By Bahle Gama
HIS Majesty King Mswati III has appointed controversial Prophet Major Vusumuzi Dlamini as one of the members of the King’s Advisory Council known as Liqoqo.
The announcement was made by Attorney General (AG) Sifiso Mashampu Khumalo at his offices on Saturday, May 18, where he also revealed members of other councils and boards including the Board of Royal Trustees, Land Management Board, and the National Chief Defence Officer amongst others.
The Liqoqo is an advisory council, whose members are appointed by His Majesty from the membership of bantfwabenkhosi (Emalangeni), tikhulu (chiefs), and persons who have distinguished themselves in the service of the nation.
Section 231 (2) stipulates that where necessary, the members of Liqoqo may be appointed by the Indlovukazi as Queen Regent.
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Liqoqo traditionally advises The King on disputes in connection with the selection of chiefs’ boundaries of chiefdoms and any other matters His Majesty may assign for their advice in confidence.
Major V is well-known in the country for his social media ‘rants’, and always attending national events, especially where His Majesty is present.
He has on numerous occasions declared his love for the country, and culture and pleaded allegiance to The King despite the backlash he would receive every once in a while.
The announcement by His Majesty follows months after an extension of the term of office for councils, commissions, boards, and other bodies in April.
The extension was contained in a gazette that was issued and signed by Khumalo in April this year.
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Having been appointed in April 2019, and with the term of office for the members of the various councils being five years, the expectation was that the end of their term would be announced within a few days in April 2024.
There is, however, no specific law that stipulates a date on which The King must appoint or dissolve emabandla but it has been a tradition over the past years that a new Parliament worked with newly appointed members of the traditional councils and committees (emabandla ekweluleka).
With the new Parliament having been in office for over five months following the general elections that were completed in September 2023, and appointments of several individuals into different political positions, many had high expectations that the advisory councils and committees would follow suit before the Incwala.
However, by December last year, the outgoing members were still in office, including former DPM Paul Dlamini who has retained his position as the Chairman of Liqoqo, which has 19 members including Major V.
Others who have retained their positions are the Civil Service Commission (CSC) Chairperson Simanga Mamba, Teaching Services Commission (TSC) Chairperson Dr Amos Mahlalela, and Minerals Management Board Chairperson Prince Guduza amongst others.
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The AG further announced that boards and commissions not mentioned will continue to exist under the legal notice extending their term of office until further notice.
These include Regional Administrators, the Human Rights Commission, the Judicial Commission, and the Border Restoration Board.
The different councils, boards, and commissions are as follows:
