Mbabane: After speaking in Parliament on Tuesday, supporting Tinkhundla System of Government, Timothy Myeni, the Nkilongo Member of Parliament (MP) has done an about-turn, and is now in support of multi-party democracy.
This is contained in an audio recording where he was responding to the Swaziland News Editor Zweli Martin Dlamini who questioned him why he was supporting a political system that oppresses the people.
The conversation between the two was triggered by an article published by the Swaziland News where the MP was quoted speaking in Parliament on Tuesday declaring his full support for the Tinkhundla system of government.
“In the current situation where the country is ruled by the Tinkhundla system, it’s better for me to support it, not that I don’t want a democracy that the people are fighting for. I am in full support of the multiparty democracy, but unfortunately, we are currently under this Tinkhundla system of government because if you don’t support it, you are in trouble” he said.
“If the nation is saying no, let us change to another system, who am I to resist when the people talk?” he said in the audio.
Myeni’s phone rang unanswered when trying to reach him to clarify whether he supports Tinkhundla system or multi-party democracy, and he had not responded by the time of compiling this report.
Pius Vilakati, the Spokesperson of the Communist Party of Swaziland (CPS) said the conduct of the MP amounts to political opportunism as he always sides with anything that will put something in his pocket.
“He is lying that he supports democracy, he supports
anything that will put something in his pocket at the expense of the people.
For now, he supports Tinkhundla at the time when the system is brutalizing and
killing people just because he is benefitting. This is the reality with many
Tinkhundla loyalists. They are supporting this system for their benefit”
said the CPS spokesperson.
As reported by the Times of Eswatini, on or around September 23, 2019, the Nkilongo MP was allegedly seen dancing to struggle songs showing support to civil servants who were marching on the streets of Manzini. But the MP then denied that he was supporting the march despite the availability of pictures substantiating the story.
When speaking in Parliament on Tuesday, declaring his full support for the Tinkhundla system; he even praised the acting Prime Minister, Senator Themba Masuku for what he described as a brilliant statement about the ongoing political challenges and police brutality in the country.
“Ever since I arrived in Parliament as an MP, I normally vote and support the government and I’ve never voted against the government. That’s why the people of Lubulini would consistently vote for me because the government would then support the constituency since I am not causing troubles in Parliament by fighting the government.
My good behavior here in Parliament helps the people because when I approach the government for assistance, it becomes easy for me to get it; that’s my strategy. I would like to thank the acting Prime Minister for this brilliant statement that will help us address the current challenges we are facing as a country where the public keeps asking us why we are silent in Parliament. We are not silent but we know where and when to talk”, said Myeni.
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