4 MPS DECLINE NOMINATIONS TO PROBE JUSTICE MINISTER

MBABANE – Four Members of Parliament (MPs) on Monday declined their nomination to be part of the Select Committee tasked with probing the Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, Sibusiso Shongwe.  

The committee of five was, however, eventually elected and is expected to engage the minister to show cause why he should not be charged with Contempt of Parliament in terms of Section 11 of the Parliamentary Privileges Act, 1967 for his failure to withdraw the infamous Distribution of Estates Policy as directed through a House resolution. 

Declined

Matsanjeni North MP Phila Buthelezi declined the nomination stating that it would not be proper for him to be part of the committee because judging from his submission, it was clear that he did not think much of the minister.
Buthelezi actually submitted before the House that he thought the selection of the committee was actually a waste of time because it was highly unlikely that the minister would even entertain it.
He also stated that he felt that the Prime Minister, Sibusiso Barnabas Dlamini, had already withdrawn the policy statement on his behalf.
However, the Speaker, Themba Msibi, said they could not assume that the PM had withdrawn it on his behalf.

Vote

Buthelezi further said a vote of no confidence against the minister should be passed so that the country could be given a break.
He also stated that the minister was troublesome in that he acted pompously.
Another MP who declined the nomination was Mbabane West MP Johane Shongwe who submitted that due to family ties he could not be part of the committee.

However, in his earlier submission, the MP said he had told the minister as his son that there was nowhere in the world where there was a grave of someone who had died for swallowing their pride.
He further said whoever was eventually selected should not go to the minister, but instead summon him.

Motion

Manzini North MP Jan Sithole also said he could not be part of the committee because he had moved the motion and it would appear as if he had already taken a position while MP Sandile Nxumalo said he was already part of another select committee working on a health issue and would not have the time.

The committee is expected to table a report within seven working days.        
However, the matter took a new twist as the High Court upheld Minister Shongwe’s ruling on the estate policy matter.

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