By Bahle Gama
SEVERAL faces are making a return to the 12th Parliament following the appointment of the 20 Senators by His Majesty King Mswati III.
Having kept the nation on its toes for weeks, His Majesty finally released the list of 20 Senators to complete the august house on Sunday.
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The announcement was made by Acting Ludzidzini Governor Mashampu Khumalo on Sunday evening at Ludzidzini Royal Residence.
This follows after the King appointed the ‘captain’ and Prime Minister Mmemo Rusell Dlamini on November 3.
The 20 Senators will join the 10 that were nominated and elected by Members of Parliament according to the Senate Elections Act of 2013 in October.
It is corroborated by the Constitution which states that the Senate must not exceed 31 members, and currently, the number is 30 in the country. His Majesty appoints 20, while the remaining ten are elected by the House of Assembly.
Of these, at least eight of the 20 and at least five of the ten must be women. All senators serve five-year terms. Each senator must be at least 18 years old, a Swati citizen, a registered voter, and have paid all taxes or made arrangements satisfactory to the Commissioner of Taxes.
Amongst the appointed Senators, many of these are not new to Parliament, having served as Ministers and Senators in the previous years.
Of those who were in the 11th Parliament include Prince Mphatfwa, who was a Senator, Pholile Dlamini-Shakantu who was the Minister of Justice, Pastor Lindiwe Dlamini who was the Senate President, Chief Dlaluhlaza who was the Minister of Public Works and Transport, Neal Rijkenberg was the Minister of Finance, Isaac Magagula and Cethuka Sigombeni Dlamini who were Senators.
Others who are not new include Princess Ncengence who was in the 10th Parliament following her appointment to the same position by His Majesty in 2013.
Of the 20 newly appointed Senators, eight are women as stipulated in the Constitution. These are Princess Ncengencenge, Princess Temaswati, Princess Ntfombiyenkhosi, Inkhosikati Gelane, Pholile Dlamini-Shakantu, Pastor Lindiwe Dlamini, Savannah Nonhlanhla Maziya, and Sturky Motsa.
The male Senators include Prince Lonkhokhela, Prince Ngangabani, Prince Mphatfwa, Prince Gcokoma, Chief Zabeni, Chief Dlaluhlaza, Chief Ngome Ndlangamandla, Chief Mvimbi Matse, Chief Jozane Maziya, Cethuka S’gomebni Dlamini, Neal Rijkenberg and Isaac Magagula.
The List:
1.Prince Lonkhokhela
2.Princess Ncengencenge
3.Princess Temaswati
4.Prince Ngangabani
5.Princess Ntfombiyenkhosi
6. Inkhosikati Gelane Dlamini laMavimbela
7.Prince Mphatfwa
8.Prince Gcokoma
9.Chief Zabeni
10.Chief Dlaluhlaza
11.Chief Ngome Ndlangamandla
12.Chief Mvimbi Matse
13.Chief Jozane Maziya
14.Cethuka Sgombeni Dlamini
15.Sturky Motsa
16. Ps Lindiwe Dlamini
17.Pholile Dlamini
18.Neal Rijkenberg
19.Isaac Magagula
20.Savannah Nonhlanhla Maziya
‘Bayethe Wena Waphakathi’, scream newly appointed Senators
Chief Ndlaluhlaza Ndwandwe
“Bayethe Wena Waphakathi, I appreciate the trust that His Majesty King Mswati III has put in me, and I do understand that being trusted by His Majesty is a big thing.
This is truly an honour and I truly feel respected by their Majesties. I promise to work hard and deliver what His Majesty has trusted me with. Bayethe Wena Waphakathi! ”
Neal Rijkernberg
“Bayethe Wena Waphakathi, all I can say is thank you to His Majesty for this important appointment. It is currently difficult to comment much I shall wait for His Majesty to give us the roles we need to play. It’s such a huge thing to be honoured by His Majesty – Bayethe Wena Waphakathi.”
Chief Zabeni Shiba
“This is such a huge honour from His Majesty and I do not take it lightly. To be trusted by their Majesties is not an easy thing and I appreciate it. We shall wait to take orders from His Majesty on the way forward. Bayethe Wena Waphakathi.”
Cethuka Sigombeni Dlamini
“Sekhuta Lwandle, Bayethe Wena Waphakathi, thank you to His Majesty for choosing and trusting me. This means that they saw something in me that I could add to the country’s development, Bayethe Wena Waphakathi.”
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Prince Ngangabani
“I am still in shock, as I did not expect the appointment. I was looking forward like everyone to seeing who His Majesty would appoint, then I started receiving phone calls from people congratulating me on the appointment. I was still serving my term at the Civil Service Commission so I never thought the King would appoint me. I am greatly honoured. Bayethe wena Waphakathi”
Pholile Shakantu
Newly appointed Senator Pholile Shakantu extended her appreciation to His Majesty King Mswati III for the appointment to the 12th Parliament.
“Bayethe Wena Waphakathi. It is an honour to be appointed by His Majesty to serve the nation in any role,” she said.
Senator Shakantu said serving one’s country is a responsibility that should never be taken lightly, adding that she feels both humbled and privileged to serve her country in this new capacity.