LOBAMBA: Marwick Khumalo, the Lobamba Lomdzala Member of Parliament(MP) successfully moved a motion calling upon Cabinet to review and reverse its decision of extending the partial lockdown.

This comes after members of the public including businesspeople expressed serious concerns that Cabinet made the decision without consultation in the midst of the pandemic, threatening the economy, sustainability of jobs and investments.

The motion that was moved by MP Khumalo and seconded by Honorable Thandi Nxumalo from Manzini South was debated and passed by the House on Friday after receiving huge support from the Legislators, MPs resolved not to continue debating the budget until Cabinet reverses the decision to extend the lockdown.

MPs who spoke to this Swaziland News shortly after the motion was debated and passed by the House said they walked out of the House as a demonstration that they were not prepared to continue debating the budget until Cabinet reverses the said decision.

On another note, MP Khumalo when registering the motion said the assertion that Governemnt took a tough yet necessary decision to extend the current COVID-19 lockdown restrictions by a further two weeks was without basis at a time when a majority of Swazis were in full compliance and taking the necessary precautions.

“The assertion that government has taken 'the tough yet necessary decision to extend the current COVID-19 partial lockdown restrictions by a further two weeks' is without basis at a time when a majority of Swazis are in full compliance and taking all necessary precautions on the pandemic”, said the Lobamba Lomdzala MP when motivating the motion.

A well-known businessman who was worried that the decision by Cabinet was threatening his investments in this country contacted this journalist on Thursday evening, expressing concerns that there were people in the country who take decisions and decide on the future of others without any consultation.

“These people just decide without any consultation or advice from anyone, it’s bad”, said the businessman.

When announcing the extension of the partial lockdown on Thursday, Senator Themba Masuku, the Acting Prime Minister said Cabinet had hoped that by this time they would have started the vaccination of health and frontline workers, however, this has been delayed due to unforeseen circumstances.