Africa-Press – Eswatini. Deputy Speaker in the House of Assembly Madala Mhlanga has expressed a strong level of disappointment in Members of Parliament (MP) for shunning what could have been a last sitting in the fifth session of Eswatini’s 11th Parliament.
The basis of the anticipation that the 11th Parliament could soon be dissolved emanates from that His Majesty King Mswati III has called the nation to Sibaya on Tuesday.
In accordance with the Constitution of 2005, the elections should be convened within 60 days after dissolution of Parliament.
Prior to calling an end of the sitting, which failed to take off, Mhlanga said; “It is unfortunate that we could not have a sitting today yet at the same time we are not aware whether there could be another sitting. It would have been a good idea to pass a vote of thanks to MPs who have been in the 11th Parliament.”
This was after frantic efforts were made for the House of Assembly to proceed with business yesterday, which entailed debating the Elections (Amendment) Bill of 2023.
The deputy speaker was stopped from continuing with business by MPs who argued that they did not form a quorum.
A similar incident was witnessed during Wednesday’s sitting, as the sitting had to be adjourned to allow for more legislators to make their way into the chamber.
The sitting continued after over 30 minutes from its scheduled start.
In accordance with the third edition of the Standing Orders of 2023, which were adopted during Wednesday’s sitting, the quorum for a House of Assembly sitting to proceed should be 30 MPs.
At 2:30 pm, which was the scheduled time for commencement of the sitting, there were 24 legislators in the House, which prompted the Speaker to call for an adjournment of five minutes with the hope that more MPs would make way into the chamber.
The adjournment was prompted by Gilgal MP, Kenneth Fakudze, who stood on a point of order saying the sitting could not go ahead because MPs did not form a quorum.
Soon after Fakudze’s submission, the deputy speaker called upon Clerk at Table, Mpendulo Ngcamphalala, to ensure that indeed the MPs did not form a quorum and he confirmed that they were indeed 24, inclusive of the deputy speaker.
During the adjournment, the MPs poked fun at the absence of almost all MPs.
“The MPs are scared of coming to Parliament because they are well aware that they will not be re-elected during the next term,” said one of the seasoned legislators who was in a discussion with a colleague.
After the adjournment, Mhlanga urged MPs to proceed with the sitting. “Honourable MPs, can we please get to work,” said Mhlanga.
However, Sithobelweni MP Bhekitje Dlamini stood up on a point of order stating that MPs still did not form a quorum.
“The quorum has still not been formed,” said Dlamini, much to the chagrin of Mhlanga, who chastised the former for not citing the point of order, which he used to raise the issue.
In response, Dlamini said he stood on a point of order seeking clarification, which caused the House to burst into laughter since there is no standing order to that effect.
Dlamini had claimed that the MPs were 27 instead of 30. However, after another recount by the clerk at the table, it was evident that the MPs were still not 30. At this point, there were 29 MPs.
When it had been confirmed that there were 29 legislators, the deputy speaker read the riot act to Dlamini. He claimed that the MP seemingly did not want business of the day to proceed because he claimed that there were 27 MPs instead of 29.
Mhlanga went on to call upon Dlamini to apologise, who however did so with a pinch of salt and said; “I apologise Mr Speaker, we are 29 including the Attorney General (Sifiso Khumalo).”
Informed
At this point, Lobamba Lomdzala MP, Marwick Khumalo, intervened on a point of order and informed Mhlanga that it would be against dictates of Standing Orders to proceed with the sitting in the case where MPs did not form a quorum.
In defence, the deputy speaker said he was only calling to order the Sithobelweni MP for being economical with the truth when rising on a point of order.
He advised that it was wrong for MPs not to adhere to Standing Orders, especially Dlamini, who had been absent on the previous day.
Source: observer
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