MBABANE – Eswatini MPs were shocked during a meeting on the sidelines of the PAP where a liSwati criticised the country’s political system and leadership.
The MPs were gathered in the main chamber of the Pan-African Parliament (PAP) when they were informed that an activist, was claiming to African civil society that the Eswatini Parliament is powerless. They reportedly received a tip-off from an African MP that someone was relentlessly fragmenting Eswatini.
The activist originates from Ngudzeni, in the southern region of Eswatini.
Upon arrival at the conference room, where the session was being held, they were informed that the activist had already concluded his presentation.
He told them the plenary resolved that the kingdom be treated fairly and afforded a chance to respond to any allegation levelled against it.
During the afternoon session, he was found delivering a summary of his presentation, while civil society members declined to grant the Eswatini MPs the opportunity to respond to the allegations he had made against the country.
When permission was refused, Senator Tony Sibandze forcefully approached the podium and addressed the audience, stating that they were out of order for permitting the activist to discuss the issue of Eswatini, as there is a PAP resolution concerning it. PAP resolved that the matter of Eswatini and other States would not be discussed in the absence of duly mandated representatives authorised to present the official position of the kingdom.
Sibandze, with the backing of fellow MPs, observed that a designated committee existed to address concerns pertaining to Eswatini. When the activist was reportedly asked whether he had engaged with this committee, Sibande stated that the activist indicated he was unaware of its existence.
He stated that two meetings were scheduled for Monday - a youth conference attended by over 300 participants and a stakeholder consultation meeting held in Pretoria. The youth conference took place in Midrand, Johannesburg.
“That is why we missed the morning session but remained for the afternoon session, during which we were denied the opportunity to speak,” Senator Sibandze explained. “They informed us that the matter is now closed.”
He stated that at that moment he stood up resolutely and challenged the moderator, supported by the other lawmakers who included MP Welcome Dlamini, MP David ‘Cruiser’ Ngcamphalala, MP Sibongile, the activist and Senator Stukie Motsa. He managed to call the audience to order.
Senator Sibandze, who leads the delegation, noted that the last occasion on which the issue of Eswatini was raised was by activists from Zimbabwe, and that they had been able to respond to the perceptions held about Eswatini.
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