Global politicians to meet PM
µµ The high-level delegation from the organisation of global parliamentarians is expected to be in the country on November 28-29, 2022 to have discussions with senior government officials.
MBABANE – The Inter-Parliamentary 8nion IP8 wants to meet Prime Minister PM Cleopas 'lamini on the ongoing case of MP Mdudu]i Bacede Mabu]a and MP Mthandeni 'ube.
The high-level delegation from the organisation of global parliamentarians is e[pected to be in the country on 1ovember 2 -2 , 2022 to have discussions with senior government officials.
MP /ia 4uartapale, an Italian politician of the 'emocratic Party and MP Millie 2dhiambo from .enya, have been mandated by the IP8 Committee on the Human 5ights of Parliamentarians to undertake a fact-finding mission in (swatini.
2dhiambo represents the 2range 'emocratic Movement in .enya, where the media described her as controversial and outspoken. She has been a Member of Parliament MP since 2013.
The Italian MP has been in office since 2013 as well.
The Times S81'A< can also reveal that 5ogier Hui]enga from the 1etherlands will be the delegation’s secretary.
Martin Chungong, the Secretary *eneral of the IP8, has requested Parliament to organise the meetings, ideally using the mornings and afternoons of 1ovember 2 -2 , 2022.
The Parliament of the .ingdom of (swatini has also been asked to facilitate the meetings with MP Mabu]a and MP 'ube. The IP8 delegation wants to also meet the following officers:Speaker of the House of Assembly.
Members of the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs Portfolio Committee. Prime Minister
Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs 1ational Commissioner of Police
'irector of Public Prosecutions Prosecutor assigned to the case of MP Mabu]a and MP 'ube.
It has been learnt that the IP8 is interested in seeing the (swatini Commission on Human 5ights and Public Administration. The union of global MPs said it would also play a part in arranging the meetings.
It is said that the secretariat would organise meetings with the legal counsel for the detained MPs 8nited 1ations Country Team, representatives of the diplomatic community and key civil society representatives.
The global MPs will be in the country to discuss the situation of MP Mabu]a, MP 'ube and self-e[iled former MP Mdudu]i ‘*awu]ela’ Simelane.
OBSERVE TRIAL
8nder normal circumstances, the Parliament of the .ingdom of (swatini is e[pected to reserve a suitable hotel and transport for the delegation.
)ormer Botswana High Court Acting Judge 5ahim .han is already in the country to observe the ongoing trial of the MPs.
Benedict ;aba, the Clerk to Parliament, said the delegation’s visit was still a logistical issue as they were yet to check on the dates and the people the IP8 proposed to meet.
“There’s nothing concrete yet that we can report on the visit e[cept to say that we are still working on the logistics,´ ;aba said.
He said they, however, did welcome the former acting Mudge of the High Court of Botswana who was in the country to observe the case. The clerk mentioned that they provided him with transport and security to an e[tent that he also appreciated the reception he got in the .ingdom.
“:e honour our membership with IP8,´ he said.
“:e gave him the status that he deserved.´ Alpheous 1[umalo, the *overnment Spokesperson, said: “Probably one may begin by respectfully requesting an organisation such as IP8, to respect the laws of the country in respect of discussing a matter which the courts of the land are sei]ed with sub Mudice .´
1[umalo said PM would respond accordingly once the request to him had been received and the agenda purpose of the meeting disclosed.
“1o doubt, the prime minister will be guided by the principle which I have outlined above,´ said the government spokesperson.
It must be said that the resolution to send the team to (swatini was taken during the 1 IP8
th Assembly in .igali, 5wanda, on 2ctober 1 , 2022.
The decision was taken after Speaker Petros
Mavimbela had appeared before the IP8 Committee on the Human 5ights of Parliamentarians.
The IP8 is the global organisation of national parliaments.
The organisation empowers parliaments and parliamentarians to promote peace, democracy and sustainable development.
The case of the incarcerated MPs was filed by the IP8’s Committee on the Human 5ights of Parliamentarians as S:=-02 ± Mdudu]i Bacede Mabu]a, S:=-03 ± Mthandeni 'ube and S:=0 ± Mdudu]i ‘*awu]ela’ Simelane.
COMPLAINT
The complaint was submitted to the IP8 in January 2022 under Section 1.1 b of the IP8 Committee Procedure.
The committee had been tasked to investigate alleged violations of human rights of the two MPs and Simelane, the then e[-MP of Siphofaneni.
After his disqualification for being an MP, Simelane was replaced by his wife, MP 1omalungelo Simelane, popularly known as /a=wide.
The IP8 stated that it was investigating the