MPS: IS PM TAKING OVER KING’S POWERS?

LOBAMBA – Had MPs acted on the submissions that were made during the Sibaya People’s Parliament, they would not be stressed about the Prime Minister, Sibusiso Barnabas Dlamini continued stay in office.

Speaking during a House of Assembly sitting on Monday, Nkwene MP Sikhumbuzo Dlamini said Swazis succinctly stated during the People’s Parliament last year that the PM was taking over state power and that MPs did not take action on that. He stated that since Swazis had already spoken, Parliament was supposed to go back and take action, something which he said the House did not do. In vernacular he said, “Ngoba emaSwati akusho loku, bekufanele sibuye laphalamende siyisebente lendzaba. Sibaya sakhuluma ngiko lamuhla i-Cabinet na-Prime Minister bayaphindzisela kulabantfu.” He mentioned that after the People’s Parliament, His Majesty King Mswati III ordered the country’s traditional councils and structures including government and Parliament to go and address the many issues that were raised by the people through their submissions.

He said because no action was taken Swazis, were now living in fear as they did not have a voice and made an example of the PM’s statement at Sigwe last Friday saying it was a sign that the premier was taking over Parliament and the powers of the King. According to Dlamini, the PM would have been arrested at Sigwe had he not been escorted by the same police officers whom he controlled instead of a force that diligently served His Majesty. “Perhaps he should now be guarded by security companies. At Sigwe he undermined the powers of Parliament and today Swazis live in fear. The only thing that the PM does is use the King’s name instead of engaging in his wayward acts on his own,” he said. MP Phila Buthelezi also criticised the PM and his Cabinet by arguing that the failure to provide E20 million for the new elderly was embarrassing. Buthelezi began his debate in vernacular, saying, ‘Live liyengcayelwa’, ‘Leli laSomhlolo, liyahlolelana’ but did not elaborate on what exactly he meant but instead kept muttering the term ‘ingene’ which means that there is trouble.

“You are failing to pay E20 million when the same government spends on huge salaries, fancy cars and hefty allowances. It is wrong to play hide and seek with the people. It is clear that the people are made to suffer all because of a declaration that was made by His Majesty,” Buthelezi said. Another strong criticism came from former Minister of Commerce, Industry and Trade, MP Gideon Dlamini who mentioned that with the elections date drawing closer, all that the PM was doing was spending money organising events for those Cabinet ministers he wanted back. He said the PM was leading in those events as he wanted his favourite ministers to campaign so that they returned to Parliament during the next term. Somntongo MP Sandile Dlamini spiced up his debate by sharing a verse from Deuteronomy which reads, “If anyone is poor among your fellow Israelites in any of the towns of the land the Lord your God is giving you, do not be hardhearted or tightfisted towards them. 8 Rather, be openhanded and freely lend them whatever they need.” Speaking in a high tone as if he was preaching from the pulpit, the MP mentioned that the elderly issue would have consequences for the country as the PM and his Cabinet were shutting down God’s light.

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