MBABANE: Lindiwe Gwebu-Dlamini, the current Senate President allegedly said she would make history by becoming the first appointed woman Prime Minister next year.
Parliament employees including Senators who contacted this Swaziland News alleged that the Senate President was bullying, telling them to respect her as she would become the first woman Prime Minister next year.
The Senate President recently asked Prime Minister Cleopas Sipho Dlamini what he was doing to deal with the people who were destabilizing the country.
“When she asked Prime Minister Cleopas Dlamini what he was doing to deal with the elements of insurgents, she was actually marketing herself to the King so that Mswati could see that if appointed, she could restore order in the country. We have been asking ourselves, why all of a sudden she became vocal and covered by State controlled newspapers? We then remembered what she normally tells us here, that she will become the first woman Prime Minister,” said an insider within Parliament.
The Senate President allegedly colluded with King’s mother-in law and alleged ‘girlfriend’ Jabulile Mashwama of the Parliamentary Services Board(PSB) to oust Ndvuna Dlamini, the then Clerk to Parliament, Benedict Xaba was then appointed.
Both powerful women are members of the politically connected Jesus Calls Worship Centre(JCWC) that influences political decisions in the country.
A questionnaire was sent to the Senate President, however, she had not responded at the time of compiling this report.
The Senate President recently expressed her frustration about this publication inside Parliament accusing other Senators of leaking information to this investigative journalist.
“Inkinga letindzaba lomfana utitfola khona lapha ekhatsi ePhalamende, labanye betfu basebentela yena(meaning: The problem here is that some of us here leaking information to this boy, some within Parliament are working for him),” said the Senate President inside Parliament.
Reached for comments, Barnes Dlamini of the MultiStakeholder Forum said he wouldn’t be surprised to note that the Senate President was eyeing a post to become the next Prime Minister as she played a role on behalf of Mswati in attempting to block pro-democracy Member of Parliament(MP) Marwick Khumalo from attending the International Visitors Leadership Program(ILVP) in the United States.
Political activist Barnes Dlamini is the son of former Ambassador Prince Solomon, he also attended the Leadership Program on behalf of the Institute for Democracy and Leadership(IDEAL).
“Nasibuya lena eMelika, ngimkhandza lapha e-OR Tambo Airport lo-Senate President angimati bekabuyaphi, ngiyambuta ngitsi nine nimvimbelani lo-Marwick kutsi aye eMelika, entfweni lengasiyo neyenu, lengabhadalelwa nangini ? Wavele watsi, 'phela mine angifihli vele, nginguMswati, ngiwaMswati’ (meaning: When we came back from the United States, I met the Senate President from the OR Tambo Airport and asked her why they blocked Marwick Khumalo, she said she was not hiding that she supports Mswati). But she must know that no elections or royal appointments will take place next year outside the political dialogue, akakhohlwe nje ngalentfo yakhe yekuba ngu-Prime Minister,” said the member of the MultiStakeholder Forum Coordinating Commitee.
Eswatini is ruled by Mswati as an absolute Monarch with Executive, Judicial and Legislative powers.
Political parties are banned from participating in elections and a Prime Minister is appointed by Mswati among his family members and loyalists.
Senate President Lindiwe Dlamini.