LaZwide won’t deliver - Mphandlana
MBABANE – 9eteran politician Mphandlana 6hongwe says newly-elected 6iphofaneni Member of 3arliament M3 1omalungelo /a=wide 6imelane will not deliver as per the hype around her election.
The legendary political activist took a swipe at the newly-elected wife of 6waziland /iberation Movement 6:A/,MO 3resident Mduduzi µ*awuzela¶ 6imelane after her landslide victory in the by-election over the past weekend.
The Elections and Boundaries Commission EBC instituted the by-elections to replace 6imelane, who was removed from House of Assembly in 1ovember last year after missing the regulated number of sittings, following an arrest warrant on allegations of incitement and terrorism.
6hongwe is one of the founding members of the 3eople¶s 8nited 'emocratic Movement 38'EMO and /a=wide is a member of 6:A/,MO, a new political movement formed by her husband.
FIGHTING
6hongwe minced no words as he stated that /a=wide was not going to succeed in fighting for democracy inside 3arliament. He said her election into the House of Assembly to fill a position left vacant by her husband was a waste of time.
³As the sun sets, we are not worried about who has won or not won, instead we are worried about the parliamentary route which looks easier when said than done. , am failing to understand what /a=wide brings to the Tinkhundla 6ystem.
The husband failed to take out the µcrocodile¶ from the pool and how is she going to be able, e[cept to take the assured grocery every month end.
This is not meant to belittle anyone, but truly speaking there is nothing she will do e[cept get paid for doing nothing. M3s and everyone in 3arliament are paid for doing nothing,” he stated.
SACRIFICES
6hongwe said the decision by /a=wide to stand for the election was offensive to the sacrifices made by other comrades in the struggle.
He said many people sacrificed their lives for a meaningful transformation of society which was possible without embracing elections under the current system of government.
³3eople are not all deaf and they can register a call and place hopes on it. The hopes of emancipation from the 5oman¶s diminished when -esus failed to redeem them from their oppressors. They had believed that as a son of *od He could easily deliver them out of the 5oman domain. At the cross too, the failure of the angels to come and take him down further gave the people doubt. /et us come closer to the issue, now that /a=wide has won the elections, then what" :e all know that tinkhundla can never deliver by nature and /a=wide inside the house will not deliver,” he elaborated.
'uring an interview on Thursday in 3arliament, /a=wide said she was not going to respond to anything e[cept the pledge she made to the people of 6iphofaneni. 6he flatly refused to engage on what 6hongwe said about her.
PROMISE
³, took an oath and made a promise to the people of 6iphofaneni and the country, and that is what , intend to keep myself accountable to and not anything else,” she briefly said.
6:A/,MO 6ecretary *eneral 6* 'r 6iphetfo 'lamini said as much as everyone had their own opinion, it was imperative for political activists to respect each other¶s ideology.
He said no one should be blamed for taking a political stand and fighting for democracy in a manner they see proper.
'lamini said there was no formula for the revolution and they made a conscious decision to participate and infiltrate the system.
He stated that they were aware that other formations were going to oppose their decision, but they remained committed to completing what they started.
³,t is e[pected for people to share their views on the same subMect since democracy is about the freedom of speech. The nation has spoken and /a=wide is now a member of 3arliament and there is nothing they can do about, even if they are bitter.
NOT APOLOGETIC
,t was a decision made in broad daylight and we are not apologetic about it. :e made our stand clear as an organisation that if by the system still stands, we will go for its vital organs,” he said.
'lamini said the political movement would continue to push for democracy even if it meant contesting for all seats in 3arliament ne[t year.
He emphasised that people should not think of their decision to participate in elections as a sign of retreat, but as a sign of strength.
/a=wide won the by-elections against si[ other candidates nominated from the different chiefdoms in the area.
µµShongwe minced no words as he stated that LaZwide was not going to succeed in fighting for democracy inside Parliament. He said her election into the House of Assembly was a waste of time.