Africa-Press – Eswatini. Several conclusions can be drawn from Tuesday’s national Cattle Byre attendance and the address by His Majesty the King, depending on our diverse interests under the current state of affairs. A fully packed Sibaya was indicative of the yearning for clarity among the populace on the political direction of the country, which could only come from His Majesty the King. It’s fair to say many seemed to appreciate the unifying spirit and tone of the King’s speech, if the reactions are anything to go by. It was a wise approach by the iNgwenyama for a country emerging from a tense period that put the nation’s unity to the test. Of late, there has been a gradual return to normalcy and the big crowd gave credence to this.
Developments
These developments, along with the encouraging highlights on the economic front, gave good reason for the King to focus more on the positive trends rather than the ugly past, indirectly urging us to let bygones be bygones and move on as a country. The how will most probably be discussed at Sibaya after the elections. As we each take home what resonated the most from Tuesday, the focus on the economic performance, post COVID-19, was key. The statistics seem to auger well for the outgoing Cabinet and it would come as no surprise if some of the key role players were to make a return for purposes of continuity.
The sustainability of this growth trend, however, relies heavily on the decisions, actions and engagements that are yet to follow. He left each of us with an assignment to reflect on the future we desire and then identify individuals, who would not only take up seats in Parliament, but be fitting to serve in Cabinet positions with a capability to sustain the current economic growth trajectory and deliver on our First World aspirations. By Corporate Finance Institute (CFI) definition, a First World country refers to one that is highly industrialised and with advanced economies. Common metrics used to identify countries that are part of the First World include the Human Development Index, GDP per capita, literacy rate and life expectancy. Where do we fare on these matrices?
Targets
When the current Cabinet took office, led by the late Ambrose Dlamini, targets incorporating these matrices were set to help the country to move several levels higher. Just to recap, the Eswatini Strategic Road Map, 2018 – 2023, set out targets such as; economic growth of 2.5 per cent in the short-term and five per cent in the medium-term; fiscal consolidation with fully financed budgets, a budget deficit under 3.5 per cent of GDP in 2021/22 and E1 billion of arrears cleared per year; increased resource mobilisation with SACU making less than 30 per cent of total revenue by 2021/22, and the unemployment rate (relaxed definition) stabilised at below 31 per cent, among others.
The Cabinet team’s thematic focus on economic recovery was to be underpinned by good governance and fiscal stability to achieve inclusive and sustainable growth, private sector development, poverty reduction, national stability, peace and security, law and order. The expected national outcomes were an enhanced dynamic private sector supporting sustainable and inclusive growth; enhanced social and human capital development; efficient and effective public service delivery that respects human rights, justice and the rule of law, well managed natural resources with environmental sustainability and efficient economic infrastructure networks. Our task is to find the men and women who understand all the above and can help us achieve our goals. Among these candidates must be more women and people with disabilities, the King directed.
Hurdle
This country has these candidates in abundance, but it is at this hurdle that we often fail to elect the cream of the crop. July 22 and 23 will be major determining dates for the next five years. Perhaps when the King summons the nation to a Sibaya dialogue after the elections, we will get to interrogate why we continue to allow ourselves to be bribed by people with selfish aims and seek the power of political office to pursue them.
It should discuss our failure to deal with corruption that poses as the biggest threat to any socio-economic development objectives. It will not be the type of dialogue that the mass democratic movement wants, but the Constitution favours the King’s stance, that it is the people who will determine their political future through Sibaya.
As United Kingdom Ambassador Simon Boyden said after the King’s speech; “It is not my place to define how the dialogue takes place but the King said the nation will meet again after the elections to engage in it in the manner that it has been done in the past. I guess we can look forward to that and see where that takes us.” Indeed, let’s give this process a chance to chart the next course of our history.
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