MBABANE East Member of Parliament Welcome Dlamini has called for a review of the Constitution to reconsider term limits for Cabinet ministers, arguing that exceptional performers should be allowed more time to serve the country.
Dlamini said this during the handover of a house to 63-year-old Juliette Magagula of Mantjolo by Deputy Prime Minister Thulisile Dladla.
The house was among four handed over by the DPM yesterday at Siphocosini, Nkwalini, Mantjolo and Hhukwini.
Dlamini commended His Majesty King Mswati III for appointing Dladla, whom he said was serving the nation with dedication. He said the country needed to consider retaining ministers who were delivering, adding that the issue was worth debating.
“I would say maybe it is about time we review the Constitution in terms of term limits for cabinet ministers because there are those who work hard and deserve to be given more time so they continue serving the nation and pushing service delivery,” he said.
Section 68(6) of the Constitution states that a minister shall not hold office for more than two consecutive terms.
Dlamini said the country would have a problem when Dladla eventually retires, describing her as someone who was performing her duties with dedication.
He said Dladla had started the day by handing over a house at Siphocosini before proceeding to Nkwalini, Mantjolo and Hhukwini, despite being expected in Parliament later that day.
Meanwhile, Magagula thanked the DPM for the assistance, saying she was at a loss for words because many people in the community were in need yet she had been selected.
She said the intervention had changed her life as she would no longer have to sleep under a leaking roof.
Meanwhile, the DPM noted that the housing initiative had taken her to a child-headed household at Siphocosini, followed by Nkwalini, where people had acquired land traditionally before the areas were later declared towns.
She said government needed to look closely at challenges arising from the declaration of towns, particularly where residents were expected to pay rates despite facing difficult circumstances.
“We appreciate that towns have agreed that government should construct houses for them.
“We also went to Mdzimba, where there are homes that need immediate intervention,” she said.
Dladla said the houses were constructed with support from sponsors including PMI, Taiwan and SOS Children’s Villages. She expressed gratitude to the MPs for identifying vulnerable residents.
At Siphocosini, Dladla handed over a house to Ngabisa, the eldest member of a child-headed household caring for her four siblings and her own children.
The family had lived at SOS Children’s Villages Mbabane for more than 20 years before deciding to return to their parental home and rebuild their family homestead. SOS Children’s Villages contributed E70 000 towards the construction while the DPM’s office and partners mobilised additional resources. The family also received three goats, chickens and seedlings for a backyard garden to support food security and income generation. Dladla pledged to provide fencing for the livestock. Chief Jabhane pledged to support the family and provide bunk beds while Siphocosini MP Mduduzi Matsebula pledged curtains and continued support through the inkhundla council.
