KING UNITY SYMBOL, TINKHUNDLA UNIQUE – COMMONWEALTH REP

EZULWINI – “The King is a symbol of unity.”

This is according to Dr Roger Koranteng from the Commonwealth Secretariat (UK). He said this during a retreat for Members of Parliament (MPs) held at the Eswatini Revenue Service (ERS) Auditorium. Dr Koranteng was making emphasis that Eswatini had a unique system of government and it should not be done away with. The issue first started after Lomahasha MP Ndumiso Masimula asked, “Is it okay for us to only pledge allegiance to the King, his heirs and successors?” This was when the facilitator, Dr  Koranteng, was educating the MPs on the importance of having a Leadership Code of Conduct law.

It should be noted that for over 10 years, Parliament has failed to compile its Leadership Code of Conduct and, therefore, does not have one. In making his presentation, Dr Koranteng from the Commonwealth Secretariat (UK), said one of the main provisions for a Code of Conduct and duties of the MPs was to ensure that one of them was to be faithful and pay true allegiance to their country. This was the statement which prompted MP Masimula’s question. “In our country, we pay allegiance to the King, heirs and successors instead of the country, what should we do?” he asked.

Difference

In response, the Commonwealth expert asked if there was a difference in paying allegiance to the King or the monarch. He said this was the obtaining scenario in the United Kingdom, for example where the National Anthem even went as far as stating God save the Queen. He said this did not mean that the country was left out as the King and Queen were heads of the country. “That is the symbol of the country as it is the King and that is why it is even called the Kingdom of Swaziland (Eswatini),” he said.

The facilitator said in the past, if countries went to war and the King was killed, then that country was no longer considered a kingdom. He asked if the country’s National Anthem also did not include the King. He said the King was a symbol of unity. Dr Koranteng said countries like France still wished their palaces had people living in them as kings, stating that no system was perfect. “You need to refine the system of Tinkhundla, but do not throw it away,” he said. He likened such an act as throwing away the baby with the dirty water.

Dr Koranteng said Eswatini’s system was unique and not one to be gotten rid off. He said most countries still wished they had monarchs, especially those in the 59 member Commonwealth. Meanwhile, Ndzingeni MP Lutfo Dlamini wondered why it had taken so long for Parliament not to have a Leadership Code of Conduct.

Conduct

“Who does not want with this Code of Conduct because when we got to Parliament, we were told that there was one,” asked Dlamini. He further asked why declarations made before the Integrity Commission by the parliamentarians were not made public knowledge. In response, Dr Koranteng said the code had to go through some parliamentary processes and he was not aware what was delaying it as it had not seen the light of day. “It’s not part of my job description, but once you accept it, it will guide you,” he said.

He said the MPs, once it was passed, should ensure that they had a gift register process because they could not be declaring things like goats being given to them at community events as it was a cultural thing. Dr Koranteng said the House leaders should speed up the process.

Delay

Deputy Speaker MP Madala Mhlanga at this point invited the Parliamentary Counsel Lunga Dlamini to explain what was causing the delay in the tabling of the code. Dlamini said initially the project had been piloted by the Prime Minister’s Office, but was now under the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs.
He said the ministry had a pile of Bills which they wanted to present to the House soon. MP Lutfo said he was not happy with the response as he had spoken like a lawyer and knew that nothing would be delivered anytime soon. Dr Koranteng said Eswatini had a brilliant system as did the Commonwealth. He said elected MPs were monitored by the people while the appointed one should be monitored by the appointing authority and not be returned to office if they did not deliver during the next cycle.

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