BY MBONO MDLULI
MBABANE – Emaswati can learn from former Prime Minister Cleopas Sipho Dlamini and former Deputy Prime Minister (DPM) Themba Nhlanganiso Masuku when it comes to loyalty to the Monarch, the State and Emaswati at large.
This was said by Government Spokesperson Alpheous Nxumalo, who was responding to some social media commentators, who described the two former Government officials as the ones who had been left out. They are described as being left out because so far, they have not been appointed into any office by His Majesty King Mswati III after the general elections that were held last year.
The laws of the country require that after the general elections, where the people elect their representatives from their respective Tinkhundla, His Majesty the King makes several appointments to fill up certain positions. This is required by some of the country’s statutes, including the Constitution. The two statesmen have not been appointed yet to any position. That is why social media commentators describe them as being left out.
According to Nxumalo, the continued reference of “leftout” of Dlamini and Masuku is nothing else, but cheap political propaganda perpetuated by social media platforms and individuals who hope to drive a wedge between and amongst the united force of the center of the Tinkhundla democratic system of governance. Nxumalo said the stunt would not work, fortunately.
“It won’t work because the two statesmen are one of the most tried and tested solders of the system. Even today, they are seated at the front row, as far as supporting and defending the system and the current Government is concerned. They are part of the Kingdom’s political diamond on the Crown,” Nxumalo said.
Nxumalo further enlightened the nation that there is no culture of entitlement in the Tinkhundla system of governance. “We serve at the pleasure of His Majesty the King and the people of Eswatini, hence the Tinkhundla democratic system marries the popular vote with the executive appointments of the Monarch during national general elections and in forming a new Government,” he said.
He mentioned that the nation cast the ballot paper periodically after five years to elect a Government because the system did not embrace or encourage the culture of entitlement to public office or service. He described such a situation as one of the cornerstones of the kingdom’s political system – Tinkhundla. “In public office, we serve in accordance with our abilities and at a time one has been afforded that opportunity either through people’s vote or the executive appointment,” he said.
Nxumalo highlighted that stalwarts of the Tinkhundla democratic system of governance such as Dlamini and Masuku mastered this art longtime ago. “It is in that spirit that their consistent public display of loyalty and patriotism to the State and the entire nation is never motivated by positions of power or monetary value. It is the love for the totality of political architecture of our country as an Executive Monarchy that has been the driving force behind their loyalty and patriotism during the time when they were in office and when they were out of office. And Emaswati can learn from these two statesmen and from many others of course, who have been into public offices,” Nxumalo concluded.
