BY KWANELE TSABEDZE
LOBAMBA – Jabulani Clement ‘Buy Cash’ Mabuza has officially been elected as the Speaker in the House of Assembly, for the 12th parliament of the Kingdom of Eswatini.
Mabuza amassed 41 votes against his contender, Madala Mhlanga’s 28 votes, making it a landslide victory for the charismatic public servant.
This transpired today when newly sworn-in Members of Parliament elected the speaker as one of their first orders of business according to the Standing Orders which govern procedures in the Parliament of Eswatini’s House of Assembly.
“The House shall, in accordance with Sections 102 and 103 of the Constitution, elect a Speaker and the deputy Speaker – (a) when the Assembly first meets after a general election; or (b) if the office of the Speaker or deputy Speaker becomes vacant,” reads the part of Standing Orders on the elections of the Speaker.
Clerk to Parliament also oriented the MPs before the elections on what makes a good Speaker, as well as on the elections process.
“The Speaker is the director of order in the House of Assembly. This means we have to choose a man or woman we can trust, a trustworthy person, has integrity, and will not be prone to corruption,” said Clerk to Parliament Benedict Xaba, reading from the Constitution. He further noted that according to the constitution, a person shall not be elected Speaker of the House unless that person has parliamentary experience.
The newly elected speaker is a veteran politician, having served in the previous Parliament as the Minister of Agriculture. He beat out fellow veteran politicians in Mhlangatane MP, Madala Mhlanga.
Mabuza won the seat following his re-election as a Member of Parliament by the people of Pigg’s Peak Inkhundla to represent them in the country’s legislature – in a landslide victory with over 1000 votes difference between him and the runner-up.
The Minister’s great public service has not only been touted by the people of Pigg’s Peak, as fellow legislators took time to summarise the qualities and Mabuza’s track record as a public servant.
“Jabulani Mabuza was elected by the people with votes of over 5000. This means he is a reliable and trustworthy person, who the people of Pigg’s Peak can represent them,” said MP Mabulala Maseko, when motivating MPs to vote for Mabuza.
“He is a jack of all trades, and master of all,” added Maseko, noting that Mabuza has been in numerous positions of Governance, executing his duties diligently, from being a Minister of Agriculture, Acting Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, as well being an Acting Deputy Prime Minister.
Speaking to the media before the swearing-in ceremony today, Mabuza noted that as a parliamentarian, he was there to serve the people, as that is the primary mandate and virtue of an MP.
“I will assist the residents of Pigg’s Peak by developing the area and creating jobs”, said Mabuza before the swearing-in ceremony. Buthelezi was elected Speaker in accordance with the Standing Order number 9 of the House of Assembly.
