“I can confirm that there was a proposed motion by Honourable Jan Sithole that was to trigger a debate on separation of powers but Prime Minister interpreted it as one that challenges the authority of the King. The Prime Minister would avoid attending Parliament business every time that motion was to be tabled and debated” said the Speaker.

When asked to clarify the motive behind the motion according to his own interpretation, the Speaker said MP Sithole and other Legislators had a strong believe that the PM was not supposed to interfere in the operations of Parliament. The interference of the PM in the operations of Legislature was legitimised through the now controversial Parliamentary Services Act 2015 that surrendered the independence of the Legislature to the Executive.

“Even thou the motion was eventually not tabled and motivated, according to my own understanding, there is a strong believe among MPs that the PM should not interfere in the operations of the Legislature because he is now abusing those powers. We are not saying there shouldn’t be any working relationship but there is now huge interference because he is even using resources of the country to frustrate MPs who are not siding with him” he said.

MP Jan Sithole did not respond to questions when asked about the progress in Parliament in fighting the King’s political system from within as per his sentiments when joining elections about five years ago.

But independent investigations by this publication uncovered that towards the end of last year there was political tension between the Executive and Parliament as some MPs were secretly lobbying for political transformation urging that “its high time the country adopt multiparty democracy” with the Prime Minister elected by the people.

“No one wants to remove the King. I am aware of the matter but I can assure you, it was just a fabrication by the Prime Minister to intimidate Parliament. The truth of the matter is that when the time comes, the Tinkhundla political system will be removed, there is no doubt about that. I can hear you saying this was a secret motion, there is nothing like a secret motion. When the time comes, removing Tinkhundla will not be done secretly. We will just raise a motion, amend the Constitution and remove the system; it will be as simple as that” said an MP who cannot be named due to the sensitivity of the matter.

The political tension intensified after the PM and his Cabinet failed to deliver services like payment of social grants and the maintenance of roads despite that Parliament approved a budget to that effect. In the midst of that tension, MP Phila Buthelezi submitted in Parliament that it would be in the interest of the country if the Prime Minister was elected by the people. Sources within the law enforcement agency disclosed that the sentiments by MP Phila Buthelezi came at a time when the PM was digesting the motive behind the proposed motion by MP Jan Sithole.

“The PM took the sentiments of MP Phila Buthelezi seriously and tackled the matter outside Parliament after intelligence information emerged that Members of Parliament were secretly plotting regime change” a source within the law enforcement agency disclosed.

The PM accused the MP of attempting to shake the pillars that establish and keep the Nation a unified and peaceful State. MP Phila Buthelezi, a political ally of Jan Sithole was subsequently forced to withdraw the statements with Parliament ordered to contribute about R500 (about $50) towards purchasing cattle that would be presented to the King as an apology. This is in accordance with Swaziland Customary Law but some political analysts suggest that it grossly undermined the independence of Parliament.

On another note, the PM stands accused of sensitizing genuine motions by involving the name of the King while he pursue his political agenda tobe re-appointed or recommend his successor.

“The PM has a hidden political agenda, he wants the King to violate the Constitution and re-appoint him together with some of the current Cabinet Ministers who are disqualified by the Supreme Law. He has been sensitizing genuine motions by involving the name of the King. As part of our mandate we have been moving motions that seeks to force government to deliver services to the people but some were interpreted as challenging the King, this is not true” said the MP

The MP further clarified that the sentiments by Honourable Buthelezi was not in any way linked to the intended motion that was allegedly interpreted by the PM as challenging the King

“Buthelezi made comments during a debate of the Ministry of Public Works and Transport. He took an angle that seeks to address the issue of lack of services like the maintenance of roads in the various Constituencies. We supported him and subsequently adopted a resolution, however the PM was absent. Buthelezi said “just because we previously had serious debates and made resolutions that seek to improve the lives of the people but nothing was happening yet the Executive was allocating itself huge benefits.

In my opinion, what is delaying progress in the country was that the Captain of Cabinet is someone who does not feel the pain of being elected by the people. He doesn’t know the pain of going to Parliament leaving behind hungry elderly women waiting for food because he was appointed, I think if the PM can be appointed from the elected MPs” said the MP.

The Legislator said Buthelezi’s sentiments were his personal opinion not a motion “It was his opinion supporting reasons why he believed there was lack of service delivery as he noted that most of the people in the Executive were appointed so they don’t know the pains of the electorate.” said the MP.

The MP further said at the time when these issues were discussed, Cabinet was organising a meeting with the King to convince him to re-appoint the current Cabinet.

“It transpired that at the time when these hot issues where debated, the Executive was organising itself to meet the King and convince him to re-appoint the PM including the Ministers who are not eligible in terms of the Constitution. The debates on service delivery and the appointment of the PM were therefore seen as paving a way for a vote of no confidence. Even on the day when Buthelezi was forced to apologise, the motion by MP Jan Sithole was there and it was to be supported by Johannes Shongwe. When it was time for that motion, we were then ordered to convene for a caucus meeting” said the MP

source: www.swazilandnews.co.za