Whose government is this? – voters
KWALUSENI – /ogoba residents have warned against the abuse of the King¶s name in line with an elected government.
Over three residents complained that government was referred to as His MaMesty¶s *overnment and in the process exposed the King to criticism once the elected officers failed to deliver on their promises. The residents said they observed during the recent political unrest that the King¶s name was dragged through the mud even for things that fell squarely on the government and not his office as King.
They suggested to the Elections and %oundaries Commission E%C that the government should not be called His MaMesty¶s *overnment but be called the people¶s government.
³His MaMesty spoke sternly on the issue of lies and I think we should but the election of a PM of Eswatini by the people, which is currently the prerogative of His MaMesty the King.
³Therefore, their arrest and detainment on the basis of these statements was essentially punishment for their exercise of the rights to freedom of expression and opinion,´ the trial observer stated in the report.
He did not like the way the case was being handled. Again, this publication avoid all the lies by taking ownership of the people we put to government. :e are the ones who give the King these people and we should take ownership even of their failures. They should be the people¶s government and not His MaMesty¶s because when they mess up everything the King becomes the one to blame.
EVALUATION
³It is time we protect even the King and stop calling them His MaMesty¶s government because we are the ones who elect them to their seats,´ said a resident identified as Babe -onga.
Another resident who requested to identify himself as Babe Dlamini said Tinkhundla System was the best in the world but lacked a monitoring and evaluation module.
Commissioner ReMoice 1d]inisa said as E%C they were in a process of finding a lasting solution to the monitoring and evaluation aspect of cannot get into details, in order to avoid getting into the merits and de-merits of the case which is before -udge Mumcy Dlamini. The trial observer complained about the two MPs¶ lengthy stay in prison.
They have been incarcerated for months.
Kahn was in doubt that MP Mabu]a and MP Dube could be flight risks because of their official positions as MPs; have fixed assets in Eswatini; the elections.
³The monitoring and evaluation issue has been a maMor problem for us as E%C and the Ministry of Tinkhundla has since been engaged in finding a lasting solution to the issue. They promised us that they were in a process of creating an accountability tool which will be finalised soon. E%C is an independent entity tasked with executing the elections and the monitoring and evaluation process becomes a part that is being dealt with at government level,´ said 1d]inisa.
She further revealed that the issue of the power of recall had also become one important issue that was raised in most of the civic voter education exercises around the country. She said there was a suggestion to create a Select Committee to engage on the legislations that touch on the legislators to avoid letting them decide on the power of recall.
have clean records; have not interfered with witnesses; and were willing to offer a sum of money to secure their attendance.
)urthermore, the nature of their statements did not Mustify their detention for months in the interim between their arrest and the adMudication upon their matter. It is submitted that their arrest and extended detention was an infringement of their rights to freely express themselves, and their right not to be arbitrarily detained.
PROCEEDINGS
³:hile it is true that Mr Simelane, another accused, fled the country, the two Members of Parliament have emphasised that they wished to stand trial and complete the proceedings. It appears extremely surprising that their bail has been consistently refused,´ reads the report.
%ased on the report, the IP8 *overning Council said it trusted the Mudge that she would carefully and critically assess what evidence, if any, existed in support of the charges.
It said it trusted the Mudge that she would quickly adopt a verdict. The council then mandated its team to keep it informed of developments in the case of MP Mabu]a and MP Dube.