By Zweli Martin Dlamini
Africa-Press – Eswatini. Democracy in eSwatini is normally defined with an ulterior motive to mislead emaSwati into thinking they are enjoying freedom while languishing deeper into the sea of dictatorship, at the forefront of this misleading political narrative are Tinkhundla loyalists.
Perhaps, it is important to describe the different types of Tinkhundla loyalists and this includes those who are corruptly benefiting from this cruel system of governance and, those who are aspiring to climb the political ladder of course, with intent to loot State resources.
In most instances, those who benefit or previously benefited from the Tinkhundla system are hardly in the media defending the Tinkhundla system, they are busy with projects.
As a result, you will never see ex-Times boss Paul Loffler, ex-Justice Minister Ndumiso Mamba, King Mswati’s Financial Advisor Sthofeni Ginindza, former Pension Fund Chief Executive Officer(CEO) Cleopas Dlamini, Tibiyo TakaNgwane Managing Director Absalom Themba Dlamini, businessman Moses Motsa and all other business gurus defending the Tinkhundla system.
When you check their passports, some of them are always flying to other countries, enjoying life.
Recently, I was speaking to a high profile businessman in eSwatini who sold a property and when I asked him the value he said; “ngeke sengicale Dlamini ngivete tinombolo lelive leli kuphilwa matima, wacala waveta tinombolo in the media, SRA kutawusa alamnyango kakho. Lapho sekuvuka bo-lifestyle audit sewulandzelwa lokungapheli”.
This means serious businesspeople or individuals who are benefiting from the Tinkhundla resources hardly speak, it’s only King’s Interpreter Sihle Dlamini who appears to have a wide month but maybe, he lacks the experience regarding the rules of the game or the stealing ‘modus operandi’.
Now, having described the Tinkhundla loyalists who benefit from the system, let me analyze the characteristics of the political ‘puppies’ who, once they receive food or mere two hundred Rands(R200.00) gifts from the business giants benefiting billions from the Tinkhundla system, will flood social or the print media claiming to love the country more than any other person.
But maybe I must contextualize this, in real life there are two(2) types of human beings; fools and the intelligent.
The duty of the political fools in this regard is to protect the rich and intelligent, this means those who benefit from looting State resources including King Mswati, need political puppies to defend the Tinkhundla system so that that they can continue enjoying life.
Well, I will make an example about Times of Eswatini journalists who normally defend the Tinkhundla system, their former boss Paul Loffler was the beneficiary in terms of adverts worth billions, he is also owning properties worth billions but, he never in his personal capacity, defended the Tinkhundla system.
Instead, he changed the editorial policy of the newspaper to favour the current regime, collected billions as advertising revenue and the ‘puppies’ with nothing in their pockets, were busy attacking other emaSwati with different political views so that, the current regime can continue ruling and feed their boss.
But let me give some lecture to both the Tinkhundla political puppies who claim to know democracy yet, they are aspiring to climb the political ladder for self-enrichment.
Democracy being a universal ideal, means a system of Government based on widely shared human values.
It’s a global standard where the people determine their political, economic, and social systems through their participation and exercise of fundamental human rights like freedom of expression and equality.
But it’s true that, the specific forms can vary but the core principles of individual dignity, social justice, accountability and popular sovereignty are considered universally valuable and aspirational goals for all societies.
In this country or in the context of the Tinkhundla system, the dictatorship absolute Monarchy Government under King Mswati was decorated with a ‘political makeup’ so that it could appear as democratic in the eyes of the international community.
Political parties are banned in eSwatini and/or not allowed to participate in elections, the media is not free, human rights defenders are arrested or killed and the right to protest against any forms of injustice is restricted.
But life is always good for the Tinkhundla puppies until the very same system starts appressing them as well.
I will never forget Times of Eswatini journalists who were frequently calling me; “ye-Zwemart sibona kungatsi loMlungu ufuna kutsengisa lenkapane kuhle kufika bantfu batobuka le-property. Ngoba wena uyakhona kukhuluma naye awusibutele kutsi kwentekani”.
I was working vigorously in ensuring that, Paul Loffler does not sell the Times without paying the employees their terminal benefits, sending endless questionnaires and he assured me that he will follow the law and, he did.
But you can never predict political puppies within the Times, just because now they are employed again, they can’t predict that one day, they will need an independent voice again to speak on their behalf or engage their employer on labour issues.
Indeed, they attack the independent voice when their stomachs is full and then, rush to the same voice when facing oppression in the workplace.
But in conclusion, let me warn all Tinkhundla puppies that in this country, life is fast becoming more complicated, in the absence of democracy even those who support the Tinkhundla undemocratic regime will, one way or the other, feel or experience the oppression.
Democracy is a universal ideal and cannot be prescribed by political puppies.
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