SPEAKER NOT ELECTED

Clerk to Parliament Ndvuna Dlamini walks out of the Chamber after the adjournment. (Pics: Mduduzi Mngomezulu)

LOBAMBA — It was a ‘what just happened’ moment as an upset Clerk to Parliament Ndvuna Dlamini adjourned the first sitting of the House of Assembly without the Speaker being elected.

Dlamini eventually stormed out of the chamber after being accused of failing to do his job and trying to interfere with duties which were entirely in the hands of the Speaker to-be.   
This was after Dlamini told the chamber, which was filled to the brim with aspiring senators, that he was experiencing problems pertaining to the election of the Speaker because one candidate had not submitted his letter of confirmation that he would stand for the election.

Section 102 of the Constitution states that when the House of Assembly meets for the first time after any general election, and before it despatches any other business, it shall elect a person from within or outside the House who shall be Speaker.

The name of the said candidate is not known and those who had shown interest in standing for the position of Speaker were former Speaker Prince Guduza, former Mntfongwaneni MP Mfomfo Nkhambule and Mangcongco MP Patrick ‘Pha’ Motsa.     
The next sitting is expected to take place on Monday at 10am. 

Dlamini, after the swearing-in ceremony, had called for a 15-minute break which, however, lasted up to 45 minutes.
When he returned to the House he told the Members of Parliament that he was in a bit of a dilemma and that was what had caused the late start of the sitting.

Interestingly, when Dlamini called for the 15-minute break he said everyone should get ready as it was crunch time for the election of Speaker.
“There is a certain candidate who has been nominated, but as you know that I am a career clerk I need to verify if the candidate is here,” said Dlamini.

He said, however, his office had still not received a letter of consent from the candidate in order to verify if indeed that person qualified to be Speaker among other guidelines to be checked.
“I, therefore, ask for your guidance on what should be done because I also do not want to be called a dictator,” said Dlamini.

Dlamini said some of the MPs had submitted motions of certain candidates and said in some instances it was clear that politicking was now at play.
Dlamini said he did not want to violate the Constitution and he had been told that the candidate was still going to fax the letter.
“However, some of you MPs have committed very wrong acts (bagangile) and submitted lists of five or more people who should be considered for Senate yet this is wrong,” he said.

He said the alleged wrongdoing by the MPs would mean it would take long to print ballot papers for the election of the 10 senators. After a few MPs made submissions that Dla-mini had actually failed to execute his duties he became emotional.

“I can respond very harsh to the allegations and all the things you are throwing at me, and if it means dying for the truth so be it,” said Dlamini.
He said he had been previously accused of consulting a lot and that is why he had chosen to publicly address the dilemma. He said the MPs should not allow to be bullied by one person who was playing politics.

Former senators come in numbers

LOBAMBA — Former senators attended the swearing-in ceremony in numbers while lobbying for a seat in the 10 posts which are available in Senate.

The former senators, who were visibly present, were Ndileka Dlamini who was seated at the Parliament main corridor where everyone passed. She was later joined by Bonisile Mngomezulu.

Other former senators who were present were Thandi Shongwe and Nozibele Bujela.
Former Senate Deputy President Ngomuyayona Gamedze and Bhutana Dlamini were also among those spotted.

Barnabas Mhlongo also vying for Senate

LOBAMBA — Former Minister of the then Ministry of Commerce and Industry Barnabas Mhlongo is also vying for a Senate position.

Mhlongo’s CV was one of the many which were being distributed in Parliament as hundreds of aspiring senators descended the Parliament premises. Mhlongo is the Executive Director of the Swaziland Institute of Accountants and is Board Chairman at Nedbank Swaziland and the audit committee for the Swaziland Sugar Association.

The Medical Officer at the Hlatikhulu Government Hospital Dr Amos Vilakati also circulated his CV.

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