BACEDE REMOVED AS DEFENCE PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE CHAIRPERSON

MANZINI – Parliament has broken its own rules in the removal of the chairperson of the Defence Portfolio Committee in absentia.

This publication has gathered that Hosea Constituency Member of Parliament (MP) Mduduzi Bacede Mabuza was removed from his position on Friday, in absentia. The new Chairperson of the Defence Portfolio Committee is Maphalaleni Constituency MP Mabulala Maseko. Following these developments, Mabuza said he had caught wind that a new chairman was assigned his role in a meeting of the House of Assembly Portfolio Committee for the Ministry of Defence and National Security.

Mabuza said from what he had gathered, there were five legislators who took part in the meeting and two of them voiced out disapproval of the manner in which the meeting was convened. Worth noting is that this is not the first time a meeting was convened to remove MP Mabuza as chairperson of the portfolio committee. In the second week of the month (June 9, 2021), a meeting was initiated by the Speaker in the august House and it was later abandoned as the members of the portfolio committee were not happy with the manner in which it was organised.

The members of the committee include; MP Mabuza, appointed MP Chief Kusa, Matsanjeni North Constituency MP Phila Buthelezi and Manzini North Constituency MP Macford Sibandze. The other members are  Maphalaleni Constituency MP Maseko, Motshane Constituency MP Robert Magongo and Kwaluseni Constituency MP Sibusiso Mabhanisi Dlamini.  MP Mabuza said he could not confirm the merits of the said move as it was supposed to be affirmed by the Speaker. He said: “I heard that they did that. They were five and called a meeting behind my back.”

The legislator said for now, there was nothing official to that effect as when such was done, it should be reported to the House. Mabuza said from what he had gathered, it was supposed that appointed MP Chief Kusa was made the vice chairperson, while the Maphalaleni Constituency MP was made the chairperson. “I heard that there were no elections of the individuals as two MPs opposed the move,” he supposed. MP Mabuza said it would be best to anticipate the update today as such should be reported to the House. He said such (being removed) could not be done without his input as the meeting was not initiated by him as chairperson of the portfolio committee.

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