DPM’S PRESENCE WASTED IN PARLY STANDOFF

LOBAMBA – The standoff between Cabinet ministers and Members of Parliament (MPs) continues to derail progress in Parliament.

This, after yesterday’s House of Assembly sitting could not take place as a quorum could not be formed. While most ministers were in attendance, the quorum could not be formed as more than half of the MPs did not show up.

Had it taken place, yesterday’s sitting could have worked in the MPs’ favour as the Deputy Prime Minister (DPM), Paul Dlamini, whom they demanded to see on Wednesday, was in attendance.

On Wednesday, the MPs were irked when informed that the DPM could not attend Parliament, yet they expected him to present a statement regarding the fate of the ‘new’ elderly. It was reported that he had left the country on national duties and that nothing had been communicated.

Yesterday, the DPM was in Parliament and checked inside Senate where he greeted and had a chat with senators. Signs that there would be another adjournment of the House of Assembly started showing just after 2:30pm, which is the official starting time for Parliament business as there were only a few MPs.

Deputy Speaker Esther Dlamini, after seeing that there were less than 30 MPs, requested a 10-minute break, after which the official counting was done, which proved that it would not be possible to have a sitting.
Even though the Attorney General, Sifiso Khumalo was in attendance, the deputy Speaker did not do much consultation on the way forward but adjourned the House.

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