By Zweli Martin Dlamini

Sandile Nxumalo,the Somntongo Member of Parliament(MP) and Chairman of the Ministry of Health Portfolio Committee who normally speak sense in Parliament made very misleading submissions on Wednesday, saying Health Minister Mduduzi Matsebula assured them that,the withdrawal of United States(US) funding won’t affect the health system.

Worth-noting and for the better understanding of our international audience, it’s ’Buganu season’ in eSwatini and, King Mswati announced a holiday to enable emaSwati including women to drink traditional alcohol hence we are witnessing questionable characters even inside Parliament.

It should be noted that, even before the withdrawal of the US funding, public hospitals were struggling amid shortage of drugs that’s why I’m suspecting that maybe, the honorable Somntongo MP addressed Parliament after taking a few sips of Buganu traditional alcohol because no sane MP could utter such nonsense.

Well, it’s only Buganu with one hundred percent(100%) alcohol that could influence an MP to lie with a serious face like MP Sandile Nxumalo.

The Honorable MP is not a stranger in this country and, as a Chairman of the Ministry of Health Portfolio Committee, he is fully aware of the unfortunate situation within the public hospitals.

Therefore, even if he received false assurance from the Health Minister, it was completely irresponsible for him to amplify a lie because by so doing, he automatically became complicit or part of the political criminals and enablers who are killing emaSwati by deliberately refusing to supply drugs in public hospitals despite collecting taxes.

I normally receive State Intelligence information almost every after a Cabinet meeting and I can assure the MP that, the entire Cabinet does not have any solution to the deepening health crisis.

Parliament is an honorable House and therefore, the Somntongo MP must not lie there, Cabinet Ministers can lie in Parliament but we expect MPs to hold the Executive accountable not to lie on behalf of Ministers.

The Somntongo MP must not threaten his reputation by playing politics with this sensitive issue impacting the lives of poor citizens.

Personally, some weeks ago I remember spending almost one thousand Rands(R1000.00) for my brother’s child who had a minor sickness, there’s literally no medication in public hospitals, only for an MP to speak such nonsense.

What about those poor citizens with no relatives who can quickly help in such unfortunate situations where if you don’t have money to buy medication, you go straight to the grave?.

As emaSwati, we are living with this reality on a daily basis and,it’s digging deeper into our pockets, we are now buying drugs while our taxes are looted by corrupt political criminals only for a lobbied low minded MP to speak nonsense.

The MP must not pretend as if the health crisis is a theory, some of us lost relatives who were very close to our hearts as a result of a corrupt Government that prioritizes extravagant spending while neglecting the poor citizens.

Then there’s this issue of Antiretroviral(ARVs) drugs whose supply is also threatened by the withdrawal of the US funding.

The MP must know that whether you are HIV+ or negative, this will affects all emaSwati because if those who are HIV+ are not taken care-of and provided with medication, they will spread the virus to those who are negative.

People won’t stop having sex just because there are no condoms or ARVs hence if we had a visionary Government, those in power could be working towards mitigating the looming crisis particularly on the new HIV infections.

So taking care of those who are HIV+ and making sure that, they have access to quality health care is in the best interest of the entire country, we need urgent solutions here not just useless statements and false assurances.

In conclusion, perhaps it is important to remind all MPs that sickness is never invited, the citizens who are languishing in public hospitals with no medication cannot speak for themselves now.

It’s important therefore, to remember that you can lie in Parliament today but, tomorrow you might be in a hospital bed with no money to buy medication, that’s the sad reality of life.