Zweli Martin Dlamini
Written by
Africa-Press – Eswatini. Parliament particularly the House of Assembly, is a playing a very critical role these days, holding the Executive Arm of Government under the Prime Minister Russell Mmiso Dlamini administration accountable. But there’s an aspect which I strongly believe is fundamental in the public administration,…
Parliament particularly the House of Assembly, is a playing a very critical role these days, holding the Executive Arm of Government under the Prime Minister Russell Mmiso Dlamini administration accountable.
But there’s an aspect which I strongly believe is fundamental in the public administration, the House of Parliament must consider having its own Spokesperson so that, a proper narrative could be communicated by the Legislature.
The Executive is not the Government but, an Arm of Government, without the Legislature and the Judiciary, the Executive cannot call itself a Government, in the context of a human being, one arm cannot call itself “whole body” and take decisions on behalf of the other parts of the body.
As the situation stands, some Senators and Members of Parliament (MPs) are confused whether to respond to the Swaziland News or not, they are ‘crying’ saying their reputation are being ‘damaged’ by articles but they can’t respond because Government banned them from responding.
It is worth-mentioning that, the ban is affecting them not us here on Swaziland News because we publish articles with or without responses and we are protected by South African transparency and accountability laws, as long as we got our facts right.
Indeed, some MPs, Senators and other public figures are donating their reputations by allowing a few individuals within the Executive Arm of Government to decide on their behalf whether they must respond or not but, the independent media will never stop publishing news just because others choose not to use their right to respond and clarify issues.
King Mswati’s Spokesperson Percy Simelane as a journalist, seems to understand that the media will never stop publishing articles, he is one good example of a well-trained Spokesperson who fully understands that, refusing to respond means you are giving the journalist a ‘penalty’ without a goalkeeper, people will read the story and make their own conclusion without your response because you decided to keep quiet.
In this country, political thugs within the Executive who are hostile to the media that expose corruption, take decisions and then call themselves “a Government”, Senator Tony Sibandze asked the Prime Minister Russell Mmiso Dlamini whether he must respond or not.
Maybe, let me urge aspiring MPs in the various Tinkhundla Centres to take advantage of this ‘penalty’ without a goalkeeper, they must provide us with all the information about the MPs who think they must seek permission from the PM before responding, towards the 2028 Tinkhundla elections more allegations will emerge, if you don’t respond, we will publish the side of the person who is accusing you and members of the public will make their own conclusion without your side of the story.
I’ve never seen politicians with Legislative powers who think a Prime Minister must decide for them whether they must respond or not, the Executive is accountable to Parliament and the PM cannot take decisions on behalf of Parliament without following the due process of the law.
Parliament must take this issue of communication very seriously, it’s a basic principle of public administration to account to the public, the first step is to have a Parliament Spokesperson like in South Africa, otherwise, if there’s only one Spokesperson, narrative that favours PM Russell Mmiso Dlamini will be communicated.
MPs who refuse to talk, then aspiring MPs in the various Tinkhundla Centres must take advantage and communicate their narrative when campaigning, we will give them more mileage so that those who think keeping quiet will mark the end of the world could learn.
In terms of South African transparency and accountability laws, public figures whose salaries are paid with public funds have a duty to account, that’s why no one who refused to respond will ever file a lawsuit and win against the Swaziland News.
It was strategic to register this publication in South Africa where there’s democracy, the Eswatini Government refused to respond, tried and failed to sue the Swaziland News.
The only option you have if you are a politician in Eswatini who decided not to respond to the Swaziland News when facing a serious scandal, is to cry on your pillow, the following morning, you will feel better because there’s nothing you can do after deciding not to clarify allegations.
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