Times Of Swaziland: WE CANNOT FAIL CITIZENRY - MP MARWICK

WE CANNOT FAIL CITIZENRY - MP MARWICK
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BY SITHEMBILE HLATSHWAYO on 14/09/2021 09:03:00


MBABANE – “If we are seen to be behaving like Egyptian mummies in
Parliament, then by all means, we qualify for punishment by the voters.”
The above sentiments were shared by Lobamba Lomdzala Member of Parliament (MP)
Marwick Khumalo. He stated that as the Legislature, they were duty-bound not to
be a disappointment to the citizenry and prayed that God would guide them not to
be.
Khumalo stated that what the liberation groups were saying was for now a
perception that was informed by justified impatience. “I believe in freedom of
expression for all and I cannot fault the liberation groups for their democratic
expression,” he said.
Khumalo said the electorate was their principal and it was within their
inalienable right to make their feelings known about their (MPs) actions or
inactions. However, the MP stated that based on what he had read somewhere, he
happened to be aware of a lined up series of motions made by the legislators
that sought to address the current situation which had somewhat paralysed the
political and socio-economic life of the country.
Failed
Nkilongo MP Timothy Myeni said they had failed the electorate in effectively
carrying out their mandate as parliamentarians. Myeni said there was so much
fear instilled and they tended to forget that they should fear the electorate as
they had the power not to vote them back into Parliament. He mentioned that in
so many instances, he had stood up in Parliament seeking his colleagues’
support on the arrest of MPs Mduduzi Bacede Mabuza of Hosea and Mthandeni Dube
of Ngwempisi. Instead, he said some of the MPs passed the loan of E1.7 billion
for a new Parliament structure, while the electorate lacked medication in
hospitals, the country’s roads were also in a terrible state and students were
without scholarships. He alleged that MPs were forced into passing the loan.
Myeni said the project was not urgent and of no importance. “Parliament has
the power to make laws, but has not been doing this,” he noted. This, Myeni
said, was displayed when they jointly stopped the election of a senator.
Legislators
Myeni said as legislators, they had played a part in the current political
crisis as all power was vested in them. The Nkilongo MP stated that what the
electorate simple meant was questioning why the legislators were in Parliament
if they failed to represent their interests. Myeni said the electorate was right
by what they were saying in that they should resign if as MPs they were failing
to do what the electorate required of them. “Why do we continue to be in
Parliament if the electorate is not happy?” questioned Myeni. He added that
what was currently happening was wrong as legislators during the campaigning
phase promised to serve the electorate, but once they got into Parliament, they
cared about their salaries. Mtsambama MP Simosakhe Shongwe said if the
liberation groups felt resigning of MPs was a solution, they could use whatever
way to achieve that. Shongwe stated that he was, however, for the idea that the
groups should call the legislators and address them on the issue. He said
legislators who supported political reforms were known as they had openly
declared such.
Minority
MP Shongwe said they were a minority and were trying to raise various motions by
supporting each other in order to win their colleagues over so that they
understood the entire purpose behind the political reforms and join them.
“Personally, I can resign if it comes to a push, but what I want is for
emaSwati to be liberated,” he stated. Nkwene MP Vulimpompi Nhleko was also of
the view that as parliamentarians, they needed to first address the issue of
resignation collectively inside the House, which was the rightful platform.
Meanwhile, Shiselweni II MP Strydom Mpanza noted that the concerns made by the
groups were genuine, but only if they had first made an attempt to address them
as lawmakers on the issue. Mpanza said he would actually like to have an
audience with the groups to exchange views and come up with solutions.
Lugongolweni MP Enos Magongo said he could not resist resignation, but make sure
that he followed the laid down procedures. However, he said he had never heard
of a Parliament resigning en masse in his entire life. Siphocosini MP Mduduzi
Matsebula said his electorate had not raised any concern with him. Matsebula
stated that so far, they were on track not just on the political aspect, but
also on service delivery, hence he would not consider resigning until the
electorate proved that he had failed.
Presented
He mentioned that under his constituency, they presented and unpacked annual
performance reports, presented midterm consultative and evaluation review
reports and held regular imiphakatsi meetings to consult the people and give
feedback. Matsebula added that even with the political and constitutional
changes recently proposed by the youth, they were considering it with the
inkhundla council in consultation with relevant stakeholders. Ndzingeni MP Lutfo
Dlamini and Manzini North MP Macford Sibandze did not wish to respond to
questions posed to them. When sought for comment on the statements made by the
liberation groups, Chief Police Information and Communications Officer
Superintendant Phindile Vilakati stated that she was not aware of the
communication and once it reached her office, she would respond where relevant.
She had been asked if the police service would act on the supposed tactics to be
employed by the liberation groups to force MPs to resign en masse.