PM, SPEAKER CLASH OVER SITTING ARRANGEMENT

LOBAMBA – There was drama in the House of Assembly yesterday as the Speaker, Themba Msibi, challenged Prime Minister (PM) Sibusiso Dlamini over sitting arrangements.

The debate over the sitting arrangement happened as the Members of Parliament (MPs) were about to start their caucus yesterday.
The clash over the sitting arrangements involving the PM and Msibi was captured on the Parliament monitors as the media had been told to excuse the legislators, as is the norm during caucuses.

Msibi remained seated in the Speaker’s chair while the House was to engage in the caucus. This did not augur well with the legislators.
Meanwhile, the PM had left his seat where he sits with Cabinet ministers to sit next to where the chairman of the House sits. However, this seemingly did not impress the Speaker.

He questioned where would he sit.
The premier was overheard saying he had the right to sit anywhere within the House as the minister responsible for Parliamentary business. According to impeccable sources, the premier further shared with the caucus that in some instances, the Speaker was required to leave the House first to take off the robe and hat he wears when addressing the House as chairman.

While all this was happening, government officials, ministers chauffeurs and Parliamentary staff, were able to capture part of it in the dining hall monitor as the microphones were not switched off.

However, within 10 minutes, the microphones were muted and later on the camera feeding the monitor was turned off as visuals faded.

Post your comment

Your name:

Your e-mail address:

Add your comments:

Please enter the code you see in the image:

Image:

Code: