LOBAMBA — Mafutseni Member of Parliament (MP) Sabelo Mtetwa shocked his colleagues when he alleged that a Cabinet minister had threatened and intimidated him over comments he made in Parliament.
Mtetwa said the minister, whom he did not name, had confronted him outside the chambers and demanded that he repeat the words he had uttered during a parliamentary debate.
The MP raised the matter on Monday, seeking clarity on whether Cabinet ministers were permitted to confront MPs over statements made during parliamentary proceedings.
Mtetwa said he had initially remained quiet about the incident as he tried to understand the minister’s intentions, but eventually decided to bring it to the attention of the Speaker, Jabulani Mabuza, after the minister allegedly called him a boy. “Speaker, is it allowed that in this House I can be stopped by a Cabinet minister and he tells me that I must repeat the words that I said in this House?” Mtetwa asked.
He said he had already heard that the minister was going around telling people stories about him in relation to a submission he made, which further disturbed him.
Mtetwa said he had asked the minister to listen to the Hansard to establish exactly what he had said during the parliamentary proceedings.
He told the House that the incident had affected him emotionally and that he felt compelled to report it because he believed it was important for MPs to understand the privileges afforded to them when carrying out their parliamentary duties. Nhlambeni MP Manzi Zwane stood up to seek clarity and advised that Mtetwa should identify the minister, saying this would prevent other Cabinet ministers from being unfairly suspected.
“Perhaps he can help us, who is the minister he is talking about lest we start suspecting all Cabinet ministers?” Zwane asked. The Speaker responded by reminding MPs that they were protected when carrying out their duties in Parliament. He said the Parliament was guided by the Privileges Act, which protects MPs in relation to matters arising from their parliamentary work.
Mabuza said threats and intimidation were not acceptable and could interfere with an MP’s ability to speak freely in Parliament.
He nevertheless suggested that the minister might have been speaking in jest, while stressing that such conduct should not be used to intimidate or prevent an MP from expressing himself. The Speaker also reminded MPs that, although they were free to debate and express their views, they were expected to avoid derogatory language and remarks that undermined their colleagues.
Mtetwa, however, maintained that the issue was bigger than the incident that had allegedly occurred between him and the minister.
He said the matter had been weighing heavily on him and that he believed it needed to be raised openly in Parliament.
“I can see Speaker you are speaking calmly because yours is to build and not destroy. This issue is not just here in Parliament, it is all over,” Mtetwa said. He added that he was still willing to engage the minister and seek clarity on whether there was anything he had misunderstood before taking the matter further. Minister for Tinkhundla Administration and Development Sikhumbuzo Dlamini also weighed in on the matter, saying it should not simply be dismissed or treated lightly. In a light-hearted intervention, Minister Sikhumbuzo suggested that the Speaker’s Office could offer counselling services to Mtetwa. The comment drew the attention of Minister for Education and Training Owen Nxumalo, who called for the issue to be handled more seriously and consistently.
Nxumalo said the Speaker’s warning regarding the Privileges Act should be communicated to all MPs, particularly because members could find themselves in situations where comments made outside Parliament could have consequences.
He argued that MPs should be allowed to debate freely while in Parliament, regardless of their positions outside the House.
Nxumalo said it would be useful for all members, including Cabinet ministers, to receive a clear reminder of the rules governing their conduct towards MPs. He stressed that when MPs were in Parliament, they were there in their capacity as legislators and should be able to debate issues freely.
Speaker closes matter Mabuza eventually brought the matter to a close, saying Mtetwa had sought clarity and that he had already made the position of the House clear. He reiterated that MPs should not threaten or intimidate one another, as doing so could prevent members from freely participating in parliamentary debates. The Speaker also advised MPs who felt offended or threatened by the conduct of another member to report the matter to his office. Mabuza invited Mtetwa to meet with him privately so that the matter could be discussed further and, if necessary, the minister involved could also be engaged.
He said the issue could, therefore, be addressed through the appropriate parliamentary channels rather than becoming a prolonged dispute on the floor of the House.
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