Parly to blame for political crisis, says Lindiwe
TURMOIL: Says it was in Parliament where noise started, eventually spreading countrywide
“Lelive lishakangaka nje yiPhalamende, ngoba kw ac alan gem a lung a al endlu ,” she said, meaning what happened in the country was due to utterances from Members of Parliament.
LO BA MBA–Parliament must take the blame for the political turmoil that resulted in the death of over 50 people and the looting and burning of shops, Senate President Lindiwe Dlamini has said.
The Senate president said it was in Parliament that the noise started and eventually spread countrywide.
She was speaking at Senate yesterday when senators took turns in praising His Majesty King Mswati III for what they said was a well thought after and highly motivating speech made during the Sibaya gathering.
“Lelive lishakang aka nje yiP hal amende,n go bak wacalangemalunga alendlu,” she said meaning, the turmoil witnessed in the country was due to utterances from Members of Parliament ( MPs).
Though she did not say any names, it is common knowledge that it was three Members of Parliament who first made the call for political reform. These are Hosea MP Bacede Mabuza, Siphofaneni MP Mduduzi ‘ Gawuzela’ Simelane and Ngwempisi MP M than de ni Dube. Others have since joined them.
HUMBLED
“In my heart I feel humbled to mourn for emaSwati on behalf of Senate. They lost their lives and properties accumulated over a long period of time, as it all turned to nothing in just one night. We say sorry to emaSwati because this ball started rolling in Parliament, which should have been a beacon of hope for the country,” she said.
The president said it pained her that people were now targeted and threatened with fire, just for having a differing opinion. “It is no crime to have differing opinions. EmaSwati have to sit and talk over their differences, not what is happening now, as people are afraid to even associate with government.”
RESPECT
The president said emaSwati had lost respect, such that they were not even respecting the King. “If you do not respect your king, then who will you respect,” she said. Dlamini warned that there were people who wanted access to the country’s natural resources and were always prone to agitate the people of the country to rise against their leaders.
“All that they want is to have a hand in the country’s resources,” she said.
The Senate president also said people were manipulating social
Senator Isaac Magagula and Prince Magudvulela in discussion after Senate Adjourned. media to distort the truths about the country, and using the same platform to taint the country’s image.
DISRESPECTING
She then appealed for parents to contain their children so they desist from disrespecting the King.
The Senate president is now expected to take the Senate accolades to the King and thank him for what they said was a very informative speech.
The motion to thank the King had been moved by Deputy President of Senate Ndumiso Mdluli, who said the King gave the nation valuable information about the SADC Troika.
SUPPORT
Senator Leckinah Magagula also congratulated the new Prime Minister Cleopas Dlamini and pledged to support him as he carried out his duties.
She warned him to always trust Jesus in order to succeed in the endeavours of leading the country.
Chief Ngalonkhulu Mabuza also said the King should be thanked for saving the lives of over 30 people who tested positive at Sibaya.
“Had it not been for the King who called Sibaya and made people pass through mandatory testing, the 30 people would not have known they were COVID- 19 positive,” he said.
Speaking on behalf of the three legislators, MP Mabuza said it was wrong for the Senate President to generalise when saying Parliament must take the blame.
CONTRIBUTED
“She must be clear how Parliament contributed to the noise. All that we know is that we as MPs, carrying a mandate from the electorate, said it was time for emaSwati to have an elected prime minister. It is the government that turned a deaf ear to the call by the masses, resulting in the violence. We all know that when people are not listened to they turn violent,” he said.
He said Members of the House of Assembly may not have resolved to thank the King’s speech because they were not assigned by the electorate to do such.
“It is clear that our electorate did not like the King’s speech, so they could not have sent us to thank him,” he said.
Mabuza said the Senate President should ask senators to also join the MPs and call for an elected prime minister.
The president said it pained her that people were now targeted and threatened with fire, just for having a differing opinion.