By Zweli Martin Dlamini
Africa-Press – Eswatini. Prime Minister Russell Mmiso Dlamini must be charged with contempt of Parliament, his behavior last week during the debate of the his health crisis report demonstrated gross insubordination towards the authority of Honorable House.
Parliament is a legislative House and in terms of the doctrine of the separation of powers, the PM and the entire Executive Arm of Government including other State institutions, accounts to Parliament.
This means despite being a Prime Minister, Russell Mmiso Dlamini is an appointed Member of Parliament(MP) and once he sets foot inside the House, he “takes orders from the Speaker Jabulani ‘Buy Cash’ Mabuza and, must subject himself to the collective resolutions of the House”.
But the PM seems to be behaving as if he is the political boss in this country, he openly told MPs that “nginenkhani mine ngitanikhombisa-ke namuhla kutsi nginenkhani”.
In my view, the Prime Minister’s conduct might trigger a constitutional crisis in that, he has started to openly attack other institutions of the State and, with impunity.
Members of Parliament(MPs) debated his questionable health crisis report and suggested that, he must not be allowed to procure drugs through the National Emergency Response Council on HIV/AIDS(NERCHA) or the National Disaster Management Agency(NDMA) because, he has pending record of allegedly stealing over R200million COVID-19 public and donor funds.
But instead of clarifying these allegations with documentary evidence, he merely denied stealing the public and donated funds while attacking the Office of the Auditor General(AG) Timothy Matsebula.
But I am not sure “if the PM’s conduct is protected by the Parliamentary Privileges Act”, he must be charged with contempt of Parliament.
Clearly, the Prime Minister is becoming or behaving like a loose cannon difference being that, he seems to be an unpredictable or uncontrolled person hell-bent to cause intentional damage to State institutions.
The PM must not be allowed to undermine MPs and the authority of Parliament with impunity, he must learn to account to Parliament and further demonstrate respect for constitutionally established institutions.
We don’t want political loose cannons in this country and, King Mswati must consider correcting his past mistake with this arrogant Prime Minister.
The shortage of drugs in public hospitals is a life threatening health crisis and therefore, the Parliament that approved the National Budget, has the right to demand accountability from the Prime Minister.
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