Africa-Press – Eswatini. Senators have declined to debate and adopt the Correctional Services Regulations, 2022 while insisting this was the wrong timing and urged government to sort out the junior officers’ matter.
The legislators argued that it would be improper for them to continue debating and possibly adopting the regulations while there were aggrieved junior officers.
In an unprecedented incident, about 50 aggrieved junior officers from the Royal Eswatini Police Service (REPS) and His Majesty’s Correctional Services (HMCS) last week marched to deliver petitions to the ministry of public service, ministry of justice and constitutional affairs as well as the prime minister’s office.
During yesterday’s sitting Senator Prince Mphatfwa moved a motion without notice that the Senate debated and adopted the regulations in terms of section 253 of the Constitution.
However, Senator Vuka Moi Moi Masilela was first to raise the concern and moved that as Senate, they should not be seen to be discussing the regulations while there were still ongoing engagements between junior officers and government.
“Let us not discuss this now. Let us wait until the issues have been hashed out and they find common ground,” said Masilela.
Deputy Senate President, Ndumiso Mdluli, pointed out that the regulations were meant to operationalise an Act that was already passed by Parliament and moved that they should not frustrate the process but continue with the debate so the HMCS could get to work.
Senator, Isaac Magagula, said it should be clear that they were not against the passing of the regulations but the timing was not right.
“I feel the timing is not right, let us allow the engagements between government and the junior officers and give them time to resolve their disputes. Kute lokushako lana the timing is not right and this can wait,” said Magagula.
Senate President, Lindiwe Dlamini, reminded the senators that they had already attended a workshop on the regulations and attempted to convince the senators to continue with the debate.
Her sentiments were shared by Deputy Prime Minister, Themba Masuku, who added that this did not mean that they could not continue with the debate since the issues were not related.
President Dlamini also highlighted that this was an important piece of legislation and they could not just put it aside indefinitely.
“We need to have timelines on when we can continue with this work,” said Dlamini.
Senator Masilela explained that they wanted to continue with their work but some did not understand what their argument was based on.
He also clarified that the only issue he had was with the timing and moved that they should at least delay the debate and adoption for a week while the two parties engaged.
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