Mbabane: Hosea Member of Parliament Mduduzi ‘Bacede’ Mabuza’s motion to oust Lobamba Lomdzala MP Marwick Khumalo brought so much tension in Parliament as its eligibility to be debated in the House of Assembly was questionable.
MP Bacede’s motion was brought into the house for the second time as on September 16 it could not be debated as most Members voted for it to be moved to Monday, September 21.
When the day came MP Bacede being the mover of the motion was given the opportunity to motivate his motion but just while he was still introducing his motion he was disturbed by a point of order raised by Kwaluseni Member of Parliament Mabhanisi Dlamini. MP Dlamini asked if the motion was really eligible to be debated in the August House as it was a motion on matters that were still in court hence bringing it to the Parliament would be prone to interference to court procedure.
MP Mabuza could not accept what was being said by MP Dlamini and asked Speaker Petros Mavimbela to allow him to finish what he had to say first as the mover of the motion. MP Mabuza said his main concern behind his motion was what the constitution says about a Member of Parliament who has pending cases in court.
Mabuza’s motion was calling upon the Justice Minister, through the Elections and Boundaries Commission to implement mandatory provisions of the act without favour or partiality.
However, Mavimbela could not grant Mabuza’s request, but opted to give Attorney General Sifiso Khumalo the platform to advice the house on whether the matter can be debated or not.
Just before Khumalo could speak, Lugongolweni MP Roy Fanourakis raised a point of order where he highlighted that involving the AG would bring conflict of interest as the AG and MP Marwick Khumalo are related. MP Fanourakis’ point of order was seconded by the mover MP Mabuza who verbally said the AG should excuse the house on such a matter as he is related to MP Marwick Khumalo. However, MP Khumalo refuted the allegations of being related to the Attorney General.
The Speaker then insisted that the AG be given the chance to clarify to the house what the constitution says in regard to such matters. AG Khumalo told the house that on matters pending in court, the Chief Justice, Prosecutor with the help of the Director of Public Prosecution should give their reports which will then grant the Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs powers to disqualify a Member of Parliament. AG Khumalo said for that reason the Minister of Justice cannot disqualify any Member of Parliament.
This resulted to unrest in the house hence the Parliament was adjourned before finishing the business of the day.
Discussion about this post