Africa-Press – Eswatini. HIS Majesty King Mswati III has been commended for being a firm leader who stood his ground during the political unrest experienced in the country.
The king was praised by Minister for Tinkhundla Administration and Development Sikhumbuzo Dlamini during his maiden meeting with traditional authorities from the Manzini region. The meeting was held at the Manzini Regional Administrator’s office on Monday.
When addressing the traditional leaders, Dlamini said during the recent People’s Parliament (Sibaya) His Majesty King Mswati III and the nation had tasked the new government to ensure that there is peace in the country.
The minister said he was elated that during the unrest, the king was firm in his leadership and resisted the violent winds of change.
If it was not for the king’s tenacity, Dlamini said the country would have ceased to exist.
The minister also lauded the chiefs and other traditional authorities for supporting the king during the challenging the times.
He said that political phase needed seasoned leaders of the kingdom to stand up and defend the Tinkhundla system.
As peace has since been restored in the country, Dlamini said it was the duty of the ministry and all traditional leaders to ensure that the political upheaval does not happen again.
To achieve this, the minister said the gospel of the tinkhundla system of government needed to be preached to citizens, especially the youth.
System
He said the youth could be taught about the system and its beauty from school level as well as at their communities, where chiefs would facilitate for officials from the ministry to conduct sensitisation workshops for citizens.
“Lack of knowledge about tinkhundla system partly contributed to the youth being easily swayed by other political systems into engaging in the violent behaviour that was seen during the unrest,” said Dlamini.
Further, he conceded that although Tinkhundla, like other systems of governance, had its shortfalls, it was still the best worldwide.
On another note, the minister said another factor that pushed Emaswati not to trust the system was partly the neglect of the royal kraal structures.
In this regard, he said the ministry needed to ensure that royal kraals had the capacity to maintain its structures such as availing trucks to assist in transporting material for constructing standard structures at imiphakatsi.
“Emaswati should attend meetings at their royal kraals where they would be taught about the Swati culture and traditions. They should also know that they need to pay allegiance to their chiefs instead of going to imiphakatsi only when they need certain services,” emphasised Dlamini.
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