By Mduduzi Hlophe

MASEYISINI: Residents of Maseyisini Inkhundla have accused their Member of Parliament (MP)  Mduduzi ‘Small Joe’ Dlamini of hijacking projects initiated by Non-Governmental Organisations (NGO) by claiming their ownership.

Speaking to this Swaziland News, Thulani Khumalo a resident of Mbilaneni under Maseyisini Inkhundla said tomorrow they would be petitioning their MP demanding a democratically elected Prime Minister and that he should be in the forefront of the development of the Maseyisini Inkhundla instead of hijacking projects that he never initiated.

“The Tinkhundla system has been failing us for many years, the MP claimed that he was the brainchild of the Nkoneni- Machobeni probase road, yet it was a project that was initiated by Amitofo, a Chinese Mission School. He also hijacked a water project that was initiated by World Vision and went around boasting that the project was also his brainchild. When we learnt that he never initiated these projects, we realised that he was a crook. We are also demanding that he should speak on the issue of reckless spending by government at the time of COVID-19. All countries in the whole world are procuring vaccines yet our government is prioritising the purchasing of Ministers’ cars and the New Parliament building”, he said.

When reached for comments, Mduduzi 'Small Joe', the Maseyisini Member of Parliament said he was responsible for bringing development into his Constituency adding that he understood that there were people who were always looking for faults.

"It's unfair that after so much development that I have brought into my Constituency, there are some people who would want to find a fault in just one project, but let me not make any further comment until I see that petition", said the MP .

But Wandile Dludlu, the Secretary General of the People’s United Democratic Movement (PUDEMO) said the problem was that the government was not meant to serve the needs of the people but that of royalty.

“These MPs during their campaigns usually promise the electorate that they would deliver certain services but as soon as they get into Parliament they become Legislators not developers. The people should know that the Tinkhundla system was never meant or designed to provide services to the people. Government’s main job is to ensure that all needs for royalty are served not that of the people, so MPs like Small Joe only survive by playing with the emotions of the people, that’s why you find them hijacking these projects. The only solution here is to change the system of governance to be people driven”, said the PUDEMO Secretary General.

Eswatini, a tiny Kingdom situated in Southern Africa and ruled by billionaire King Mswati as an absolute Monarch is currently facing growing calls for democratic reforms. A series of protests and demonstrations are currently ongoing  across the country's Tinkhundla Centres.