Mbabane: Members of Parliament (MPs) will no longer entertain any work or Bills from Acting Minister of Information, Communication and Technology (ICT) Manqoba Khumalo until he presents an instrument which allows him to continue as acting minister of ICT.
Khumalo, who doubles up as Minister of Commerce, Industry and Trade has been acting for Princess Sikhanyiso who is the substantive ICT Minister.
The decision to sideline the minister was taken by the MPs on Monday at the August House after Deputy Speaker Phila Buthelezi asked Speaker Petros Mavimbela to show the grounds allowing them to entertain Khumalo as the acting ICT Minister. MP Buthelezi cited section 72 of the 2005 Constitution of Eswatini which states that a minister who is absent for any reason may, after consultation with the Prime Minister delegate those functions to another minister in writing for a period not exceeding six (6) months.
Attorney General Sifiso Khumalo who was asked to guide the house on the matter said the legislation allowed the substantive minister to write for an extension of appointment and that instrument was available. Minister Khumalo confirmed that the instrument was indeed available and it is the one he is using currently.
The MPs then asked Minister Khumalo to provide the instrument to the Speaker who will then notify the house once it is available and then they will allow Minister Khumalo to continue tabling any bill or work.
This came after Minister Khumalo was tabling three Bills, namely the Computer Crime and Cybercrime Bill 2020, the Electronic Communications and Transactions Bill 2020 and the Data Protection Bill, 2020 with a certification of urgency.
Ngwempisi MP Mthandeni Dube stated that he thought that since the six months had elapsed, then a new minster would be elected.
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