public Works and Transport – as Legal Advisor.