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PM SAYS MP THREATENED HIM WITH ASSASSINATION

By Mbono Mdluli | 2018-04-06

Prime Minister Dr.Sibusiso Dlamini has alleged that outspoken Nkwene MP Sikhumbuzo Dlamini insinuated that he must be assassinated.

The PM said his life was more important than the Parliament Privileges Act thus he cared less if he discussed certain issues inside or outside parliament. He also stated that the motion muted by the Nkwene legislator is still-born (iphuntile).

The PM said this in response to the MPs attempts to charge him with contempt of Parliament, as it was reported yesterday.

The PM said the contempt motion iphuntile because, first and foremost, the matter was discussed outside Parliament structures.

“This therefore renders his wishful motion already still-born (iphuntile),” the prime minister said.

It is worth noting that the motion that is talked about has not been debated in Parliament. It is yet to be moved by the Nkwene MP, if all goes well. According to the motion, the prime minister was supposed to show cause within seven days after the passing of the motion, why he should not be charged with contempt of Parliament.

The prime minister, in the motion, was accused of infringing on the privileges and immunities of Parliament as enshrined under Section 130 (1) and (2) of the Constitution Act of 2005, read together with Sections 3 and 9 of the Parliament Privileges Act of 1967.

The prime minister, according to the motion, attacked an MP, through a letter dated February 5, 2018. This was after he threatened the very same MP on a matter debated in the House of Assembly on December 11 last year.

In response to the Parliament Privileges Act, the premier said MP Sikhumbuzo, during the debate that took place on December 11, insinuated that the prime minister should be assassinated.

“I consider my life to be more important than the Parliament Privileges Act. If my life is threatened with assassination, I will discuss it in and outside Parliament. I do not believe that the Nkwene constituency wants me assassinated,” the premier said.

powers

He further stated that the executive powers vested in him by the constitution meant he was not limited by the Parliament Privileges Act to discuss polital, social, and economic development issues with the nation in and outside Parliament, especially at Inkhundla level.

The matter at hand dates back to December last year when MPs were debating a statement said to have been made by the prime minister at Sigwe in the Shiselweni region.

The prime minister was reported to have stated that the new elderly people should register to get their elderly grant payments.

He allegedly further told them not to listen to those whose agenda was to cause confusion. During the debate in December, many MPs expressed their disgruntlement over what was allegedly said by the PM. They said his message incited people not to listen to MPs, the representatives of the people.

The MPs further said it was difficult to campaign and the PM would not have made such a statement if he knew the challenges they went through when they campaigned for votes during election years.

They even went as far as saying the PM would never understand, as he never stood for elections in his life.

The Nkwene MP accused the PM of power-grabbing. He said the PM’s actions showed that he wanted to usurp powers of the arms of government. He said he wanted people to listen to him, not MPs.

He also submitted that the PM did the same thing back in 2002 when he issued what was known as the November 28 statement.

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