MBABANE: Colani Maseko, the President of the Swaziland National Union of Students ( SNUS) said the Ministry of Sports, Culture and Youth Affairs was a waste of state funds and should be dissolved as a matter of urgency.
This comes after the youth members were insulted by David Cruiser Ngcamphalala, the Minister of Tinkhundla Development and Administration who advised MPs not to entertain the youth that ‘barks' on social media and send them messages as part of the ongoing Justice For Thabani campaign.
Speaking in Parliament on Tuesday, the Minister said MPs must just ignore the youth that ignores voting during elections and focus on entertainment, Ngcamphalala is a former Minister of Sports and Youth Affairs.
“Elections are not decided by the youth that ‘barks’ on social media, these people don’t vote, in fact elections are not influenced by social media so MPs must just ignore the youth” ,said the Minister who doubles as Sigwe Member of Parliament.
The sentiments of the Minister came after the Students Union organised series of protest marches with the support of three vocal Members of Parliament (MPs) in Siphofaneni MP Mduduzi ‘Magawugawu’ Simelane, Hosea MP Mduduzi ‘Bacede’ Mabuza and Ngwemphisi MP Mthandeni Dube.The youth did not take kindly to the silence of Harries ‘Madze’ Bulunga, the Minister of Sports, Culture and Youth Affairs on the matter, especially after the youth was insulted by Minister Cruiser Ngcamphalala.
Harries, ‘Madze’ Bulunga, the Minister of Sports, Culture and Youth Affairs had not responded to our questionnaire at the time of compiling this report.
Speaking to this Swaziland News, the SNUS President said Minister Bulunga should have intervened and joined the calls for the end of police brutality when the royal gangsters who disguised in a blue uniform killed Thabani Nkomonye and further shot and injured Phiwayinkhosi Dlamini but decided to keep quiet, his silence means that he was not the Minister of the people.
“In our culture, when a family is mourning is supported by all means necessary, but Mswati’s errands boys, the Acting Prime Minister and the National Commissioner sent Police to fire teargas and live ammunition during a peaceful memorial service. In our culture that is disrespect at its highest order. If Bulunga was a minister of the people, he should have paid Thabani's family a visit and attended the memorial service to show that he is in pain together with the Nkomonye family, the youth and the public” he said.
The Students Union President further mentioned that they were not surprised though by Minister Bulunga’s conduct, as he was parachuted into the public office.
“He is not a Minister of the youth but of Mswati, there's no difference between him and Thabani's killers and to make matters worse he did not even defend the youth when Cruiser Ngcamphalala said the youth should be ignored. Cruiser has crossed a line that he cannot uncross, in honour of Thabani's soul, Phiwayinkhosi's eye and Sanele Shiba's ears and those who inhaled teargas, he must be confronted both officially and personally. The youth must demand for his fall by all means necessary and at all given times. His office and himself should not get a peace of mind for insulting young patriots because the only thing that matters to him is Mswati”, said the SNUS President.
Youth Minister Harries Madze. Bulunga