Swazi Observer

FULL STORY

KING APPOINTS NEW CABINET OF HOPE

By Bodwa Mbingo | 2018-11-03

His Majesty King Mswati III has appointed a new Cabinet that should bring hope to Eswatini with its members’ experience and appropriate areas of expertise.

The 20-member Cabinet team was announced in less than five minutes at the Cabinet offices in Mbabane yesterday by its head, Prime Minister Ambrose Mandvulo Dlamini.

The king’s tone has been vividly clear ever since he called Sibaya to announce the new PM last week that going into First World status is too demanding as it demands a doubled effort, changing strategies that the country employed in the yester year, and bringing in new strategies to encourage envisaged goals.

Visitors

He said that would require researches in such areas as agriculture with a view to link domestic farming with commercialisation that may result in the product being sold in foreign markets; promoting tourism to increase the numbers of visitors; expansion in the industry sector; information technology; communication and transport.

He said these were some of the areas for the incoming teams, including the new Cabinet to be vigilant in improving adding that there are several other sectors, but he had picked a few just to emphasise the need to excel in standards in the country.

Indeed he has named a completely different Cabinet team that is expected to be a vehicle for economic transformation bringing in fresh and viable ideas to turn the country’s fortunes around.

Former Shiselweni Regional Administrator (RA) Themba Masuku has bounced back as the country’s Deputy Prime Minister (DPM), a ministry he was in charge of during the 2008-2013 term.

The King has further appointed business mogul and Montigny Director Neal Rijkenberg to be in charge of the ministry of finance while Dr Tambo Gina will be in charge of the ministry of economic planning and development.

Manqoba Khumalo, the first Liswati to be appointed CONCO General Manager taking over from Jose Neves and who until recently has been deployed by the company overseas, is now minister of commerce, industry and trade.

Pholile Shakantu, nee Dlamini, who is adequately qualified in the field of law, is now minister of justice and constitutional affairs. The youngest Minister in this Cabinet Princess Sikhanyiso will be in charge of technology and innovation in the ministry of information, communication and technology.

Only three from the recent Cabinet that was led by the late Sibusiso Dlamini returned to Cabinet, but with new positions. These include former Minister of Commerce, Industry and Trade Jabulani ‘Buy Cash’ Mabuza, who is now deployed in the Agriculture portfolio; former Minister of Agriculture Moses Vilakati, who has been deployed to the Ministry of Tourism and Environmental Affairs; and former Minister of Sports, Culture and Youth Affairs David Cruiser Ngcamphala, who will now be in charge of the Tinkhundla Administration and Development portfolio.

Outgoing Eswatini Water Services Corporation (EWSC) Managing Director (MD) Peter Bhembe has been appointed by the King to head the natural resources and energy ministry while the ministries of home affairs, public works and transport and that of housing and urban development will be headed by Princess Lindiwe, Chief Ndlaluhlaza Ndwandwe and Prince Simelane, respectively.

Thuli Dladla, who was the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) Chairperson in the 10th parliament, is now foreign affairs and international cooperation minister while Lizzie Nkosi and Harries Madze Bulunga have been appointed to head the ministries of health and sports, culture and youth affairs respectively.

Completing the new-look Cabinet team are Mafutseni MP Lady Howard Mabuza (education and training), Makhosi Vilakati (labour and social security) and minister of public service Christian Ntshangase.

The new ministers are expected to be sworn as Ministers of the Crown at the Hospital Hill next week. Their first assignment as ministers is expected to be the attendance of the country’s national prayer that has been called by the King at Mandvulo Grand Hall this morning.

4 Ex-ministers not considered

In what was a total break from the past, His Majesty the King in choosing his new cabinet team did not consider four former ministers, who were still eligible to be appointed.

The four ex-ministers, who were not considered in the new look Ambrose Mandvulo Dlamini led cabinet were one-time foreign affairs and international cooperation minister Lutfo Dlamini, who in his previous stints as legislator has served in cabinet; former tourism and environmental affairs minister Macford Sibandze, former agriculture minister Roy Fanourakis and former tinkhundla and development minister Mduduzi Small Joe Dlamini.

