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MP MTHANDENI’S ARABIC REGALIA CAUSES STIR

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LOBAMBA – It seems like the new Members of Parliament still need to be guided on the proper dress code when attending sittings.


This was evident yesterday when one of them showed up dressed in Arab gear, which got most of the legislators demanding answers.
Ngwempisi MP Mthandeni Dube rocked up dressed in a white ankle-length Arab garment with long sleeves similar to a robe. He also had sandals on, which perfected his Arab look.


When he made an entrance, the MP had a blazer on but it was the black and white checked headscarf wrapped with a black band that quickly caught the attention of his colleagues.


laughing


Just before he took his seat, most of them started mumbling while others burst out laughing as they all looked at his direction. “Ugcokeni lona?” some of them were heard asking, which means, “What is this one wearing?”


After taking his seat, Dube took off his blazer, which is when his whole attire was visible, something which saw some MPs standing up to ask questions.
First to stand up was Hosea MP Mduduzi Mabuza, who demanded to know if the Deputy Speaker, Phila Buthelezi was aware of the dress code by the MP.
In response, Buthelezi stated that it was unusual but that it looked religious and further asked for the House to guide him.


Next to stand up was Lobamba Lomdzala MP Marwick Khumalo, who said the problem was that the members of the House had no idea on which nation the attire was from.
“In previous years we used to agree that if you wear an outfit or attire that represents another nation, it must be the complete look. That is why for our traditional attire, we have to look proper in emahiya and not put jackets or tops on it,” Khumalo said.


Dube then rose to defend himself but his statement made the situation worse as the MPs began laughing again. “Yimvunulo yase-Dubai iphelele,” he said in vernacular, which means, “This is traditional attire from Dubai, it is complete.”


Kwaluseni MP Mabhanisi Dlamini submitted that it was important to ascertain if the attire was indeed from Dubai, instead of hearing it from the MP.
Also speaking on the issue was Ndzingeni MP Lutfo Dlamini, who requested that the House should, in the interest of time, request the MP to just go and dress up properly. “There is no nation called Dubai. If he is talking about one of the Arab Emirates states, he must say so. I am worried that he himself does not know what he is wearing,” Dlamini said.


emadloti


Maphalaleni MP Mabulala Maseko also made a submission saying, his grandmother had ancestral spirits (emadloti) which she presented by donning a special attire, and wondered if he could borrow it and wear it in Parliament.
Other MPs felt it would be improper for Dube to be judged as they had not yet been properly oriented on the correct dress code they were expected to adhere to. For years, it has always been the norm that MPs attended sittings dressed in formal wear or traditional attire.

 


In the end, the deputy Speaker told the MPs that he himself was not an expert when it came to dress codes and requested that the issue be addressed at a later stage.

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