Times Of Swaziland: DPM threatened us  - MPs

DPM threatened us  - MPs
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 SIBONGILE SUKATI on 19/10/2012 00:00:00


MBABANE — The DPM is alleged to have threatened MPs with contempt after
finding them in the canteen when the vote for the reversal of the vote of no
confidence was about to be held.
The Deputy Prime Minister (DPM), Themba Masuku, followed closely by his security
personnel, walked out of the House of Assembly upon realising that the number of
Members of Parliament (MPs) in the chamber was dwindling as the vote was about
to take place.
Meanwhile, inside the House, Hosea MP Mduduzi Mabuza stood up to bring to the
Speakers attention that only 29 members were present and, therefore, the house
could not form the required quorum to hold the vote.
According to the Standing Orders, 30 members are required before a vote can be
taken.
Charged
In the canteen, however, the DPM is said to have told Mntfongwaneni MP Patrick
Gamedze and Nhlambeni MP Frans Dlamini that they should return to the House as
the Attorney General (AG) had indicated that the MPs who had just walked out
could be charged with contempt according to the Standing Orders.
It is then that the MPs including Madlange-mpisi MP Bongani Mdluli walked back
into the chamber. This happened at around 10:30pm. Mabuza had tried but in vain
to ensure that a formal count was made by the Speaker.
Procedurally, when the required quorum is not formed, the Speaker is supposed to
make a count before adjourning the House for a short period to distinguish
whether the proceedings can continue or not.
Gamedze when contacted yesterday confirmed that the DPM had come to the canteen
where the MPs were watching the proceedings on the TV monitor together with
ministers’ drivers.
Surprised
"Yes, we were all surprised to see the DPM and he told the MPs to go back inside
as there was a possibility that they could be charged with contempt by the AG,"
confirmed one of the drivers, who spoke on condition of anonymity.
Gamedze when he returned to the House on Monday, told the Speaker that he was
unhappy that he had not been given a chance to debate the matter and had,
therefore, walked out.
Dlamini had also wanted to debate the issue of the reversal but the debate was,
according to the two, prematurely adjourned.
I was lobbying - DPM
MBABANE — The Deputy Prime Minister Themba Masuku said he did not go to the
canteen to scare or threaten the MPs.
Masuku said while he was in the House, he realised that the number of MPs was
decreasing.
"I then went outside to see how many MPs were there so that we could continue
with the day’s business, which was very important," said Masuku.
He said he might have mentioned that the Attorney General Majahenkaba Dlamini
had asserted that the MPs could face a charge of contempt, but that was not to
scare them in any way.
"I was merely lobbying them to come back to the House and I believe I was able
to convince them," said Masuku.
He said as a responsible Swazi citizen it was his duty to ensure that the MPs
formed a quorum.
"I convinced them and did not force them," he said. Masuku said they could have
also convinced him otherwise. "This was just pure lobbying," he said.