Africa-Press – Eswatini. Deputy Prime Minister Themba Masuku amused members of Parliament, by telling them in their faces that he was confident that he would emerge victorious if he joined the election race at any given point in time.
Masuku’s statement was met with laughter as the House of Assembly erupted, with MPs so amused and laughing their lungs out.
This was during the debate of a motion of urgent public importance moved by Lobamba Lomdzala MP Marwick Khumalo and was seconded by Manzini South MP Thandi Nxumalo on Thursday.
The MPs had moved that the DPM should rescind the government stance of requiring residents of Eswatini to continue doing PCRs, instead of reciprocating the decision taken by the Republic of South Africa of giving entry into their country to individuals on the basis of producing a valid COVID-19 vaccination certificate at the point of entry.
“I can assure you Mr Speaker that at the time, the honourable deputy prime minister was the MP of Sandleni Inkhundla, there was no way he was going to do this,” said Khumalo.
He further reminded Masuku that his constituency had changed, and it was no longer what it was when he was an MP.
He said the situation out there hadchanged, and the pressure they were feeling as MPs currently was not what Masuku experienced when he was Sandleni MP in 1993. He said for them, it was different in that the people still come to them first-hand and express their grievances.
He said he had not even seen the newspapers when he began receiving calls in the wee hours of Thursday morning from people complaining about government’s stance on the PCR test.
“This clearly demonstrates how concerned Emaswati were about the matter, especially these days Emaswati akasiva and saying we are failing to speak on their behalf and if they allowed government to decide to do things in that manner for whatever reason, some of them would be going back for a fresh mandate, how are we going to face the people,” elaborated Khumalo.
He ended by challenging the DPM to join the election race and see if he would come back. The House burst into laughter following his last submission, indicative that MPs were convinced Masuku would not win the elections.
“Umhlonishwa DPM, next year asekayolimela lukhetfo le Sandleni sibone kutsi utawubuya yini,” he submitted.
He was seconded by Manzini South MP, Thandi Nxumalo who said as an elected MP she was well aware of what the people out there wanted and they were advocating on their behalf. “We do not get any sleep as we keep receiving phone calls about this matter, so I plead for your support. I do not believe anyone of us here will say no, I am yet to see who will support this,” she said.
She said even Cabinet ministers were flooded with calls, including those who were appointed, as they all worked for the same nation.
“Ngisho DPM himself lolowenta lentfo lena utasisekela let alone kutsi ngeke vele abuyele. If he can run for elections at Sandleni, I assure you ngeke vele ulibone lelidlalako. Akudlalwa ke lena Mhlonishwa,” she said in vernacular.
This when loosely translated means that the DPM would not be successful if he would contest the election for a parliamentary seat.
She said as an MP, one had to stand up and speak for the people who entrusted them to be their representatives, otherwise they would be in trouble.
She reminded the MPs that elections were near, they should do the right thing and support the motion.
In response, Masuku welcomed the motion and said before he responded; he advised the MPs that the Sandleni Inkhudla they were talking about was no longer his constituency, as he was now under Kumethula inkhundla.
“So Mr Speaker, I am confident that I can win the elections anytime I choose to enter the race, but currently there is an MP and I cannot go against him,” declared Masuku. The House erupted in laughter once again as MPs were amused by Masuku’s submission.
Even Masuku himself laughed as he delivered the statement. He went ahead and assured the MPs that they were working on the matter, while assuring that an announcement would be made soon.
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