MBABANE: Members of Parliament boycotted the debate of the budget on Tuesday after Cabinet through Acting Prime Minister Themba Masuku refused to implement a Parliament resolution calling upon government to review and reverse the decision to extend the partial lockdown.
Speaker Petros Mavimbela had to call a caucus, Members of Parliament want government to at least ease the lockdown, open churches, allow alcohol consumption, and extend operating hours for shops among others.
A caucus is a private meeting for Members of Parliament where the media is restricted, it is normally organised by the Presiding Officers to discuss public issues outside the public domain.
Parliament sources told this Swaziland News that they expected the Acting Prime Minister to come back tomorrow with a clear answer regarding the Parliament resolution to reverse the lockdown. The Acting PM had earlier told Parliament on Monday that Cabinet had difficulty in implementing the resolution saying the country remained in danger in the midst of the COVID-19, however vocal MPs wanted government to at least allow the people to 'breathe' as the situation was better now.
"We expect the Acting Prime Minister to come back with clear answers tomorrow(Wednesday), we want Cabinet to reverse the decision to extend the lockdown" , said the MP who cannot be named because the matter was discussed in a caucus.
The motion was successfully moved by Lobamba Lomdzala MP Marwick Khumalo on Friday and supported by among others, Hosea MP Mduduzi Bacede Mabuza, Siphofaneni MP Mduduzi 'Magawugawu' Simelane walked out of Parliament on Monday after learning that the Acting PM was coming with excuses instead of lifting the lockdown.
Siphofaneni MP Mduduzi Simelane