I KNOW WHAT TO DO - GELANE

MBABANE - Senate President Gelani Zwane has confirmed that due to tradition, she will not go to Parliament.
Zwane said this during an interview yesterday.

The senate president said it was Swazi tradition that a widow had to mourn her husband’s death for about two years before she could take up her duties. Zwane said she was not sure whether that had changed. She confirmed that at the moment she would not attend parliamentary business as tradition did not allow that. She said she would do so when the time came.

When asked whether this meant she would not attend Parliament for the two-year mourning period, Zwane said only the country’s authorities would know that. She stated that it would be difficult to force things that would be against tradition. Speaking like a person well versed in the local tradition, she said it had to be appropriately observed.

Zwane clarified that she knew what tradition dictated in terms of what had to happen now that she had lost her husband. The Swazi Observer yesterday reported that it was over for Zwane and was told not to set foot in Parliament. “I will not be told by them what to do as I know very well; I am a Swazi by birth,” Zwane said.

Zwane recently lost her husband, Michael Zwane and his service was reportedly conducted at Mbabane Burial Society. The debate of widows serving in Parliament not attending the august House was sparked when the Deputy Prime Minister, Paul Dlamini, allegedly informed the Minister of Labour and Social Security Winnie Magagula that she could not attend the official opening of Parliament last Friday because she was in mourning. This matter sparked much public debate as there were reports that Magagula would not be able to attend to Parliament business for the next two years.

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