… After losing elections for Speaker.
BY KWANELE TSABEDZE
LOBAMBA – Mhlangatane Member of Parliament Madala Mhlanga is the new Deputy Speaker in the House of Assembly.
Mhlanga was elected this afternoon, soon after the newly elected MP’s swearing in ceremony and elections of the Speaker.
The nominees for the position of Speaker in the House of Assembly were MP’s Sikhumbuzo Dlamini, and Madala Mhlanga who had just lost out to Jabulani Mabuza on the elections of Speaker of the House. Mhlanga emerged victorious with 46 votes, with Dlamini trailing way behind at 19 votes.
Motivating MP’s to vote for Nkwene MP Sikhumbuzo Dlamini to be the Deputy Speaker of the House was LaMgabhi MP, Sicelo Jele.
“We plead that as the respectable House, to introduce Sikhumbuzo Dlamini as the Deputy Speaker. We saw him the tenth Parliament debating effectively, where he showed his passion for the country,” said the LaMgabhi MP.
“He was also a police officer before serving in parliament, which means he knows the law and how to serve Emaswati,” emphasized the LaMgabhi MP when motivating Members of Parliament to vote for the Deputy Speaker, adding that he is a man of great integrity. He also noted that Dlamini had represented the country in the EU in his previous term in parliament. He also motivated the MP’s to vote for Dlamini as an MP from the Shiselweni region, as the Speaker (Pigg’s Peak MP Jabulani Mabuza) is also from the Hhohho region.
Lobamba MP Michael Masilela took a moment to endorse that Mahlangatane MP Madala Mhlanga be elected as the Deputy Speaker.
“We said here we want to elect a leader who will lead us as Deputy Speaker when the Speaker is not here,” said Masilela when urging MP’s to vote for MP Madala Mhlanga.
“It is best to entrust someone who has successfully held the position before,” added Masilela when motivating that Mhlanga be elected as the Deputy Speaker in the House of Assembly.
Deputy Speaker in the House of Assembly is elected in accordance with Section 103 of the Constitution of the Kingdom of Eswatini, and in line with Standing Order number 9.
