By Zweli Martin Dlamini
Africa-Press – Eswatini. King Mswati will be celebrating forty (40) years on the Throne this year and some next to him, desperately eager to put a smile on the King’s face are misleading him, saying this country has been developing under his leadership when in fact the opposite is the truth.
But perhaps let me highlight that as a Head of State, King Mswati became the champion of cultural preservation which some of us appreciate.
Indeed, we almost lost our cultural identity as a country because of individuals who were politicizing even “kuvunula”, urging emaSwati to hate their own culture.
But regardless of weather conditions, the King hardly take an international trip in foreign clothes, he is always seen at the airport in a traditional attire and now, some of those who were blaming us for “kuvunula” are understanding the difference between politics and culture, for we cannot hate our way of life just because we disagree politically.
It is however very unfortunate to note that, this country has been deteriorating under Mswati’s leadership, some of the economic development projects left by King Sobhuza long collapsed in a country where corruption has been, over the years, institutionalized under a culture of impunity.
Unlike King Mswati, the late Sobhuza was in my view, a better thief, he would steal public funds for himself and his children while ensuring that, emaSwati are taken care-off, we grew up and found “emagushede” where emaSwati would collect free agricultural inputs to enhance food security.
King Sobhuza was so passionate about food security such that, around 1979, he introduced “Lijaha Sisu” slogan and this slogan was even included in the one (1) Lilangeni coin.
Subsequently, University students received about fifty thousand Rands (R50,000.00) per-year as an allowance, a few years after Sobhuza’s death, the money was then reduced to around twenty-four thousand Rands (R24,000.00) around 2005 and now, students within the various institutions of higher learning are receiving an embarrassing allowance.
Roads were maintained in the rural areas, almost every Friday and after heavy rains, we would see a Government grader from the Ministry of Public Works and Transport maintaining roads in our communities.
I remember very well, emaSwati used to pay a mere five Rands (R5.00) and then receive medical treatment within the various public hospitals but now, they are forced to buy their own medication.
It was a great achievement to work for Government as a civil servant but now, some workers in the Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) sector are earning far better than civil servants, this is a collapsed State run by a Government surviving through foreign and domestic donations.
In Eswatini now, you can drive from Mbabane to Nhlangano, there are latest cars you can never see on the roads because emaSwati cannot afford those vehicles, anyone seen driving a decent expensive car is quickly investigated by the Eswatini Revenue Service (ERS) because it’s extraordinary.
It is therefore important to state that, anyone who thinks this country is developing is literally sick in the head, some of us were very young when Mswati took over as the King and we have been watching State institutions collapsing.
As the King celebrates forty years on the Throne, he must remember that leadership is not about self-enrichment but a leader must serve the people.
While emaSwati languish in poverty, the King emerged as a billionaire, owning private jets, luxurious cars and shares in various giant companies, his trusted servants used his name to steal public funds and some of them now, are millionaires.
In a country where a majority of the citizens are poor, perhaps the King must reflect and identify where he lost it because there was a time when he appeared eager to see meaningful development, establishing development Funds including the R44million that later became the Eswatini Development Finance Corporation (FINCORP).
But in conclusion, let me highlight the oppressive culture promoted by the King’s Government through Gazettes that allow companies to underpay workers so that, more profits could be presented to Mswati as ‘tetfulo or gifts.
We can’t have a Government that documents and legalize exploitation of workers while claiming to be fighting poverty, Gazettes must be reviewed so that emaSwati could earn more and have money in their pockets to mitigate inequality and poverty.
