Africa-Press – Eswatini. Emaswati who were offered the opportunity to advise His Majesty King Mswati III on the suitable candidate to lead government from 2023 to 2028 as prime minister have made their voices heard.
Most speakers were adamant that only the King was mandated to appoint the prime minister.
This is despite that His Majesty King Mswati III, when opening Sibaya on Monday made the request to citizens to advise him on the type of PM he should appoint.
A majority of the speakers who made their submissions insisted that as per the dictates of the Constitution, they had no authority to appoint or elect a prime minister as that privilege was reserved for the King.
candidates
Most of the advisors during the morning session of Sibaya yesterday were coy on suggesting names of possible candidates for the coveted PM position, while some took the opportunity to name their preferred candidates.
The public is mainly of the view that the person who should be appointed new prime minister should be someone who has served in government and understood the Tinkhundla governance system and a person of integrity, who was God-fearing and a patriot.
They also wanted someone who would defend Their Majesties and interests of the nation and a patriot who would be prepared to lay their lives on the line if need be.
These views were revealed during the sixth day of the ongoing People’s Parliament (Sibaya) held at Ludzidzini royal residence yesterday.
Acting Ludzidzini Governor Sifiso Mashampu Khumalo, while addressing proceedings explained to the attendees that yesterday’s agenda would be based on three categories.
Khumalo said the first being, giving another opportunity to the public to advise the King on who they preferred to be appointed as the new PM, as well as the caliber of person who should be considered by their majesties for the position of being the captain of the ship.
He said over the course of the past week, Emaswati had made their submissions and there were a number of pressing issues that have been raised by Emaswati.
“One of the concerns that have been raised by Emaswati was that they did not have access to business loans from financial institutions, so they could establish businesses and create employment for others. This has prompted Sibaya to call captains of the financial institutions so they could explain to the nation how they could access such loans,” said Khumalo.
He further explained that the captains of the financial institutions would also be granted an opportunity to explain some of the challenges they encountered with applicants that lead to their loans being declined, as well as the requirements needed from Emaswati to access the loans.
He added that the submissions made by Emaswati also unearthed Emaswati did not benefit from government established funds, such as the Youth Enterprise Revolving Fund (YERF) and the Regional Development Fund (RDF).
He said the YERF, for instance was established to ensure that the youth in the country had access to funds so they could start their own businesses and the RDF was meant to develop people mainly in rural areas but Emaswati were not benefitting from such funds.
explain
The third item on the agenda was granting Emaswati a platform to address issues of grave concern (emanyeva) which was the last part of the business of the day.
Khumalo said they have decided to call Standard Bank Chief Executive Mvuselelo Fakudze, Nedbank Managing Director Fikile Nkosi, YERF CEO Mandla Nkamule, and Ministry of Tinkhundla Principal Secretary Nonhlanhla Dlamini, who was accompanied by Cornelius Dlamini to explain on the RDF challenges.
The majority of speakers who made submissions during the session on the PM included Central Bank of Eswatini Governor Dr Phil Mnisi, outspoken Mbabane businessman Walter Bennett, Vusumuzi Walter Tsabedze of Dvokolwako, Nelisiwe Pholile Magagula of Matsetsa and Justice ‘Mkhemetelo’ Nxumalo of Ondiyaneni who did not name names but insisted that only the King had the mandate to appoint the PM.
They also said it was his constitutional right to do so, as espoused by Section 67 of Eswatini
Constitution.
Sabelo Gumbi of Maseyisini said His Majesty must follow the traditional procedure on the appointment of the PM. He said he could only advise that there must not be a prolonged period without a PM.
Mlamuli Khazimula of Mtsambama said the king could not be compelled to have an elected PM as he was given the right to appoint, adding that they were merely suggesting to him and what was now left was his choice of the PM.
vision
Tsabedze said he understood His Majesty to have allowed for the Sibaya to continue on the choice of PM to test them if they had the same vision as he does.
“His Majesty is advised through dreams by God. All I can say is that this PM whom the King has dreamt of has already been named and his Majesty wanted to confirm that Emaswati see the same person,” Tsabedze said.
Mkhemetelo Nxumalo said he did not have the right to name anyone. He said he believed that the king has been already given a name.
Susan Sizakele Mkhabela of Mkhuzweni, who opened Sibaya yesterday with a word of prayer, said the next PM could only be found in God.
“Pharaoh who was a king who did not believe in God, asked where he was going to get a person to lead who had the spirit of God. Likewise, the person to lead the country as PM is one who has God’s spirit. Mathew 6:33 says first seek the kingdom of God and his wisdom.
All the other things would be added advantage. Maswati what you want, you won’t get it here. Such a PM would fight corruption and whatever rats would be. Former Senator Sigombeni Dlamini said the King should not be left in the cold as Emaswati made their decision when enacting the Constitution, which clearly stipulated that the mandate for appointment of the PM solely rested with His Majesty the King.
“We decide and agree on our Constitution on the appointment of the PM, we will be blamed if we decide to disregard the provisions of the Constitution.
However, the truth stands that the new PM should be someone who fears God and will protect and defend their Majesties and Emaswati at large,” he said. Sibusiso Maseko from Mdumezulu said the foundation of the governance of the country was laid down and nothing had changed to date and it is clear that the appointment of the PM was the prerogative of His Majesty the King.
“To His Majesty the King, please take your rightful place and be firm and take your position as King. Be strong and execute your mandate and not be deterred by thieves who come back and want to steal your power from you,” he said.
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