Liqoqo summons PM
MBABANE – Prime Minister, Sibusiso Barnabas Dlamini, has been summoned by Liqoqo to give a briefing on the spate of strike actions in the country.
Liqoqo is the supreme advisory council to His Majesty King Mswati III, chaired by Chief Logcogco.
The prime minister has not yet responded to the summons over a week later. Acting Prime Minister Themba Masuku, yesterday, confirmed to be in receipt of the written invitation from Liqoqo, saying he received it last Tuesday.
Masuku held fort as the acting PM when the invitation, which he described as a missive note, reached the Cabinet offices.
This was because the prime minister was away in Burundi to represent the King at that country’s 50th Independence celebrations.
"It was just a note inviting me to a meeting with Liqoqo to give a briefing on the protest actions," Masuku said. He further stated: "However, it was practically impossible to honour the invitation for the simple reason that it was a busy day for me."
Masuku said he was too busy with the routine Cabinet meeting. "Cabinet was preparing to meet His Majesty in the evening, hence I could not find time to meet Liqoqo to discuss the issue of the protest actions," he said. "It was a day you just couldn’t go anywhere."
Chief Logcogco elected to play his cards close to his chest on the matter. The prince referred further enquiries to the council’s Secretary, Mandla Dlamini. Dlamini, however, declined to comment, saying only the chairman was mandated to talk on behalf of the council.
Masuku said the prime minister would probably meet Liqoqo to discuss the protests on Monday.
Masuku said: "When we’ve time, probably on Monday, we’ll brief them (Liqoqo)." He further said: "It’s just a question of time."
He said, as the PM’s office, they appreciated the request by the advisory council. "There’s absolutely nothing abnormal with such an invitation," he noted, "Liqoqo is part of the government machinery."
Masuku said the premier’s office was more than willing to have discussions with the Lozitha-based council. "As Cabinet, we give utmost priority to sharing information with important bodies and Liqoqo is one of them," he added.
Comments
This is the same attitude of government that has plunged this country into the abyss. I mean how does an invitation by a supreme council in the land to discuss a crisis issue take close to 2 weeks today to respond to because we have to honour an independence celebrations invitation or busy with a routine cabinet meeting? I would have thought cabinet would be busy trying to sort this one as a priority because to me the country is burning. Well, like they say, a stitch in time saves nine.
Jul 13, 2012, 7:58 AM, Burns Dlamini (Lobhoncela) (Burnspolitics@gmail.com)
I thank the action of the Liqoqo,but bacabange very late to take such a good action.The cabinet and their Prime Minister balibulele lelive. If the Liqoqo can speak the truth,baphume kulohulumende wetinkhundla maybe kukhona lokungalunga,no matter ingati seyicitseke kangaka. Akuvakali kutsi imali kute kepha Prime Minister una 1.5 millon wakhe wa-next year. Itobe seyibuye kuphi? Kwesibili i-VAT ibhadalwa ngisho ngema-under age daily,meaning everyone is paying tax to the government,so iyaphi leyo mali.
Jul 13, 2012, 7:58 AM, MBONGISENI (mbongisenimuzikhumalo@gmail.com)