MPs fear losing in 2028 elections

MBABANE – The end is nigh!

This appears to be the growing realisation among Members of Parliament (MPs), who have openly expressed fears that they may not be re-elected when the country goes to the polls in 2028.

Beyond the uncertainty of returning to Parliament, the legislators are worried that losing their seats could leave them financially vulnerable, particularly those who have accumulated debts and made financial commitments based on their current positions.

The MPs also admitted that they wished they had received financial education and guidance on retirement planning much earlier, preferably when they first assumed office, rather than now when they are already grappling with financial obligations.

These concerns emerged during the MPs’ retreat held at Sibebe Resort, where Dr Sandile Ceko from the University of Eswatini delivered a presentation titled ‘Securing Retirement for Parliamentarians: Strengthening Pension Systems, Financial Security and Post-Parliamentary Livelihood’.

Ceko challenged the legislators to consider both policy and the realities of life after politics, urging them to think carefully about what happens when political power disappears and the privileges associated with holding public office come to an end.

Some of the Members of Parliament following the proceedings during the retreat.

In his presentation, he shared statistics from 2018, which suggested that approximately 70 to 80 per cent of the sitting MPs might not return to Parliament, either because they would not be re-elected or appointed. “If 80 per cent might not return, it means that many are one-term MPs, five years only. That is the reality of it,” he said.

Although MPs are covered by the Members of Parliament and Designated Office Bearers Pension Fund, commonly known as MOPADO, Ceko cautioned that the existence of a pension fund did not necessarily guarantee a comfortable transition out of politics.

He described the end of a parliamentary term as a potential financial cliff rather than a soft landing, highlighting the need for legislators to prepare for life beyond public office while they are still earning salaries.

Deputy Speaker Madala Mhlanga questioned the use of the 2018 statistics, arguing that the situation had become even more concerning based on the 2023 figures he cited.

However, he said he had expected the presentation to go beyond highlighting the likelihood of MPs losing their seats and provide practical guidance on how they could protect themselves financially.

“I do not know if he did it deliberately to talk about the 2018 statistics. Because the 2023 statistics reflect that about 15 per cent returned to Parliament, not even 21 per cent. It is getting worse,” he said.

Mhlanga said he had hoped Ceko would explain what legislators could do at this stage to avoid financial difficulties when they left Parliament. He pointed to the numerous deductions and commitments reflected on MPs’ payslips, suggesting that financial planning was urgently needed.

Drawing from his own observations, Mhlanga said MPs needed to make better use of salary advances to manage their debts, explaining that an advance could be less costly than borrowing from a commercial bank.

Mhlanga advised legislators to plan their finances carefully, including considering how they could use their earnings to settle outstanding debts before their parliamentary terms ended.

He also warned against reckless spending, particularly the pressure politicians face to assist people who approach them for financial help.

According to Mhlanga, the more generous a politician became, the greater the financial demands could be, making it necessary to establish boundaries and manage resources responsibly. “But it is never late,” he said, encouraging his colleagues to begin taking practical steps towards securing their financial futures.

Gege MP Magesi Dlamini sought clarity on whether members could choose not to withdraw their pension benefits if they were not re-elected, particularly if they believed they might return to Parliament in a subsequent term. He asked whether an MP who left Parliament could retain the money in the pension fund rather than immediately accessing it.

Dlamini also wanted to know whether former MPs who had other sources of income, such as successful businesses, could continue contributing to or remain members of MOPADO after leaving Parliament.

Matsanjeni South MP Sabelo Ndlangamandla, meanwhile, said the legislators should have received financial education before the MOPADO Bill was passed.

He said he had previously advocated for a defined-contribution pension arrangement, but that his position had not received sufficient support when the matter was put to a vote. “My chairman of the Public Accounts Committee usually uses words that the horse has already bolted. A Bill for MOPADO was passed and then there was noise,” Ndlangamandla said.

He explained that only two MPs had pushed for the defined-contribution approach at the time, adding that the outcome of the vote had left him concerned about the choices made.

Ndlangamandla said it was unfortunate that legislators were only now beginning to appreciate the potential implications of the defined-benefit arrangement and its effect on their financial security. “We do need such lectures as MPs,” he said.

MP Major General Tsembeni Magongo also called for further engagement on MOPADO, saying legislators needed a clearer understanding of how the pension fund operated and what its arrangements meant for their retirement.

She described Ceko’s presentation as important because it forced MPs to consider their financial futures and prepare for circumstances that could arise after their current term.

Magongo said the pension fund should be invited to Parliament to explain its operations, provide updates and help legislators make informed decisions about their retirement planning.

Manzini Region MP Tanele Mvuso said the financial difficulties facing legislators had already begun, with some having accumulated debts after accepting loans and other financial offers from banks.

The MP said financial education should have been provided before legislators committed themselves to loans, particularly those used to purchase vehicles. “We are already in debt. It would have been wiser if they had come at first to teach us about debt management. Banks came to us, offered us cars and now we regret it and there is no way out,” the MP said.

