Times of Eswatini

MPs irked as Timothy calls them ‘tilayilayi’

- BY NHLANGANIS­O MKHONTA

LOBAMBA – Yesterday, Nkilongo Member of Parliament (MP) Timothy Myeni irked some of his colleagues when he said they were sleeping on the job.

MP Myeni also called them ‘tilayilayi’. The MP is the Chairperso­n of the Ministry of Tinkhundla Administra­tion and Developmen­t Portfolio Committee. Yesterday, the committee met with the Minister of Tinkhundla Administra­tion and Developmen­t, David ‘Cruiser’ Ngcamphala­la, and other senior officials from the ministry.

The purpose of the meeting was to debate the ministry’s second quarter report for the 2022/2023 financial year.

MP Myeni said the MPs were sleeping on the jobs because they had the powers to pass laws that would bring the necessary changes.

He said this was because a concern had been raised to the effect that there was a need for a law to regulate the distributi­on of funds in the Regional Developmen­t Fund (RDF). He said currently, a mere group of 10 people could access over E1.5 million, whereas the money could be distribute­d in a manner that would benefit more people other than just a group of 10.

Regarding the distributi­on of funds under the RDF, Manzini South MP Thandi Nxumalo said there was a need to scale down the funds received by the applicants in order to be shared among many other people other than just 10.

MP Myeni said there was no need for the MPs to flood the minister with questions regarding the fund, but they should pass laws that would govern the operations of that fund.

MP Myeni stated that despite laws governing the fund, MPs had the powers to amend the Constituti­on to allow for changes.

His reason for saying the august House was sleeping on the job was that the very same MPs were supposed to take decisions over Cabinet, not the other way round.

However, some MPs were not pleased with MP Myeni’s utterance and calling them names. The MPs demanded that MP Myeni should withdraw his statement.

There was mumbling in the House as some legislator­s laughed at MP Myeni’s statement, while others were calling for him to withdraw it.

Hhukwini MP Nkhanyeti Ngwenya told MP Myeni that his constituen­ts did not elect

but they elected an Honourable

 ?? ?? Nkilongo Member of Parliament Timothy Myeni in this file pic. (R) Siphofanen­i Member of Parliament Nomalungel­o LaZwide Simelane making her submission­s in Parliament yesterday.
Nkilongo Member of Parliament Timothy Myeni in this file pic. (R) Siphofanen­i Member of Parliament Nomalungel­o LaZwide Simelane making her submission­s in Parliament yesterday.
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