Jabulani Mabuza
Jabulani Mabuza | |
|---|---|
| Speaker of the House of Assembly of Eswatini | |
| Assumed office 6 October 2023 | |
| Preceded by | Petros Mavimbela |
| Member of the House of Assembly of Eswatini | |
| Assumed office September 2018 | |
| Constituency | Piggs Peak |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 22 July 1972 |
| Political party | Independent |
| Occupation | Businessman · politician |
Jabulani Clement Mabuza (born 22 July 1972) is an Eswatini politician and businessman serving as the Speaker of the House of Assembly of Eswatini since October 2023.
Biography
[edit]Mabuza was born on 22 July 1972.[1] He has at least two brothers, including former House of Assembly of Eswatini member Mduduzi Bacede Mabuza who was imprisoned for pro-democracy protests.[2] Mabuza, who is married, started a business in 2003 with his wife known as "Buy Cash Hardware".[3] He said that he started the business "with the aim of creating employment and to serve the nation by bringing goods and services closer to people."[4] The hardware store chain had about 18 locations as of 2021, with many being in rural areas, and employs several hundred citizens.[3][5] Due to the title of his business, Mabuza is often called by the nickname "Buy Cash."[5][6][7]
Mabuza ran in the 2018 Swazi general election and won a seat in the House of Assembly to represent the town of Piggs Peak, receiving 4,736 votes, 70.1% of the electorate.[8] Soon after being elected, he was appointed to the position of Minister of Commerce, Industry and Trade, later being moved the position of Minister of Agriculture November 2018.[9][10] In 2021, his stores were the victim of several arson attacks, with several branches being burned down.[3][5] By 2022, Mabuza had added the duty of Acting Minister of Natural Resources and Energy.[11] He also served for a time as the acting deputy prime minister.[12]
Mabuza ran for re-election as part of the 2023 Swazi general election, winning the Piggs Peak primary election and then winning by an overwhelming margin in the general election, receiving 4,467 votes, nearly seven times more than Sandile Menano Dlamini, who placed second with 701 votes.[6][13] Mabuza and Madala Mhlanga were the top two candidates for the post of Speaker of the House of Assembly of Eswatini, with Mabuza receiving the endorsement of King Mswati III and emerging victorious with the votes of 41 of the MPs.[2][7][12]
References
[edit]- ^ "Eswatini | House of Assembly". Inter-Parliamentary Union.
- ^ a b Dube, Angel (15 October 2023). "Bacede Mabuza and "Buy Cash": A Story of Two Brothers That Is Symbolic to the Story of the Entire Country". SwaziBridge.com.
- ^ a b c Nzima, Ashmond (19 October 2021). "'Buy Cash's plea after over E100m loss". Times of Eswatini – via PressReader.com.
- ^ ""Buy Cash" Pleads With Arsonists to Stop Burning His Shops". Swazi Daily News. 19 October 2021.
- ^ a b c Zulu, Joseph (14 September 2021). "Hands off Buy Cash - Busta". Times of Eswatini – via PressReader.com.
- ^ a b Zwane, Themba (1 October 2023). "Make 'Buy Cash' Parliament Speaker – Voters". Times of Swaziland.
- ^ a b Dlamini, Bongiwe (6 October 2023). "Pigg's Peak MP Jabulani 'Buy Cash' Mabuza is new Speaker in the House of Assembly". The Swaziland News.
- ^ "2018 National Elections Results" (PDF). elections.org.sz. August 2023.
- ^ Mbingo, Bodwa (3 November 2018). "King Appoints New Cabinet of Hope". Swazi Observer.
- ^ Zwane, Sibusiso (16 November 2018). "PM Travels With Wife". Times of Swaziland.
- ^ Dlamini, Bongiwe (25 October 2022). "Acting Natural Resources Minister Jabulani Mabuza officially opens R33million Mpolonjeni Water Project". The Swaziland News.
- ^ a b Tsabedze, Kwanele (6 October 2023). "Speaker Nominees: Jabulani Mabuza, Madala Mhlanga". Eswatini Positive News.
- ^ Dlamini, Bongiwe (27 August 2023). "Agriculture Minister Jabulani 'Buy Cash' Mabuza wins at Pigg's Peak, Minister Mabulala, Cruizer and Phila Buthelezi cruise through to Secondary Elections". The Swaziland News.