PPA CALLS FOR MPS’ RESIGNATION

MBABANE – Some liberation groups are calling for the current Legislature to resign en masse.

This call was first made during the recent border blockades at the Oshoek, Matsamo and Golela border gates last week and later confirmed by the parties. The liberation groups are under the umbrella of the Political Party Assembly (PPA). Those present during the blockade included the Congress Party of Swaziland (CPO), Swaziland Youth Congress (SWAYOCO), People’s United Democratic Movement (PUDEMO) and Trade Union Congress of Swaziland (TUCOSWA). The Constitution of the Kingdom of Eswatini under Section 55, Subsection 98 (b), allows the holder of the seat to resign in writing addressed to the clerk to Parliament.

Important

The groups mentioned that it was important to lobby the Members of Parliament (MPs) to start resigning en masse and leave the Legislature open, otherwise the Parliament of the country under the current regime would be a target for sabotage. The groups felt that there should be no conditions for any form of elections under the Tinkhundla System in Eswatini, adding that they would ensure that it did not happen. They mentioned that members of the Legislature who were still serving the interests of the current government and being salaried were part and parcel of the looters, hence they should be forced to resign. The legislators were given two months to consider the resignation. They shared what they termed tactics they would use to force the MPs to resign. These will not be published for ethical reasons as they could be interpreted to incite violence. The political formations made it known that they had not achieved the objective they wanted to accomplish because of the existing Legislature, which was under the current government.

Furthermore, they stated that there could be no formula of parliamentary route to change the country as they would talk about principles in the process of the legislative system that could help change the laws of the country. However, they stated that it could all be wishes as the King was the super power of the Legislature.  “Parliament is just a mimic. Tinkhundla system should just be undermined, institutionally and otherwise,” they stated. If this is not done, the groups stated that it would be difficult for them to mobilise solidarity while they still kept a system in that fashion. The PPA representative, Sibongile Mazibuko, stated that MPs were living a lie and stealing from the public purse if they failed to carry out their mandate. TUCOSWA’s Acting Secretary General (SG) Mduduzi Gina said as a way of showing solidarity with the incarcerated MPs, their colleagues should resign. Gina said Parliament could be a site of struggle as demonstrated by the arrested MPs for those who could be able to push the agenda of political reforms for emaSwati inside Parliament. Also, he stated that the Legislature should have to move a clear motion and call upon the Executive to give them assurance that they would not be arrested for having done what they were elected to do.

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