Dlamini had served one full term and a half.

The four have been touted as the surprise omissions in this Cabinet that will serve for five years until 2023.

This will be the first time that Ndzingeni MP Lutfo Dlamini will be a backbencher in parliament.

All the above former cabinet ministers are elected Members of Parliament.

His Majesty the King however still retained the experience of Deputy Prime Minister Themba Masuku in the same position, Tinkhundla Minister David Cruiser Ngcamphalala, tourism’s Moses Vilakati and agriculture minister Jabulani “Buy Cash” Mabuza.

King appoints 30 per cent women into Cabinet

In appointing his new cabinet His Majesty the King kept to the 30 per cent women representation constitutional dictate.

The Prime Minister Ambrose Mandvulo Dlamini yesterday announced six women cabinet ministers, who hold serious ministries.

They are; Thuli Dladla (foreign affairs and international cooperation); Pholile Shakantu (justice and constitutional affairs); Lizzy Nkosi (health); Lady Howard Mabuza (education and training); Princess Sikhanyiso (ICT) and Princess Lindiwe (home affairs).

In the previous two Cabinets the number of women in the 20 member team was five, but this time His Majesty the King increased it to meet the 30 per cent quota. Former female Cabinet Ministers in the pact team included Lindiwe Dlamini, who served as minister of public works and transport, but is now Senate President, Sibongile Simelane, who served as minister for health, Jabulile Mashwama, who served as minister of natural Resources and energy, Princess Tsandzile who was minister of home affairs and Winnie Magagula who was minister of labour and social security.

Princess Sikhanyiso the youngest Minister

Senator Princess Sikhanyiso has turned out to be the youngest Minister in the new-look Cabinet that was appointed by the King yesterday.

The princess, who spoke passionately about technology and innovation before the King during Sibaya last week, has been appointed Minister of Information, Communication and Technology. She was also the first to speak openly about the legalising of dagga in the country for export to other countries for medicinal purposes. The Senator also talked about innovative interventions in the field of agriculture, something she felt would excite even the youth to venture into farming for food security purposes.

Ministers Buy Cash, Moses swap Cabinet positions

Returning Ministers Jabulani ‘Buy Cash’ Mabuza and Moses Vilakati who were part of the past Cabinet have swapped positions in the new look Cabinet team.

Minister Mabuza, who first served as Minister of Tourism and Environmental Affairs before moving to the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Trade during the last term, has assumed the position that was held by Vilakati in the Ministry of Agriculture. Vilakati, on the other hand has moved to the Ministry of Tourism.

Nominated individuals to fill women MPs quota not considered for Cabinet

It has appeared to be a case of a little bit too late to be considered for Cabinet posts for the 20 women that were on Thursday nominated by Members of Parliament (MP)s to fill the four regions’ women quota in parliament.

With the Prime Minister having announced the new-look Cabinet yesterday, it became apparent that after being elected they will only settle for being backbenchers in the 11th parliament.

MPs nominated at least 20 women to compete for the four positions in the four regions.

The nominations and consequently the elections are a Constitutional requirement in case the women elected into parliament do not meet the required 30 per cent quota. MPs are then called upon to elect one from each region to bridge the gap in the House of Assembly.

THE FULL CABINET:

Prime Minister Ambrose Mandvulo Dlamini

Deputy Prime Minister Themba Masuku

Finance Neal Rijkenberg

Commerce, Industry and Trade Manqoba Khumalo

Justice and Constitutional Affairs Pholile Shakantu (nee Dlamini)

Information, Communication and Technology Princess Sikhanyiso

Natural Resources and Energy Peter Bhembe

Home Affairs Princess Lindiwe

Public Works and Transport Chief Ndlaluhlaza Ndwandwe

Housing and Urban Development Prince Simelane

Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Thuli Dladla