Prime Minister Russell Mmiso Dlamini demonstrated once again on Thursday that he is a political novice, he addressed Members of Parliament(MPs) and warned them against inciting police officers to rebel against Government.
The truth of the matter is, the issue of the security officers was tabled in Parliament as a motion by Mayiwane MP Sicelo ‘NkhungaNkhosi’ Dlamini who made very brilliant submissions, the motion was seconded by Mhlangatane MP Madala Mhlanga,the Deputy Speaker.
Perhaps,let me warn the PM against accusing MPs of speaking in Parliament for the sake of making headlines in the media.
There’s absolutely no single MP who speaks for the sake of attracting the attention of journalists, the PM undermined Parliament and/or the MPs with this statement.
As the media, we cover Parliament debates and select issues that we think are of vital public interest,like the salary increment for the security officers.
We work independently such that some MPs receive calls from citizens informing them that their Parliament submissions or debates are trending online, any MP who address issues affecting the people will attract the attention of the media.
The PM must understand that, unlike him,in the independent media space, we don’t use emotions when deciding stories of public interest.
Police and soldiers are hunting me as the editor but, I’m publishing stories from Parliament advocating for their salary increment because a publication is not about individual but public interest.
We have been vigorously reporting about this matter because it is of public interest, police officers, soldiers and Correctional Services officers are financially struggling in this country when there’s a Gazette, that awarded them a salary increment over ten(10) years ago.
Well, if the PM understands the economy, he ought to have known that, this matter is not about security officers but the entire economy, who will buy in shops within Malls constructed across the country if everyone is broke?.
Accusing MPs of inciting security officers was off-side, the PM must allow Parliament to demand accountability from the Executive arm of Government regarding this matter, MPs are within their constitutional duties to question Cabinet and hold the Executive accountable.
As the editor, I am not publishing the story of security officers in isolation,I made calculations and realized that if Government could increase salaries for the security officers, even businesses within the Small and Medium Enterprise(SMEs) could benefit, the money will circulate in the country.
But apart from security officers, some MPs told me that, they will raise another motion demanding a salary increment for other civil servants.
The Prime Minister cannot claim to be working towards improving the economy while civil servants including security officers are financially broke, why is it so difficult to increase salaries for civil servants when all of us are fully aware that, there’s money in the country but it is enjoyed by a few?.
The PM must therefore, avoid addressing MPs as if they are his children, Parliament is a highly respected House and MPs are Honorable members of that House of Legislature.
Whether you like or hate an MP, once you are inside Parliament or even outside, there’s a global code of conduct on how to address an MP, the phrase “Honorable member or Honorable MP should dominate your speech”.
Russell thinks all of us are stupid in this country and it’s only him who is clever because he was appointed a Prime Minister, I listened to his Parliament speech on Thursday and asked myself “who does this man think he is?”.
Who have many fools in this country who were previously appointed as Prime Ministers and Cabinet Ministers and I’m not sure if Russell Dlamini is not one of them, being appointed to lead a Government does not mean you are intelligent more than all the MPs,some won elections to be in that House of Parliament.
In politics you lobby MPs outside Parliament to support you on a certain issue,that is allowed but, you don’t come to an Honorable House and dictate to Honorable MPs, telling them not to speak in a certain way, it is the Speaker who is authorized to rule any MP out of order not the Prime Minister.
In court, a Judge rules,Parliament is the territory of the Speaker and MPs.
Cabinet is the territory of the Prime Minister and Cabinet Ministers, once the PM enters Parliament, he becomes a Member of Parliament(MP) and takes orders from the Speaker.
Furthermore all the MPs have a right to force the PM to withdraw any statement because, it’s their territory and while in Parliament, MPs have more powers than the Prime Minister,constitutionally, he accounts to them.
But we are slowly getting tired of this political novice who wants to bully everyone including the media and Parliament.
Prime Minister Russell Dlamini