WHO WILL BE NEXT SWAZI PM?

Times Sunday

28 September 2008

Is Barney the man for the hot seat?

By MAKHOSI MAGONGO

MBABANE—Will Liqoqo pick Barnabas Sibusiso Dlamini as the next Prime Minister when the time for nominating possible candidates comes?

This question arises from revelations that he is a frontrunner for the post of Head of Government, vacated by Absalom Themba Dlamini when Cabinet was dissolved last week.

"The events currently happening in the country need a man of Barnabas’ calibre. So far we believe he is the man for the job," said a senior member of the advisory body, Liqoqo.

The king’s advisor was referring to the recent spate of terrorism attacks, the march against Emakhosikati’s trip to the Middle East and Asia, fiscal discipline within government and the imminent threat to the royal family.

"Many members believe that these challenges need an assertive and strong individual who will be in charge of government. We do not want a situation where there are many cabinets within one, where some ministers are more powerful than the prime minister," he said.

The king’s advisor also revealed that the names of Phesheya Dlamini (Former Attorney General, and Ambassador to Kuwait), Mathendele Dlamini, Absalom Muntu Dlamini, and the possible reappointment of A.T. Dlamini also came up in some informal meetings. The advisor said only Barnabas Dlamini’s name came up in a formal meeting.

One of the people who were recently tipped for the post was Phesheya Dlamini, whose age worked against him. "He is still young, yet the position needs a very senior politician," said the advisor.

"The general feeling is that Dlamini is fit for the job," he said.

Asked whether they had considered that Dlamini’s exit coincided with the breakdown of the rule of law, the advisor said: "That has been considered. At the time of his exit, there was no constitution in place. Now we have a constitution in place, so the provisions of such a constitution guide the conduct of a Prime Minister. Therefore, how he went out should not be a problem. What we consider is the vast experience he has in dealing with such problems as those the country’s leadership is facing at the moment."

His Majesty the King is still expected to hold meetings with the SNC where the issue of the prime minister will be concluded.

Once the prime minister is appointed, and a new government is in place, the king is expected to dissolve Liqoqo, and appoint a new team.

Currently, members of the main advisory committee include Prince Sobandla, Prince Mahlaba, Sibusiso Barnabas Dlamini, and Chief Magudvulela, to name but a few.

Section 67 of the Constitution states:

(1) The king shall appoint the prime minister from among members of the House acting on recommendation of the King’s Advisory Council.

(2) The king shall appoint ministers from both chambers of Parliament on the recommendation of the prime minister.

(3) At least half the number of ministers shall be appointed from among the elected members of the house.

Link http://www.times.co.sz/News/1771.html

WAIT ON FOR SWAZI KING TO NAME MPS

Times Sunday

28 September 2008

Liqoqo completes its rigorous process of nominations

By MAKHOSI MAGONGO

MBABANE—The King’s Advisory Council, Liqoqo, has completed the process of nominating people to be appointed by the king to the House of Assembly.

Each member of the team of 12 powerful main advisors was requested to submit names of five people who have distinguished themselves in the service of the country.

From the names submitted by the committee, the King is expected to choose 10 men and women who will be announced as appointed members of the lower house.

"We were advised to consider all sectors of government and the private sector. Therefore in the nomination, each advisor considered people from the various emabandla, the civil service, those in Foreign Service, the private sector," said a senior advisor of the King, who wields a lot of influence in the country’s traditional structures.

Nomination

"The reason for this kind of nomination is that a lot of people have been appointed into parliament and Cabinet in the past, and they tended to embarrass the appointing authority. The process is now rigorously done to minimise the possibility of the appointment of incompetent people," said the advisor.

He said at the end of the nomination exercise, the King was expected to be in the possession of 60 names. From that list, 10 names are to be announced by the Elections and Boundaries Commission.

"Previously, each advisor had the chance to suggest a name by word of mouth. But the process proved to be cumbersome and a source of conflict, as some advisors would openly oppose the names of certain individuals.

"Therefore, this time around, each member was required to write the names on a piece of paper. We did that and the Ingwenyama will compile the final list, taking into consideration the names submitted," added the source.

Whether the King has already given the list to the EBC could not be ascertained.

