Africa-Press – Eswatini. We are living in an era where there is frustration from ordinary people on government’s ability and incapacity to address people’s issues. It must be appreciated that governments are there to deliver a better life for all. No individual must accept a life of poverty and hopelessness. We all, as God’s creatures, have aspirations for better lives. Youth populations are increasing, especially in Eswatini, and these demographic pressures are producing growing demands for jobs, education and opportunities.
Havoc
Record numbers of highly educated youth are unemployed. Even before the pandemic wreaked havoc on economies around the world, popular expectations of economic justice and opportunity clashed with disappointing realities in economies that have been weakened in the wake of recurrent financial crises. The emergence of populist nationalist leaders has challenged the democratic norms, international order and global solidarity. The war in Ukraine is further challenging international systems and is threatening to turn the world back to the cold war era.
Short-lived
Our country has been facing challenges of governance and a desire for better lives since pre-independence. In 1968 when the country gained its independence, the independence euphoria was short-lived as in 1973 the independence Constitution was abrogated as it was deemed unworkable. This was during a period where many African governments were putting in place one party states, and multiparty democracy collapsed in many countries. Hence, even today the major question among some Africans is; is multiparty working for Africa? In the context of Eswatini, the June/July 2021 civil unrest redefined our country. This is because lives, properties and livelihoods were lost. Sadly, government has not done enough to address the anger, frustration and hopelessness that define our environment. Worsening the levels of frustration and loss of hope is that there is no effort to conduct an open and transparent investigation into the June/July civil unrest events.
Causative
Hence we lost a valuable opportunity to learn what were the causative factors, what were institutional responses and if post management of the events was effective. It seems like there is hope that time heals and that emaSwati will somehow forget and forgive each other. Further worsening the situation is that government has been unleashing security forces and the right to protest has been eroded, further worsening frustrations among emaSwati especially the youth. This frustration is manifesting itself in many ways that affect the rule of law. Violence perpetrated against non-violent citizens is because once a mass movement arises and unsettles the status quo, most regimes confront unarmed protesters with brute force.
Protest
I would like to express my profound appreciation to leaders, individuals and organisations who have continued to be against the security sector’s brutality, to protest against the social injustice in the country; special appreciation for those who have continued to support the incarcerated Members of Parliament. Eswatini is supposed to be a constitutional State, with a Bill of Rights, which gives rights to citizens. Yet the reality is that the enjoyment of human rights in this country remains a challenge.
Source: TIMES
For More News And Analysis About Eswatini Follow Africa-Press
