PARLY OPENING SNUB: LAZWIDE ARROGANT, FAILED HER ELECTORATE - DPM

MBABANE – The Deputy Prime Minister (DPM), Themba Masuku, has responded strongly to the reasons given by Siphofaneni MP Nomalungelo LaZwide Simelane for snubbing Parliament opening, stating that she is being arrogant.

Masuku accused LaZwide of not living up to the mandate of the people who elected her into Parliament. The DPM further claimed that he had been reliably informed about Simelane’s reason for going to Parliament, which, however, could not be verified at the time this article was compiled. Masuku gave a piece of his mind when rebutting Simelane’s reasons for missing the official opening of the last session of the 11th Parliament, where His Majesty King Mswati III delivered the Speech from the Throne.

Arrogant

Masuku accused Simelane of being arrogant and failing to live up to the oath she had taken - to pay allegiance to His Majesty King Mswati III, his heirs and successors. He also wondered if Simelane was acting according to the will of her electorate by shunning the official opening of Parliament.

When responding to questions from the Times on the reasons for missing the Parliament opening last Friday, Simelane had stated that it was for political reasons, which included the death of the country’s citizens, including the murder of globally acclaimed Human Rights Lawyer Thulani Maseko and the continued incarceration of two Members of Parliament (MPs) in Mthandeni Dube of Ngwempisi and Mduduzi Bacede Mabuza of Hosea.

Turmoil

She also spoke about the political turmoil the country was experiencing and the lack of political will from the State to show urgency. “I didn’t want to sit there and suffer emotional humiliation, lest I cry or suffer a lifetime regret why I even went there in the first place,” she shared. The DPM said the reasons were not convincing. Masuku, who is currently the Acting PM, said the reasons Simelane gave for not fulfilling her mandate of attending the event raised a number of questions. He said from her comments, one could tell that she was fed with information that she could not use appropriately.

“What has her personal issues have to do with the Speech from the Throne?  Isn’t she aware that she is expected to report to her constituency the policy direction from the constitutional head of State? What will she tell the people she begged to vote for her into Parliament?” he asked. The DPM further wanted to know from Simelane whether she was serious about representing the people who elected her or she was doing things according to what her husband said.

Allegiance

“I personally think she was arrogant and needs to be reminded that she took the constitutional oath or affirmation of allegiance to be faithful and bear true allegiance to the King, his heirs and successors, according to law. In doing this, she even said publicly ‘so help me God’,” he said. Masuku questioned whether Simelane was still paying allegiance to the King as she proclaimed in full view of her family, electorate and other Tinkhundla elected MPs.
He asked if the issues she claimed prevented her from attending the important parliamentary event remained unresolved meant she would not attend Parliament sittings.

“She needs to tell us why she has never raised a motion in Parliament to debate these issues instead of telling the head of State that she won’t attend. Where are the men and women who voted her into Parliament? These are the people who must ask her why she didn’t attend,” Masuku said.

Comment

MP Simelane could not be drawn for comment on the DPM’s assertions as she did not respond to questions from the Times. Simelane was first called at 12:50pm, but she did not answer her phone. A second call was made at 1:30pm but at that time her mobile cellphone was not available. Efforts to reach her were made several times but her mobile phone was available but on busy mode. She finally answered her phone at around 6:19pm.Simelane told the reporter that she was in Mbabane and, therefore, it would be difficult for her to hear what was being said over the phone.

She then preferred that a questionnaire be sent to her and promised to respond. The questions were sent to her WhatsApp but she had not responded by 7:33pm. Simelane eventually responded at 8:20pm and said she would respond to the questions today.

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