PM NO-SHOW FOR PARLY DEBATE ON MPS’ ARREST

LOBAMBA – It has always been said that Parliament business takes priority overall other assignments, however, this was not the case with the Prime Minister, Cleopas Sipho Dlamini, who did not show up yesterday.

This is despite the fact that the House of Assembly’s first business on the Order Paper was the continuation of the debate which took place on Wednesday after the PM had presented his first ministerial statement in the House. At the start of yesterday’s sitting, the Speaker, Petros Mavimbela, informed Members of Parliament (MPs) that the PM was held up on some other business, but would join the sitting later.  He encouraged the MPs to continue working on other business and assured the legislators that the premier would be in the House.

However, as the sitting continued, it became more apparent that the PM was not going to turn up, especially as the last motion of the day was reached. About 17 MPs had not had the chance to debate the PM’s statement on Monday, which among other issues, he had said the arrest of Hosea MP Mduduzi Bacede Mabuza and Ngwempisi MP Mthandeni Dube was not political. About 40 MPs had indicated that they wanted to debate the issue and were assured that they would get their chance to do so during yesterday’s sitting. Among those who had not had the chance to debate the Ministerial statement was Nkilongo  MP Timothy Myeni, who had before the sitting, indicated that he was looking forward to being heard today. However, this was not to be as both the PM and his deputy, Themba Masuku said were nowhere in sight.

The DPM, according to the Order Paper was also expected to respond to a question for oral answers where Lubombo Region MP, Lorraine Nxumalo, wanted him to advise the House on what strategies were in place to fight the scourge of gender-based violence (GBV) that had befell Eswatini almost as equally as COVID-19. However, the Speaker again said the DPM was also not present as he was allegedly at the same assignment with the PM. “Let us skip this question and I can assure you that once the DPM is in the House it will be attended to,” said Mavimbela. After the MPs had gone through the day’s Order Paper, the Speaker said he had no choice, but to adjourn the House as the PM was still not around nor was the deputy prime minister. Mavimbela then asked the Minister of Tourism and Environmental Affairs, Moses Vilakati, to adjourn the House until next week Wednesday.

Meanwhile, one of the MPs who did not have a chance to debate the motion on Wednesday said he was of the view that the PM had deliberately kept away from the House because he could not think of a reason why he could not come to the House. “It is known that Parliament business takes precedence, but he did not come yet he knew he had work in the House, but that is politics for you,” said the MP who spoke on condition of anonymity for what he termed fear of the unknown. “Anyway, my message to the PM will still be the same even next week Wednesday and I have nothing to lose,” said the MP.

Meanwhile, Government Spokesperson Sabelo Dlamini when asked about the PM’s whereabouts said; “The PM had to attend to urgent State duties and reported to the Speaker accordingly.”  He did not elaborate on what these urgent State duties were.
On a similar note, the House business continued as usual while their arrested colleagues had their day in court. There was the tabling of the Citizens Economic Empowerment Bill No.7 of 2021 by the acting Minister of Commerce, Industry and Trade, Manqoba Khumalo and the tabling of a select committee report on the Eswatini Association’s (ECA) petition by Lubombo Region MP Lorraine Nxumalo.

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