BY MBONO MDLULI
LOBAMBA – Prime Minister Russell Mmiso Dlamini has assured the nation that the Second Session of the 12th Parliament will officially be opened by His Majesty King Mswati III this coming Friday.
The premier made this statement on January 29, 2025, in the House of Assembly during a post-mortem of the final rehearsals for the big day. Dlamini participated in the rehearsals alongside presiding officers, including Senate President Lindiwe Dlamini and House of Assembly Speaker Jabulani Mabuza. Senate Deputy President Ndumiso Mdluli was also in attendance.
Dlamini stated that the event would be graced by the presence of Their Majesties, and the nation was expected to demonstrate the highest level of respect. He emphasized that Emaswati are known for their respect and expressed confidence that they would uphold this virtue during the event. The premier also stressed the importance of punctuality. Clerk to Parliament Benedict Xaba urged members of the public, including legislators, to be seated in their designated seats by 10 a.m.
According to Xaba, failure to comply with this time requirement would result in individuals being denied access to Parliament. The prime minister reiterated that punctuality was crucial, as everyone needed to be seated before the arrival of Their Majesties. He noted that adherence to timekeeping would ensure orderliness and contribute to the success of the event.
Senate President Lindiwe Dlamini also emphasized that respect should be upheld throughout the event. She expressed her satisfaction with the rehearsals and was confident that the opening of Parliament would be a success. Additionally, she urged members of the public, including the media, to be mindful of their mobile phones and ensure they were set to silent mode, as noise disruptions would not be tolerated in the presence of Their Majesties.
The rehearsals covered the entire sequence of events, from the arrival of Their Majesties for the opening ceremony to their departure from the House of Assembly for a photo session with legislators. His Majesty the King was represented by Parliament’s Assistant Clerk at Table, Mathokoza Dlamini, while Her Majesty the Indlovukazi was represented by Parliament’s Lady Usher, Tsiteni Cindzi.
Officials from various government ministries were also present to fulfill their responsibilities and ensure everything was in order ahead of the big day.
As usual, the event will be live-streamed on Eswatini TV and Channel YemaSwati’s YouTube channel. It will also be broadcast live on Eswatini Broadcasting and Information Services (EBIS). This publication will provide coverage of the event.
Regarding the weather, Victor Boy Motsa, a meteorologist from Eswatini Meteorological Services, stated that there had been no significant changes from his previous forecast. He predicted a maximum temperature of 31°C, indicating a hot day. He also mentioned that rainfall, if any, was expected only at night after the opening of Parliament. No changes have been reported regarding traffic updates from last week.
