Judiciary warns MP against contempt

MBABANE – The Judiciary has advised Hhukwini MP Alec Lushaba to stop insulting its members or risk facing contempt proceedings.

According to a statement issued by the Judiciary yesterday, if the Member of Parliament (MP) does not cease his ‘political agenda and insults’ against it, the Judiciary will consider all legal remedies available to defend its reputation, including contempt of court charges.

The Judiciary states that in Parliament on Wednesday, Lushaba made ‘false and misleading’ statements to the effect that it (the Judiciary) lied to members of the public that the Judicial Inquiry into the Master’s Office was effectual when nothing was being done.

Lushaba also allegedly stated that the Judiciary lied to the public that the terms and conditions of the judicial officers were being attended to when, according to him, nothing is being done.

In its statement, the Judiciary refuted the truthfulness of the submissions made by the MP and asserted that Lushaba reportedly has an inclination to attack it for, among other reasons, political gain.

“The Judiciary wishes to reject with contempt the false, misleading and far-fetched distortions made by the Hhukwini Member of Parliament, Alec Lushaba, in Parliament on October 8, 2025. We note with concern that the Honourable Member of Parliament has a tendency of attacking the Judiciary without probable cause, with the sole intention of scoring political points and subjecting the Judiciary to ridicule. The Judiciary understands that the Honourable Member of Parliament attacks the Judiciary under the cover and guise of parliamentary immunity,” reads part of the statement.

It also states that, to the contrary, the Judiciary has on many occasions informed and updated members of the public that the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) has completed taking oral submissions from judicial officers and that it is now deliberating and finalising recommendations to be submitted to the minister for Finance in accordance with the Constitution.

Similarly, according to the statement, the Judiciary has on numerous occasions informed the public that the Master’s Office probe was receiving hundreds of oral submissions from members of the public, which required to be thoroughly analysed by the commission to produce a report.

“We call upon the Member of Parliament for Hhukwini to allow the commission to do its assignment without undue pressure and interference from him. The Judiciary, as a branch of government, respects Parliament as another branch of government. The Judiciary accepts constructive criticisms from Parliament intended to improve the welfare of the country as provided in the Constitution.

“However, we reject the political insults and political agenda perpetrated by the Member of Parliament for Hhukwini; it is doubtful that he fully understands his mandate in Parliament. The time has come for the Judiciary to face and take a closer look at the political mandate and agenda of the Member of Parliament.”

The statement further states that on the contrary, the Judiciary accepts the constructive and positive submissions made by mature and nation-building MPs and accepts parliamentary scrutiny on the expenditure of the Judiciary in accordance with the Constitution.

The Judiciary also disputed the allegation that it treats cases differently. “Another misleading allegation made by the Member of Parliament for Hhukwini Inkhundla is that cases brought to our courts are treated differently by our courts.

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