Swazi Observer

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KING APPOINTS JABULILE MASHWAMA INTO PSB

By Mbono Mdluli | 2019-02-18

HIS Majesty King Mswati III has appointed Eswatini Water Services Corporation (EWSC) Managing Director (MD) Jabulile Mashwama to serve in the Parliamentary Service Board (PSB).

Mashwama is expected to join Senate President Lindiwe Dlamini, Speaker Petros Mavimbela and Clerk to Parliament Ndvuna Dlamini.

The three are already members of the PSB.

House of Assembly Speaker Petros Mavimbela said the appointments and election of the PSB members were still ongoing, so it would not be proper for him to divulge information regarding the PSB.

His Majesty the King, by appointing Mashwama, was doing so in accordance with the Parliamentary Service Board Act of 2015.

The Act requires that members of the PSB should be seven. The PSB membership should consist of the senate president, speaker and clerk to parliament, who shall be the secretary and ex-officio member.

Others to form part of the PSB include two present parliamentarians, coming from each chamber of Parliament. Another position is filled by a former parliamentarian, who is elected by all the parliamentarians from both houses of Parliament.

The seventh person is then appointed by His Majesty the King, according to the Act.

The existence of the PSB is also provided for in the Constitution. Section 131 (2) of the Constitution says the parliamentary service shall be administered by a Parliamentary Service Board consisting of —

(a) the President and Speaker who shall be chairperson on a rotational basis;

(b) four other members, two of whom shall be members of Parliament, to be appointed and removed by the Presiding Officers on the advice of the Joint House Committee;

Section 131 (3) says, “The Parliamentary Service Board shall be responsible for the proper and effective administration of Parliament.”

Section 131 (4) says the Parliamentary Service Board may make regulations, prescribe terms and conditions of service of the parliamentary service staff with the approval of the Joint House Committee and do anything necessary for the efficient administration of the parliamentary service.

The process of electing the PSB by the current parliament was aborted in December last year, in respect of the Incwala Ceremony. Now that the 11th parliament has been officially opened, the process of electing the PSB is expected to resume.

Parliament was in the process of electing two current legislators.

The House of Assembly had nominated Mhlume MP Victor Malambe to go for the position.

It looks like the Mhlume legislator will be elected into the PSB because no one is against him from the House of Assembly.

Senate nominated three senators for the one position reserved of a senator. They included Senators Prince Mphatfwa, Prince Magudvulela and Princess Ntfombiyenkhosi.

The position reserved for a former legislator will be contested for by former minister for sports, culture and youth affairs Hlobisile Ndlovu and former Senator Menjeni Mahlalela.

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