Africa-Press – Eswatini. Government has come out to state that there was no royal command which prevented seasoned legislator Marwick Khumalo from travelling to the United States of America (USA) for a political dialogue-oriented programme.
Government Spokesperson Alpheous Nxumalo made this statement in reaction to an article that was run by one of the weekend publications to the effect that a royal command prevented two legislators, a member of the royal family and a member of the Elections and Boundaries Commission (EBC) from travelling to the USA.
Lobamba Lomdzala Member of Parliament (MP) Khumalo, Senator Mkhululi Dlamini, Hhohho Regional Administrator (RA) Princess Tsandzile and EBC’s Lungile Magagula were reportedly stopped from travelling to USA due to an alleged royal command that was communicated by Clerk to Parliament Benedict Xaba. However, Nxumalo has emphasised that there was no such command.
“Government wishes to categorically state that there is no truth to reports that an alleged ‘royal command prevented’ Khumalo or any other participant from travelling to the USA for an ‘empowered programme on dialogue”, said Nxumalo in a statement that was issued yesterday afternoon.
The government spokesperson said according to Xaba, the MPs could not proceed with the trip due to the wrong procedure and the manner in which the invitation had been structured and communicated to Parliament.
According to the article, which prompted Nxumalo’s response, there had been conflicting reasons which made the four to be stopped from proceeding with the trip.
Xaba reportedly told the weekend publication that the trip was stopped allegedly because procedure was not followed when the invite was made. Meanwhile, MP Khumalo said he had been told that there was a royal command against them taking part in the trip.
The trip was part of the US Government’s International Visitor Leadership Programme (IVLP) and designed specifically to support a productive and positive national dialogue’.
Government is on record having stated that a dialogue would be convened at a date yet to be confirmed to address issues of social unrest.
It has been reported that five other members continued with the trip.
These are political activist Barnes Dlamini from the Institute for Democracy and Leadership (IDEAL), Reverend Zwanini Shabalala from the Council of Eswatini Churches; Human Rights Lawyer Mary Pais Da Silva; Times of Eswatini Journalist Mfanukhona Nkambule and former Eswatini Observer journalist Zwelethu Dlamini, who also serves at the Eswatini Media Workers Union.
The delegation will reportedly first spend time in Washington DC and then go to Seattle.
MP Khumalo turned back at the OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg, South Africa, where he was to connect to the USA.
Senator Dlamini turned back at the King Mswati III International Airport.
Khumalo was meant to represent the House of Assembly while Dlamini (Mkhululi) would have represented Senate.
Stopped
Xaba was quoted to have said the quartet was stopped from being part of the trip due to administrative issues.
He apparently claimed that procedure was not followed in many aspects and that Parliament had not been informed on time.
However, Khumalo maintained that the cancellation had nothing to do with procedure because had that been the case, he would have proceeded with the trip, but he called it off out of respect for authority.
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