Jabulani Mabuza
{{Short description|Eswatini politician (born 1972)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2024}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Jabulani Mabuza
| image =
| caption =
|office = Speaker of the House of Assembly of Eswatini
|term_start = 6 October 2023
|term_end =
|predecessor = Petros Mavimbela
|successor =
|office2 = Member of the House of Assembly of Eswatini
|term_start2 = September 2018
|term_end2 =
|predecessor2 =
|successor2 =
|constituency2 = Piggs Peak
|birth_date = {{birth date and age|1972|7|22|df=y}}
|birth_place =
|death_date =
|death_place =
|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
Mabuza was born on 22 July 1972.{{Cite web|url=https://data.ipu.org/parliament/SZ/SZ-LC01/|publisher=Inter-Parliamentary Union|title=Eswatini {{!}} House of Assembly}} He has at least two brothers, including former House of Assembly of Eswatini member Mduduzi Bacede Mabuza who was imprisoned for pro-democracy protests.{{Cite web|url=https://swazibridge.com/article/index.php?iywtrre=fVqp|website=SwaziBridge.com|title=Bacede Mabuza and "Buy Cash": A Story of Two Brothers That Is Symbolic to the Story of the Entire Country|date=15 October 2023|last=Dube|first=Angel}} Mabuza, who is married, started a business in 2003 with his wife known as "Buy Cash Hardware".{{Cite news|url=https://www.pressreader.com/eswatini/times-of-eswatini/20211019/283184381625611?srsltid=AfmBOorcZHr-CkmzFubI79YB2Py3KDPcbqGCAuCdWSe9JcMPVIQTTmfR|newspaper=Times of Eswatini|date=19 October 2021|title='Buy Cash's plea after over E100m loss|last=Nzima|first=Ashmond|via=PressReader.com}} 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."{{Cite news|url=https://swazidailynews.com/2021/10/19/buy-cash-pleads-with-arsonists-to-stop-burning-his-shops/|newspaper=Swazi Daily News|date=19 October 2021|title="Buy Cash" Pleads With Arsonists to Stop Burning His Shops}} The hardware store chain had about 18 locations as of 2021, with many being in rural areas, and employs several hundred citizens.{{Cite news|url=https://www.pressreader.com/eswatini/times-of-eswatini/20210914/281711207774755?srsltid=AfmBOoqnG13SprYVFxhLV956zSSTiPn-ROmfLf2eQs95LkmaLk7943zr|newspaper=Times of Eswatini|via=PressReader.com|title=Hands off Buy Cash - Busta|date=14 September 2021|last=Zulu|first=Joseph}} Due to the title of his business, Mabuza is often called by the nickname "Buy Cash."{{Cite news|url=http://www.times.co.sz/news/142045-make-%E2%80%98buy-cash%E2%80%99-parliament-speaker-%E2%80%93-voters.html|newspaper=Times of Swaziland|title=Make 'Buy Cash' Parliament Speaker – Voters|last=Zwane|first=Themba|date=1 October 2023}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.swazilandnews.co.za/fundza.php?nguyiphi=5312|newspaper=The Swaziland News|title=Pigg's Peak MP Jabulani 'Buy Cash' Mabuza is new Speaker in the House of Assembly.|date=6 October 2023|last=Dlamini|first=Bongiwe}}
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.{{Cite web|url=https://www.elections.org.sz/2023/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/2018-NATIONAL-ELECTIONS-RESULTS.pdf|website=elections.org.sz|title=2018 National Elections Results|date=August 2023}} 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.{{Cite news|url=http://new.observer.org.sz/details.php?id=7232|newspaper=Swazi Observer|title=King Appoints New Cabinet of Hope|last=Mbingo|first=Bodwa|date=3 November 2018}}{{Cite news|url=http://www.times.co.sz/news/121006-pm-travels-with-wife.html|newspaper=Times of Swaziland|title=PM Travels With Wife|date=16 November 2018|last=Zwane|first=Sibusiso}} In 2021, his stores were the victim of several arson attacks, with several branches being burned down. By 2022, Mabuza had added the duty of Acting Minister of Natural Resources and Energy.{{Cite news|url=https://www.swazilandnews.co.za/fundza.php?nguyiphi=3281|newspaper=The Swaziland News|title=Acting Natural Resources Minister Jabulani Mabuza officially opens R33million Mpolonjeni Water Project.|date=25 October 2022|last=Dlamini|first=Bongiwe}} He also served for a time as the acting deputy prime minister.{{Cite news|url=https://eswatinipositivenews.com/speaker-nominees-jabulani-mabuza-madala-mhlanga/|newspaper=Eswatini Positive News|title=Speaker Nominees: Jabulani Mabuza, Madala Mhlanga|date=6 October 2023|last=Tsabedze|first=Kwanele}}
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.{{Cite news|url=https://www.swazilandnews.co.za/fundza.php?nguyiphi=5064|newspaper=The Swaziland News|title=Agriculture Minister Jabulani 'Buy Cash' Mabuza wins at Pigg's Peak, Minister Mabulala, Cruizer and Phila Buthelezi cruise through to Secondary Elections.|date=27 August 2023|last=Dlamini|first=Bongiwe}} 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.