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MBABANE – Ntuthuko Dlamini made headlines in the country and internationally when he became the youngest Member of Parliament (MP) to be ever elected by the people, at the age of 20

His election for the term 1993-1998 drew international attention to Eswatini as a country which embraces youth development and values their involvement in key decision-making. His term in office, between 1998 and 2003, soon became controversial after he involved himself in the activities of the LaMgabhi Youth Association (LAYA).

This was a vigilant association, which tasked itself with fighting crime in the rural community of LaMgabhi. It became controversial when two youths, who were allegedly involved in crime, died at the back of a police van while being taken to the Bhunya Police Station. Against the backdrop of growing trend of suspects dying mysteriously in police custody, LAYA was convinced that police had killed the two youths.

Ntuthuko went on record, organising an armed march to the police station. He said all youth must come with their crude weapons to demand answers from the police. As the anticipation for the march grew, he was summoned to the Manzini Police Regional Headquarters (RHQ) where he was sternly warned about organising the armed march. He called it off on the same day of the meeting with the police chiefs.

It was also in the duration of this term that he made headlines for attempting to commit suicide. This was at a time when he was running a public transport business, having bought two kombis and a Sprinter bus.

It so happened that all three buses went off the road, due to accidents and serious mechanic faults at the same time. The personal car that he was driving, a grey Toyota Camry, was also involved in an accident.

He told journalists that he had gone into depression because he was still repaying bank loans for the purchase of the vehicles and could not come to terms with that they were all no longer generating income. He said the cars had defaulted on insurance premiums at the time of the accidents. He thanked his family for talking him out of the plans to take his life.

It was during this term as an MP that Ntuthuko also clashed with the then Prime Minister (PM), Sibusiso Barnabas Dlamini, in Parliament.

Corruption

Standing on a Point of Privilege in Parliament, Ntuthuko boldly stated that he had crucial evidence on corruption at the Ministry of Tourism. When the PM asked him to produce the evidence, Ntuthuko was seen chewing what seemed to be a paper while the Parliament session was ongoing.

The former PM then went to the Eswatini Broadcasting and Information Service (EBIS) to issue a statement disputing as untruths the allegations by Ntuthuko. It was at this time that the then PM uttered the words: “Sitsite nasicela bufakazi ku Ntuthuko sabona aphetse sigwabugwabu lesinemagama latsite. Usitsetse wasihlafuna naleso sigwabugwabu. Sesiyamangala kutsi kantsi Lilunga Michael Ntuthuko Dlamini lisangene yini.”

This translates to mean: “When we asked for evidence, we saw Ntuthuko holding a hard cover wish some names inscribed on it. However, later on, we saw him chewing that same hard cover. We are now worried if he is confused.”

When His Majesty King Mswati III reappointed Barnabas as the PM in 2008, it came as a surprise to many when Ntuthuko’s name emerged among Barnabas’s Cabinet ministers, for the term 2008-2013. He was appointed Minister of Public Works and Transport. His term as minister was not short of controversies as it came at a time when the nation was considering purchasing a private jet for the King.

Ntuthuko advocated strongly for the purchase of the jet and was even quoted saying: “Buying an airplane would be a good business decision for the country and the ministry is currently doing a feasibility study to ascertain its viability. Countries around the world now have their own State airlines, like Kenya Airlines, Russian Airways, so we also need one for the country and then have a proper management structure in place to run it.”

It was also during this term that he registered at the University of Eswatini (UNESWA) to study Law. He said his ultimate ambition was to be a judge. Before the end of the term, he also made headlines as he fought a maintenance court battle with the mother of his two children.

Disputing

At one time, the former PM had to write a press statement disputing comments that had been made by Ntuthuko, in which he announced a restructuring of the Central Transport Administration (CTA). Seeing that Ntuthuko’s statement was bound to result in a premature industrial upheaval, the then PM said: “The minister had spoken out of turn.”

Ntuthuko tried to introduce a Southern African Development Community (SADC) compliant driver’s licence, under a chorus of protests, until an old man almost hit him with a knobkerrie in a meeting. He also proposed a passenger liability insurance for public transport operators, which drew the ire of operators. It never saw the light of day. At one time, while returning from an international trip, Ntuthuko bore a swollen face and said it was an allergy from eating prawns.

As if the politics attached to his job were not enough, Ntuthuko also had a side hustle in which he hired out tents and chairs through his then company, Openosisa Investment. He was also in the media for taking the hardline against operators who rented out permits, yet his permit was also being rented by another operator.

At the sunset of his eventful Cabinet journey, His Majesty honoured Ntuthuko with the Swaziland 45th Anniversary Independence Medal together with 338 others in 2013. He lost the 2013 elections and shied away from politics and public domain, while running family businesses. It was in 2020 that he shot to the limelight again after shooting three people during a meeting at his home area, Mhlabubovu.