SPEAKER OFFSIDE ON PETITIONS – FORMER MP

MBABANE – A former parliamentarian has differed with the assertion by Speaker Petros Mavimbela, who condemned the delivery of petitions at tinkhundla centres.

“Petitions are normal parliamentary procedure,” is what the ex-parliamentarian said. The former legislator, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said he was surprised to learn that the Speaker in the House of Assembly and also Mhlambanyatsi MP Mavimbela had said the Tinkhundla System did not encourage the delivery of petitions. “I am really surprised because petitions are a parliamentary way of life and they do not need to be taken to Parliament, but those with grievances can give them to their elected Member of Parliament (MPs),” said the veteran former legislator.

He said Part VII of the House of Assembly Standing Orders addressed the issue of petitions. “Clause 42-51 all speaks on how petitions can be brought to Parliament and the youth delivering these have taken the route to bring them to their legislators,” he said. The former MP wondered if the Speaker expected the youth from all the constituencies to march to Parliament to deliver these petitions.

Offside

“I think the Speaker was offside to say Tinkhundla does not allow the delivery of petitions, especially since he has also received many in Parliament such as the ones for the import cars, Mkhosi Township among others,” he said. The former legislator further stated that Clause 42 of the Standing Orders stated clearly that every petition should be fairly written, typed and printed and shall be signed by at least one person on the sheet on which the prayer is set forth. He said Clause 46 stated that a petition may only be presented to the House by an MP.
“Given that some of the concerns raised by the youth touch directly on government service delivery such as the shortage of drugs, it is only proper for their representatives to forward them to Parliament to be addressed by Cabinet,” said the former MP.

Meanwhile, the Speaker had told MPs that the system was clear on how things should be done and there were proper channels to be followed. However, the Speaker did not highlight those channels even when asked by Hosea MP Mduduzi Bacede Mabuza on what the procedures to raise grievances under the system were.

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