By Zweli Martin Dlamini
Africa-Press – Eswatini. King Mswati and his Tinkhundla undemocratic system of Government has been surviving through what is known as “scapegoating” politics when facing a political crisis and/or a breakdown in the administration of key governing structures.
It is therefore important to warn loyalists of the system including Prime Minister Russell Mmiso Dlamini to guard against placing themselves in a vulnerable position where they might be made or turned into political scapegoats.
Political scapegoating is a manipulative tactic where political leaders including Heads of State unfairly blame individuals for complex political, social or economic problems just to deflect accountability and solidify public support.
As a result, if the public opinion could reject or call for Prime Minister Russell Mmiso Dlamini’s and then Parliament pass a “vote of no confidence”, King Mswati might endorse the Parliament decision just to be seen as a Monarch who respects Parliament resolution and public views.
King Mswati holds Parliament in high regard because he knows that, whenever his regime comes under global criticism for alleged dictatorship and political oppression, he presents the governing structures in global meetings and portray Tinkhundla as a democratic system of Government.
I was analyzing even the King’s “Imvunulo” during the official opening of Parliament, some of us who understands the language of a traditional attire could tell that with the high quality well-designed “lihiya” and the entire traditional attire, Mswati was communicating that he takes Parliament very seriously because that’s where, in his capacity as the King-in-Parliament, delivers the Speech from the Throne and give public policy direction.
“Kuuvunula kuyikhulumo” and has levels, any person who understands “Imvunulo” is able the tell by merely looking at the traditional attire if the main Guest takes that particular event or institution seriously.
But I am extremely worried about Prime Minister Russell Mmiso Dlamini who thinks being appointed by the King means you are more superior than Parliament and other State institutions, his downfall might be as a result of that political novice mentality.
Mswati has all the powers to just grab money but in most instances, he allows Parliament to pass the National Budget and then cash the money through his King’s Office, he even pass laws to push his own business interests but through the same Parliament.
Indeed, there was a time when King Mswati was vigorously pushing for a law to legalize dagga for his own personal business interests, he decided to put that project on hold because Parliament backed by the public opinion, was resisting.
Inkhosi nayenta lokuganga nema-deals ayo lesinye sikhatsi iyaye isebentise yona le-Phalamende yentela kutsi nasekusuka umsindvo sive sikhala, kutotsiwa ngema-MPs yona igcume ihlale lapha kani ngiyo, it’s political scapegoating.
It is for these reasons, you must be a top and experienced investigator to obtain evidence that Mswati is stealing money, we know that he is stealing but in most instances, he steals public funds by manipulating the National Budget such that, you will find a useless ‘budget item’ allocated millions yet that money will end-up in the pockets of the King, he does all this through Parliament.
So if Prime Minister Russell Mmiso Dlamini thinks Members of Parliament (MPs) or the Parliament itself, as the Legislative Arm of Government is useless in the eyes of King Mswati, one day he will be surprised because that’s one of the core pillars of the Throne and Mswati deploys his hard core loyalists to Parliament to influence decisions and protect his interests”.
Parliament passed the Appropriation Bill that was subsequently signed into law by the King, the law commits Government to pay a R50million subversion to The Luke Commission but the PM is frustrating the payment process accusing Finance Minister Neal Rijikernberg of attempting to loot public funds.
It’s true that, Neal Rijikernberg has links with The Luke Commission and was once a Board member but he long declared his interest and, the Bill was passed by Parliament and signed into law by the King after careful consideration that the private Hospital has been and continues to assist emaSwati amid shortage of drugs in public hospitals, the law was not single-handedly passed by the Finance Minister.
A conflict of interest becomes an act of corruption if a public officer acts with an undeclared interest and/or with intent to influence decisions for personal benefit whether directly or indirectly, if declared it’s not corruption because that particular public officer will not participate in the decision making.
It is of paramount importance therefore, to remind the Prime Minister that the deliberate delay in releasing the R50million subvention due to The Luke Commission is not only unlawful but, a deliberate disregard of the authority of Parliament and the King who signed The Appropriation Bill into law.
Well, if Members of Parliament (MPs) were politically inclined and able to read the political barometer, they would have long passed “a vote of no confidence” against this Prime Minister, the King wants to prove to the world that there’s democracy in Eswatini and that, the Parliament is independent, he will not protect the Prime Minister.
It’s a pity because the Prime Minister is slowly placing himself in a vulnerable situation to become a political scapegoat, his conduct or decision to undermine Parliament might not end well.
