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By PHEPHILE MOTAU AND SIFISO NHLABATSI | 2023-10-26
The nation has responded to His Majesty King Mswati III’s invitation to help him identify the next prime minister as they detailed the calibre of person they believed would be best suited for the position.
Given three minutes to make their submissions, the speakers kept to the script as they raised pertinent issues from health, economy, education, women election and empowerment, and other thorny issues some of which were personal.
This was during the second day of the People’s Parliament, which was commissioned by His Majesty King Mswati III on Monday at Ludzidzini Royal Residence.
His Majesty mandated Sibaya to discuss the appointment of the prime minister, unemployment, socio-economic issues, economy, unrest, and other thorny issues.
The deliberations were led by a panel of five comprising of former minister Mathendele Dlamini, Nkwene MP Sikhumbuzo Dlamini, Mbabane West MP Jane Simelane, Hhukwini MP Alec Lushaba and appointed MP Thulisile Dladla.
They presented on different sections and a chance was then given to members of the public to ask questions and also make their submissions.
However, the King’s call for the nation to help identify the next prime minister dominated as each speaker supported their submission on why the prime minister should have those qualities.
What was common among some of the speakers was that the next prime minister should be able to instil discipline, call Cabinet ministers to order and root out corruption.
For this to be possible, they said their choice for prime minister should be someone who was wealthy and would not work to serve his own interests.
One speaker made an example of Parliament Speaker, Jabulane Mabuza, who he said would not be concerned about stomach politics.
Making his submission, Busta Vilakati from Buhleni, said they heard the citizen’s concern that those elected in positions of power tend to neglect the people and focus on themselves.
Vilakati appealed to His Majesty to appoint someone, who was not concerned about stomach politics or who would not be tempted to neglect the people.
He said Mabuza had demonstrated that he was not into stomach politics and they had not heard anything bad about him.
According to Vilakati, Mabuza was someone who was closer to God and had demonstrated good leadership since he was in public office.
“I am just advising the King that he must look at him even though people believe that his surname does not allow for him to be a prime minister. Through the people’s will, it would be nice for His Majesty to look at someone who is not for stomach politics,” Vilakati said.
Former Lobamba MP, Majahodvwa Khumalo, suggested that the former prime minister, Cleopas Dlamini should be retained.
Khumalo said since His Majesty had asked for suggestions on the next prime minister, a chance should be given to Dlamini as he started his tenure in the middle of the 11th Parliament and there was a need for him to be retained to allow for continuity in the government system.
Another former MP, Mkhosi Dlamini from Kwaluseni, said just as His Majesty the King advised when opening Sibaya on Monday, they would make suggestions where they could.
Dlamini said the prime minister must be someone with a military background because there is a need for Parliament and Cabinet to work in harmony.
He said if that person did not have a military background, then he or she would have a hard time leading.
The former MP said talking from experience he noted that if the prime minister was weak, this caused divisions between the Executive and Legislature, which made it hard to work.
“A military trained prime minister will be able to monitor corruption because discipline will be something that he is used to. There is too much corruption going on in the country,” Dlamini stated.
He said the prime minister must be able to discipline Cabinet ministers because they have a tendency of defying Parliament even when called to answer for some of these corrupt practices.
The former MP further said nothing was done to Cabinet ministers who defied Parliament.
John Ndzabandzaba, when speaking on the issue of corruption, disclosed how lost his home and property because of corrupt individuals.
Ndzabandzaba appealed for assistance in order for those who were behind his downfall to be brought to book.
He said those who practiced corruption and hid behind the King must be dealt with.
Mathendele Dlamini also suggested that the former prime minister Cleopas Dlamini be given another chance as he took over from the late Ambrose Dlamini and, therefore, had a short term in office.
He said His Majesty was a fair person and hoped that he would give the former prime minister a chance to finish what he had already started.
Mathendele spoke about people who were not doing their job and as a result stressed the King and said those who fail in their duties must face the consequences.
In vernacular he said “akukhale luswebhu” which can be loosely translated to mean ‘crack the whip’.
Nkwene MP, Sikhumbuzo Dlamini said the prime minister must be someone who understood government operations.
Sikhumbuzo said he would love to see former prime ministers and government officials taking the job as they understood how the country’s government operates.
Private
“I am not saying that someone from the private sector cannot lead but the most important thing is that the prime minister must be someone who understands the Tinkhundla system of governance and further have love for the people,” said the Nkwene MP.
“It must not be a case whereby Their Majesties love the people in all the sectors and the prime minister is someone who does not love the people and does not assist in building the economy,” he added.
He also thanked Their Majesties for blessing chiefs as many communities were without leaders for a very long time.
“People tend to take advantage when they see that there is no leader. The unrest in the country started when we did not have a prime minister. We thank his Majesty for blessing the chiefs as they will assist in communities,” he said.
Appointed MP, Thuli Dladla said she was hopeful that through the nation’s prayers, His Majesty would appoint the right candidate into the position.
Dladla said the PM candidate must be someone who loves the country and further understand how it is governed.
According to Dladla, the prime minister must love the citizens as loved by Their Majesties and explained that the candidate must have knowledge on socio-economic issues so that the people could get service delivery.
“This person must be able to stir government to effect service delivery to the people. The prime minister must be someone who will help move the country forward and also drive Their Majesty’s vision. The prime minister must also respect the country and the people so that the country can move forward,” she said.
Dladla further applauded the country’s governance system saying it was unique from other countries.
“We are lucky as a country because we are unique. We have seen how they explain democracy, where they define it as a way of governing, which depends on the will of the people,” said the MP.
She further said some countries saw it fit to lead through parties but the country said no, and chose its own democracy, which is the Tinkhundla system of governance, allowing Emaswati to elect their own MPs.
Also making her submissions, Dumisile Sigwane, said the incoming prime minister must deal with the issue of principal secretaries, who she suggested must be hired on a contract basis.
Sigwane said this was because the current structure gave principal secretaries too much power.
“If you follow closely the corruption practices happening within the various government departments principal secretaries are always behind these acts of corruption,” she submitted.
She said if principal secretaries fail in their duties they must be given a clear mandate of what was expected of them so that the country could continue to develop.
Sigwane said when it comes to appointing the prime minister the public had no power in doing that as powers rest with the King.
She said all that the public could do was to advise His Majesty on the right person to appoint.
She said all they could say was that the right candidate must be a person who would dedicate himself or herself in fighting corruption.
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