Africa-Press – Eswatini. For the first time, the nation will rate the 22 panellists running for a Cabinet seat at Sibaya through the use of an App.
The panellists and App were announced by the acting Ludzidzini Governor, Sifiso Mashampu Khumalo, yesterday during the fourth day of the People’s Parliament.
The App was live by late afternoon with the public already rating the eight candidates who has submitted. According to the app, the panellists are being rated for the PM and cabinet position.
Khumalo, who chairs Sibaya, said the panellists would make presentations, on which they would be rated by members of the public on an App created by the Royal Science and Technology Park (RSTP).
He said the panellists, who comprise of former ministers and members of Parliament, would speak on different topics while addressing the nation and would thereafter take questions from moderators and the public.
The acting governor said the speakers would be discussing serious issues, hence they would be given seven minutes each to address issues given to them.
He also said members of the public would be allowed one minute each to pose questions.
Khumalo also stated that the panellists would be rated on topics given to them in case they become leaders.
He was, however, quick to add that this did not mean that they would be leaders but tintfungo.
His Majesty King Mswati III when opening Sibaya on Monday invited the nation to identify the candidate who would be ideal for the position of being the captain to steer the government ship successfully for the next five years.
The king further said the People’s Parliament would only advise and not prescribe what would happen, as according to the Constitution, the prime minister was responsible for assisting him in choosing Cabinet.
He also said the App would be interactive as it would also allow members of the public to make comments and questions.
The panellists include MPs, senator-elects, former minister and legislators.
Some of the people on the list were part of the 10-man panellists who made presentations before Sibaya on Tuesday and Wednesday.
“The person will be rated according to their presentation. For example, if they are given a question on political governance, you will rate them. Comments from the public are welcome as well as questions and they will be rated in each and every category,” Khumalo said.
He further explained that everyone had a right to speak as the country had freedom of expression.
Allowed
Members of the public were also allowed to talk about their grievances (emanyeva) and yesterday, no topics were allocated.
Further, he said when a person’s time was up, they should respectfully give others a chance and added that the time for grievances would still be three minutes. The 22 panellists were separated into two groups and the first group made presentations yesterday.
The rest are expected to make presentations today.
He said there was also a secretariat which would be bringing microphones to the people to submit. He said the secretariat would also write down everything and also look at all comments on the App.
They will also take the ratings.
This added to the speculations by the public on whether the panellists were being considered for Cabinet posts. The speculations were based on what happened in 2018, where 25 speakers were chosen to submit before Sibaya and 14 of those were appointed Cabinet ministers.
Members of the public continued to speculate that these were interviews for the 22.
Some of them do not yet qualify to be cabinet ministers as they are not MPs or senate-elects. However, His Majesty is yet to appoint 20 senators.
Meanwhile, the podium was well decorated as opposed to the previous day 2. Plants were placed on the podium and the artificial turf had been rolled out. There were also banners and members of the public noted this as they entered Sibaya yesterday.
Source: observer
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