Liqoqo Secretary Bheka Mabuza could not be drawn for comment on the nomination. He could only say: "Officially, I am unaware of that."

However, another SNC member also confirmed that names of nominees were submitted by members to the appointing authority. He said they have yet to nominate people to take up Senate seats.

The sources both concurred that lobbying for parliament and cabinet seats has intensified ahead of the announcement of people to be appointed as legislators, and Cabinet ministers.

The list of people allegedly contacting members of the advisory committee include lawyers, corporate executives, government officials and some women.

"Most of the people contacting some of us are already in positions of authority. Some hold senior positions in banks, government, and private business entities," he said.

The EBC chiefs said they have not received any correspondence in relation to the appointments. Chief Gija said: "We are still waiting for the king to return."

Once the 10 appointees are appointed, Parliamentarians will be sworn in, and subsequently appoint among themselves, people to become senators. The king, in consultation with emabandla, will appoint an additional 20 Senators.

Link http://www.times.co.sz/News/1769.html

ROW OVER SWAZI ELECTION LAWS

Times Sunday

18 May 2008

LIQOQO SUMMONS JUSTICE AND CONSTITUTION AFFAIRS MINISTER OVER ELECTION LAWS

How do you explain these provisions? – David asked

BY SIBONGILE SUKATI

Mbabane – Justice and Constitutional Affairs Minister, Prince David, was on Monday ordered to appear before Liqoqo (King's advisory council) to explain certain provisions in the Bills regulating the elections in the country.

Sources in the ministry of Justice said the minister spent the better part of Monday explaining to the Liqoqo (formerly Swazi National Council) why certain clauses were included in the draft Bills.

Majority

The meeting took place at the Lozitha Royal Palace and a majority of the Liqoqo memb­ers were present including former Prime Minister Sibusiso Barnabas Dlamini.

Sources close to the matter said Labadzala were not pleased with some of the provisions of the Elections Bill and felt that it gave the Elections and Boundaries Committee (EBC) powers that they should not have.

Two weeks ago, in Parliament, Prince David hastily withdrew the Voters Registration, Elections as well as the Elections and Boundaries Commission Bills without giving any reasons to the legislators of the withdrawal.

The minister was supposed to table the Bills in parly but when his turn to do so came he withdrew them.

Before his actions there had been a debate in the House of Assembly on why the minister was supposed to table the Bills when the EBC had already announced the dates for the start of the elections registration, tomorrow (May 19, 2008).

The registration will run until June 22,2008 confirmed chairman of the EBC, Chief Gija on Friday.

According to our sources Labadzala sought clarification on provisions in the Bills that give the EBC powers to announce election dates and even be able to postpone election dates.
Mandate

It would seem the higher authorities felt that only the king as the head of state should have the mandate of announcing such important dates.

Our sources further told this publication that Prince David was instructed to return to the king's advisory council sometime this week with the officers from the Attorney General's office who 'helped draft this Bill'.

Our sources informed us that Gcinaphi Mndzebele and parliamentary draftsman Sabelo Matsebula were just some of the officers who took part in the drafting of these Bills.
Contacted for comment Liqoqo Secretary Bheka Mabuza confirmed that the minister, Prince David had met with the committee last Monday.

Discuss

"We met with the Minister of Justice as is the norm that we meet with ministers from time to time to discuss matters of the state," said Mabuza.

When pressed what the matters of state were Mabuza repeated his earlier statement and said 'just matters of state'.

He refused to comment any further.

Prince David when contacted last night refused to comment stating that he had already made a comment to another reporter.

During the debate in Parliament, MPs expressed their anger at the Prince and Prime Minister Themba Dlamini saying that they were being taken for granted.

The MPs wanted to know who had given the EBC the right to announce the dates for voter registration when the law allowing them to do so was still to be debated in Parliament.

Maseyisini Member of Parliament Magwagwa Mdluli said even the legislation that put the EBC in place and gave it its terms of reference was still to be debated in the House.

To the legislators it was already a foregone conclusion that they were expected to pass the law, hence the EBC had gone ahead and announced the election registration dates.
Necessary

Legal experts advised the Times SUNDAY that the Bills were necessary so that they can be in line with the con­stitution.

The 1992 law provi­ded for the Chief Electoral Officer and his Deputy whereas the constitution now speaks of the EBC.