The legislator also asked Ceko to recommend suitable investment opportunities that could generate sustainable returns after retirement.

The MP said politicians needed to understand the difference between investments such as buying land, purchasing livestock, saving money or buying trucks for business purposes.

The MP also raised the possibility of investing retirement benefits in a cooperative that could pay dividends of 12 per cent, asking whether such an option would provide a reliable source of income.

Minister for Education and Training Owen Nxumalo, who said he had worked in the banking sector for a long time, advised legislators to pay greater attention to their lifestyles and avoid spending excessively in the pursuit of political popularity.

He singled out football tournaments as one of the activities through which politicians could spend substantial amounts of money in an attempt to win public support.

Nxumalo urged MPs to reconsider the practice and find less expensive ways of engaging with their constituencies, warning that spending large sums of money did not guarantee electoral victory.

He said some politicians borrowed heavily from banks to finance their political activities, only to find themselves struggling financially afterwards.

Nxumalo also spoke about the pressure to maintain appearances and provide generous hospitality, recounting his own experiences of waiting in reception areas where hampers were displayed, only to receive little assistance from people he expected to help.

He said politicians should not measure their worth by the money they spent or the expensive places they visited.

Instead, he encouraged them to adopt simpler lifestyles, explaining that even as a Cabinet minister, he could choose to eat at a nearby shisanyama rather than spend money at expensive restaurants. “Make life simple. Be humble and mingle with the people,” he advised.

Nxumalo also warned MPs against neglecting their families while pursuing political interests, particularly by maintaining relationships outside their marriages. He said family support could become particularly important when a politician lost an election and had to adjust to a different lifestyle.

He recalled that when he lost an election, his wife continued supporting him by ensuring that he ate properly and remained presentable. He urged legislators to maintain strong family relationships instead of taking their spouses and families for granted while in office.

Nxumalo further warned MPs to protect their assets, particularly their homes and vehicles, by ensuring that they could continue meeting their financial obligations even if they lost their seats. He said the loss of a parliamentary position could become even more devastating if a former MP also lost a vehicle through repossession or had a house repossessed by a bank.

He explained that after losing an election, he continued operating his trucking business, which provided an alternative source of income. “The bad part is that once you lose the elections, and your car is auctioned or taken by the bank and you go back to using public transport, forget it, you will never bounce back,” he said.

Nhlambeni MP Manzi Zwane took a different approach, suggesting that Parliament should explore opportunities for former MPs to remain active in public life after losing their seats. He proposed that legislators should consider the possibility of serving on Boards once they were no longer in Parliament, arguing that this could provide former politicians with meaningful responsibilities and help prevent them from becoming financially or socially marginalised.

Zwane said the issue of networking was also important, expressing concern that politicians did not always receive sufficient support from members of the Executive and the leadership of public enterprises.

He complained that portfolio committee chairpersons could go for long periods without engaging with the ministries they oversaw, while chief executive officers of parastatals could also be influenced by other considerations.

Zwane argued that MPs needed to think more carefully about their future and explore ways in which their experience could be used after their parliamentary careers ended. He said legislators should not wait until they lost elections to begin thinking about how they would survive. “What is key is that once you lose the elections, you need a plan to survive,” Zwane said.

Sigwe MP David ‘Cruiser’ Ngcamphalala also warned his colleagues against becoming complacent after winning elections, saying political success required continuous engagement with the electorate. He compared election campaigns to the work of pastors, who were expected to remain committed to their responsibilities rather than take prolonged breaks.

Ngcamphalala said politicians needed to understand that elections required money and that they should not spend all their resources during the early stages of their terms without making provision for the future.

He urged MPs to save part of their earnings during their first year in office instead of assuming that they would automatically return to Parliament. “I request that during our first year, you must eat and leave some for what might happen tomorrow,” he said.

He also reminded legislators that constituency allowances were intended to benefit the electorate and should not be treated as personal resources.

Ngcamphalala said MPs who went for months without visiting or engaging with their constituents were failing to fulfil their responsibilities to the people they represented. He warned that legislators needed to maintain contact with their constituencies throughout their terms rather than only returning when elections approached.

Minister and Mbabane West MP, Jane Simelane said the issue of financial security for MPs could also be addressed through the proposed framework for the financial independence of Parliament.

She explained that legislators often spent their personal money during election campaigns without any guarantee that they would recover it, while those who won seats were expected to continue supporting their communities. Simelane said MPs were frequently approached for assistance with funeral expenses and school fees for disadvantaged children, creating additional financial pressure on their personal resources.

She argued that the financial demands associated with political office needed to be recognised and addressed through appropriate support mechanisms.

The minister said the ability of legislators to carry out their responsibilities should not depend entirely on their personal finances, particularly when they were expected to respond to the needs of their communities.

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