.. CALL FOR COLLEAGUES’ RELEASE, SPEAKER ACCUSED OF BEING CAPTURED  

LOBAMBA – Some Members of Parliament (MPs) have called for the release of their incarcerated colleagues, at least on bail.

One of the submissions was made by Timpisini MP Nelson Mamba. He said it was clear that one of the major calls by emaSwati was the release of the MPs.
The MPs, who are in jail, are Hosea MP Mduduzi Bacede Mabuza and Ngwempisi MP Mthandeni Dube who were arrested in July 2021. “Government must release the MPs because the unrest is caused by their continued incarceration, it must release them and stop being proud and peace will be restored,” said the MP.

Matsanjeni South MP Bomber Mamba said the only forum they could address issues was in Parliament. He said there were many other concerns, but the main issue was the arrest of the MPs and wondered what government would lose if they were released. “What does the country lose if the MPs are released,” wondered Mamba. He said the public transport workers were also addressing the issue. Sithobelweni MP Bhekitje Dlamini said the main issue causing the mayhem in the country was the arrest of the two MPs and the warrant of arrest which was out for Siphofaneni MP Mduduzi ‘Gawuzela’ Simelane.

“I told the Sithobelweni people that I will address the issue because the House is sitting, but nothing has happened,” he said. The MP said he was concerned how he would go back home because he had no solutions. Nkhaba MP Zakhele Magongo said the MPs must unite so that the duo could be released. “I’m telling you that the situation would be better because I am in the kombi industry and I know that once Bacede and Mthandeni are released, the situation will be better,” he said. The Nkhaba MP said MPs needed to unite on that note.

Drunk

“Angikabhemi, angikanatsi njengobabasho,” said Magongo loosely translated to mean he was not high or drunk as said by some people. He said what Speaker Petros Mavimbela had done was wrong and referred to him as ‘lobabe loya’ (that man). The Speaker was also accused of being captured. Lobamba Lomdzala MP Marwick Khumalo also said the MPs must be released on bail. He said it was shocking that people who had killed others were out on bail while others were still languishing in jail.“Let Bacede and Mthandeni be treated justly,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Timpisini MP said many people had died, but there was still no explanation of why or how they were killed and answers were needed. He said these were issues which had to be discussed in the House including the closure of schools. Manzini North MP Macford Sibandze submitted that he was deeply concerned because a good percentage of the protesters came from Manzini and these needed to be addressed in Parliament. He said Parliament had been labelled as irrelevant. “We need to address these issues because we are able to calm people down as it happened during the Thabani issue,” said MP Sibandze.

He said he was concerned that given the country’s culture, the King could soon go into seclusion and at this point, there was no need for a leadership vacuum.
Lomahasha MP Ndumiso Masimula said dialogue was needed, especially in his area where pupils had even burnt a police post. “Government must make an effort as this situation is now out of order,” he said.

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