BY KWANELE TSABEDZE AND ANDREW DLAMINI
LUDZIDZINI – Accountability, transparency, and accessibility.
These were just three of the many virtues of the Tinkhundla system of Government which were magnified when former Ministers in the 11th Parliament got to speak and take questions directly from members of the public.
This happened during the panel discussions on the fifth day of the Sibaya People’s Parliament at Ludzidzini Royal Kraal.
Former Ministers who addressed the public directly today included former Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Relations, Thuli Dladla; former Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs Pholile Shakantu; former Minister of Commerce, Industry and Trade, Mancoba Khumalo, and former Minister of Economic Planning and Development, Dr Thambo Gina.
Starting off the panel discussions today was former Minister of Economic Planing and Development, Dr Thambo Gina.
He was challenged by Ludzidzini Acting Governor to advise on how major capital projects can be managed to stay under the allocated budget.
“There is one solution for this challenge. I should begin by saying that we have seen how the projects are and that we indeed more of these projects. We are advanced when compared to other countries, and we need more projects to further develop the country,” said Dr Gina when starting his speech.
He suggested that there should always be a detailed feasibility study at the commencement of each capital project, and that the contractor who is hired to develop the projects should be legally bound to stay within that budget.
Member of Parliament Thuli Dladla advised on how the overlap between the different arms of Government – the executive, the judiciary, and the legislature.
Minister Thuli Dladla also spoke on service delivery as provided by Section 218 of the Constitution.
“Your Majesty, we luckily have our constitution which details very well how the three arms of Government should work together. A take home assignment for the three arms of Government should study the Constition. Once they have studied it, the three heads of Government – the Prime Minister, the head of the judiciary, and the head of the legislature should have a workshop where the Attorney General takes them through the Constitution, explaining to them what their responsibilities are,” advised Minister Dladla.
The Former Minister of Foreign and Affairs and International Relations also advised that members of Government should put the people first. She also spoke on leveraging the main objectives of the Tinkhundla system of Governance.
“Everyone knows how the Tinkhundla system works. Unfortunately, sometimes the elected representatives do not listen to the people,” she said.
“Luckily, there are committees based in the Tinkhundla to assess what Emaswati need. In each chiefdom there are bucopho, who are supposed to gather the people’s needs in that constituency. It is them who bring these issues to the Tinkhundla, so that when budgets are being formulated, they are based on assessments from communities and constituencies,” suggested the erstwhile Member of Parliament.
She also emphasised that the youth should not be left out, and that the Member of Parliament should really listen to the youth and bring their unique issues to the Ministry of Tinkhundla, to start with.
As the former Ministers were accessible and taking questions from members of the public, they were asked by Princess Ncengencenge on what achievements they could point to in their Ministries which show significant milestones towards first world status.
Former Minister of Justice Pholile Shakantu highlighted the Legal Aid clinic which was established under her tenure to make sure that every person in the country can have access to legal counsel, even if they cannot afford it. She highlighted that indeed this was a response to His Majesty’s guidance on improving the lives of Emaswati towards first world status.
Other panelists who spoke during today’s panel discussions included Mathendele Dlamini, Mbabane East MP Welcome Dlamini, and Russel Dlamini.
