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SUPPORTIVE OF TINKHUNDLA SYSTEM

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RIGHT TO REPLY

Sir,

While this writer would fully support Vusi Sibisi’s concerns about the recent ‘abrupt silencing’ of the Public Accounts Committee, contrary to Section 129 (5) of the Constitution, in his insightful article in the Times of Swaziland dated May 27, 2019, the writer is not totally convinced that the suggested reason for the indefinite suspension of all future sittings, rests entirely with perceived weaknesses in the Tinkhundla system of governance.


In January 2019, the writer was invited by the Observer on Sunday to comment as their guest writer on the 2018 general elections in Eswatini.
The writer sought to address some of the other issues raised with regard to the absence of transparency, accountability, checks and balances, corruption, the future role of women in political life and the absence of political pluralism.


The writer’s article was broadly supportive of the Tinkhundla system of governance, as, in his opinion, it encourages participation at the ‘grassroots’ and the election of individuals who are well known and respected in their communities. Those individuals selected as MPs are elected to fulfill the mandate of those they represent and with whom they live closely together within their communities.


Parliament


“We send to Parliament the people we know and trust” - National Secretary Nhlanhla Dlamini (Times SUNDAY dated October 28, 2018).
Section 79 of the Constitution calls for a ‘democratic, participatory, tinkhundla-based system which emphasizes the devolution of state power from central government to tinkhundla areas and individual merit as a basis for election or appointment to public office’.


In the 11th Parliament, 59 MPs were directly elected from their Tinkhundla to the House of Assembly. In the writer’s opinion, the onus now is therefore very much on those 59 MPs to demonstrate that they were indeed elected on ‘individual merit’ if they are to fulfill their political mandate, as outlined in Section 79 of the Constitution.


Right


Because, in a democratic society, re-election to Parliament should never be an assumed automatic right.
As evidenced by the fact that some high-profile candidates, who had been MPs representing their Tinkhundla for many years, did lose their seats in the 11thParliament (‘Giants crash out’ – Times SUNDAY September 23, 2018).


Democracy can take many forms but should always be flexible enough to adapt to any given socio-political or cultural situation. Democracy, as defined in western society, is not the only legitimate form of democratic government.


The current political system may not be perfect but, in the writer’s opinion, the Eswatini constitutional model is a better model than many other so-called ‘democratic’ countries. Can the autocratic Kim Jung-Un really refer to his country as the Democratic People’s Republic of North Korea?
The writer thinks not.
The Constitution successfully reflects current Eswatini society, its traditions and culture.


Represents


It also represents the deep spiritual link between the Eswatini people and their close kinship with their King, re-affirmed annually at the Incwala ceremony.
So, the conclusion that the writer reached in his January article, on the evidence available, was that while ultimately legislative authority rests with His Majesty as the Head of State, there is without doubt a new dawn in Eswatini political life, with a move towards a more benevolent constitutional monarchy and a bicameral parliamentary legislative system with an appointed timphunga (Senate) and a mainly elected Bayasikhulu (House of Assembly), which does allow the ordinary emaSwati, through their directly elected MPs, to have a voice in the political decision-making process.


And where early appointment to higher public office must now also be based on ‘individual merit’ too and not just the surname ‘Dlamini’.
Supported by a written Constitution, which is in tune with the Eswatini culture and as importantly, the unquantifiable importance given by the Eswatini people over many centuries to the role of their monarch.


Embrace


The current political system seeks to embrace the social structures, ideals and customs of the people but hopefully going forward, the 11th Parliament will also take on board the need for an even more consultative political system and a more transparent financial accountability to discourage alleged corruption in both public and corporate life, as recommended by Sive Siyinqaba (National Movement).


In the writer’s opinion, the real issue is one of credibility and the ability of some (not all) of the 59 elected MPs to the House of Assembly who need to be more aware of their own individual responsibilities, not only in finding creative solutions to their country’s current economic problems but also in finding the moral strength to challenge, where possible corruption is identified and not just to focus on personal issues, such as the benefits package for newly-elected MPs.


While the writer would be the first to acknowledge that, he is not a liSwati by birth, of one thing the writer is very certain. The Tinkhundla system of governance does have a continuing role to play in Eswatini political life and must never be seen as just ‘a rubber stamp for Executive decisions’.

Anonymous

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