Speaker in the House of Assembly Jabulani Mabuza yesterday stopped what could have ended up being an explosive debate as Lobamba Lomdzala MP Marwick Khumalo boldly stated that they could not be bullied by one of their own and who holds a certain position for a short time.
He then asked that the matter is discussed further, which the speaker objected and stopped the debate for the day.
This was after Mbabane East Member of Parliament (MP) Welcome Dlamini had risen to seek clarity from the speaker on how one member went to another chamber to state that members of the House of Assembly were not honourable and that they took decisions based on bribes.
Dlamini asked for clarity, which was granted to him by the speaker and attorney general. The speaker then asked that they proceed from the matter.
However, Khumalo interjected and praised the speaker for being a good man; however, advising him that Parliament was a political forum where some of the issues raised should not then be pushed under the carpet because they had a tendency of recurring in the future.
He said what happened was unheard of, adding that the speaker should allow them to talk about the issue as members of Parliament.
“We cannot be bullied by one of us while that person is wearing a coat for a short time. You should give us the opportunity to speak about these matters,” he said.
Khumalo noted that they were being spoken about and belittled yet they were expected to ignore such. He said the Mbabane East MP by raising the issue in the House was not merely addressing it to the speaker alone, but to them as members. He said they, therefore, had the right to weigh in on the matter.
MP Dlamini had asked for advice from the speaker, with the assistance of the attorney general, on the conduct of the members of Parliament where one of their own would go to another chamber to speak badly about them, effectively bringing the House into disrepute.
He said there was a member who went to the other chamber and stated that the House of Assembly was not honourable and that the members take decisions based on bribes.
He said these were the exact words of the member, who further questioned the Constitution, which they were all supposed to defend as members of Parliament.
He said the member said MPs removed certain provisions of the Constitution to suit their interests, yet they were supposed to defend the Constitution.
“What advice can the speaker give and is this not bringing the House into disrepute, especially on the issue of the Constitution and the Standing Orders? The Constitution was presented at Sibaya while we were all there and we are now the same people who are against it. What are we expecting the people to say and are we still worthy of the office that we hold if we question the very same Constitution that His Majesty assented to?” he said.
He then declared the member that he was talking about to be the prime minister.
Ntondozi MP Peter Ngwenya asked if the member that was being implicated would reverse the statement as the legislators were not portrayed well to the public.
NOW READ | Asikwati loku! – Parents
Speaker Mabuza asked members of the House to put the interests of the nation before everything. He said they should not do it for him or the ministers, but should do it for the nation. He said he had granted the clarity to the MP, asking that they put the nation before everything.
“I respect you and the information that we received is enough for the interest of the country,” he said.
Speaker calls for mutual respect
SPEAKER in the House of Assembly Jabulani Mabuza has asked both members of the House of Assembly and senators for mutual respect and stop pointing fingers at each other as they make up one Parliament.
The speaker said it was not proper for any members of the two chambers to look down upon each other. He said he was not sure if what MP Welcome Dlamini said on MPs making decisions based on bribes indeed happened.
He said if it had happened in the manner that was being said then it was unacceptable. Mabuza said this was general advice, asking the MPs to continue being honourable and respect each chamber as Parliament was complete because of the two chambers.
He said he was giving the same advice even to those that made the statements about the MPs in the other chamber. He said they should work peacefully and not fight over small things.
Attorney General (AG) Sifiso Khumalo said he was not aware of the facts of the matter, stating that he might not be able to confirm their veracity. He, however, advised the members on their conduct, stating that the conduct of members of Parliament, being members of the Senate and House of Assembly, was governed by Standing Orders.
He said this was Standing Order 183 and Standing Order 184. He said Standing Order 183(2) says a member shall not act in a manner that brings the House or other members into disrepute. He said Standing Order 183(1) says a member shall at all times conduct himself or herself in a manner that upholds the dignity, integrity and decorum of the House.
Khumalo said Standing Order 184 speaks about parliamentary decorum and etiquette. He said if they wanted to address issues of conduct, they should use Standing Orders, particularly 183 and 184.
Khumalo said this was in general since he could not confirm or deny the facts of the matter being discussed. He said Standing Orders 183 and 184 deal with the conduct of members, while 184 also outlines remedies.
