To ban or not to ban single-use plastic carrier bags in the kingdom?
This is a debate that has been going on for years, with environmentalists arguing that it is necessary, to reduce environmental degradation in the country. This same debate gave birth to the ‘Phatsa Sakho’ (bring your own) campaign. Then, in May 2024, Minister for Tourism and Environmental Affairs Jane Simelane, announced that effective December 1, 2024, a ban on plastic bags would take effect.
This was later postponed to February 1, 2025. However, in April this year, MPs resolved to suspend the ban for seven more years, arguing that there were no eco-friendly alternatives for plastics. This was after an investigation was conducted by a Parliament Select Committee, headed by Kubuta MP Masiphula Mamba.
This resolution has frustrated environmentalists and United Nations (UN) agencies who have lobbied government for over a decade, to enact a law prohibiting the use of plastics. The matter was later handed over to the Government Assurance Committee (GAC), which is chaired by Timphisini Member of Parliament (MP) Thulani Nsingwane.
Generally, the GAC monitors the implementation of undertakings made by ministers in Parliament, ensuring that the Executive remains accountable to Parliament.
In this particular case, the GAC is expected to come up with findings that will ultimately influence the final decision and possibly resolve the apparent conflict between Parliament and the Executive arm of government on this national issue with global implications.
A fortnight ago, the Ministry of Tourism and Environmental Affairs tabled its second-quarter performance report in the House of Assembly, which was debated and questions posed. The ministry’s portfolio committee later tabled a report with responses. One of the responses addressed the issue of banning single-use plastic bags. The report recorded that Minister Simelane had insisted that, despite a Parliament resolution to the contrary, the ban on plastic bags was still very much alive.
However, to the surprise of MPs last Friday, it was revealed that the minister had disowned that statement. Mbabane East MP Welcome Dlamini, who chairs the ministry’s portfolio committee, told his colleagues that he had received a call from the minister, who told him that she had not said the ban was still effective.
The minister allegedly opined that the responses were provided by a cabal that wanted to cause problems for her. Dlamini insisted that the minister had disowned the statement and pleaded with his colleagues to have the report amended and the controversial response removed. Various MPs stood up to seek clarity on how a report could contain responses that the substantive minister was not aware of. That is also my gripe this Sunday.
Like Mtfongwaneni MP Nathi Hlophe, my question is: what else is happening within her ministry, that the minister is not aware of? I was also disappointed that, even though a handful of MPs were shocked by the dramatic turn of events and demanded answers, the matter was simply resolved by the withdrawal of the report containing the disputed response.
Minister for Tinkhundla Administration and development Sikhumbuzo Dlamini, who is also Nkwene MP, cautioned both Cabinet ministers and portfolio committee members to scrutinise performance reports properly to verify all contents. Had I been MP, I would have loved to know who slotted in a response that went against the minister’s sentiments on such an important issue.
The House of Assembly simply scratched the veneer and let the matter slide, just like that. If the minister believes some people are sabotaging her, Parliament should get to the bottom of the matter. With this carefree attitude and inclination to quickly accept excuses, MPs could be robbing their constituents of details that would potentially blow the lid off a bigger issue.
Incidentally, this very same relaxed attitude was at play when the Ministry of Health reported that pharmaceutical stock levels in public health facilities were between 70 per cent and 100 per cent. The ministry had also tabled its second-quarter performance report a couple of weeks ago. The relevant portfolio committee debated the report and raised various issues.
One of the questions had been from Ntondozi MP Peter Ngwenya, who requested an update on the current levels of medication in government clinics and hospitals.
Responses contained in the portfolio committee’s report, which was tabled in the House of Assembly on Wednesday, October 15, 2025, painted a rosy picture of the situation.
The Mduduzi Matsebula-led ministry reported that for anti-diabetes, cancer and psychiatric medication, the stock levels were at 100 per cent, 90 per cent and 80 per cent, respectively.
In any country, this would practically be good news. It would mean that patients were getting almost all the medication they required for their various ailments. The ministry said the same about antiretroviral (ARV) drugs, placing stock levels at 100 per cent. All products were apparently available.
Where there were low levels, deliveries were expected in November. Great news once again. My analysis of the ministry’s responses revealed that the only low levels, at a relatively healthy 50 per cent, were for hypertension prevention medication. Even here, more deliveries were expected next month.
On the ever-important family planning programme, which has been giving some public health facility clients sleepless nights, the ministry also had good news, reporting that only one type of implant was out of stock and on order.
Otherwise, all other contraceptive products (condoms, injectables and orally administered ones) were at 90 per cent stock levels.
Curiously, despite this promising picture, the ministry also reported, without giving examples, that there was a challenge with certain medical supplies whose stock levels were low.
The report stated that ‘unfortunately’ there was no tender to procure these supplies because they had been suspended by the regulator. That was the end of the issue, as far as MPs were concerned. They had no questions regarding this disturbing revelation.
Neither did they demand proof of what the ministry had reported with regard to healthy pharmaceutical stock levels. I would like to believe that the Ministry of Health presented an accurate picture of the drug-availability situation. It would not deceive the august house, would it? Unfortunately, it would not be possible to make that conclusion with MPs having failed or neglected to probe the issue further.
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