Africa-Press – Eswatini. The May Day snub of the prime minister emanates from a problem with us moderates that we are quick to try and smooth things over for the sake of peace even when serious matters must be dealt with head-on. Political tension still exists.
Dr Martin Luther King Jr once said and I quote “ I have almost reached the regrettable conclusion that the Negro’s great stumbling block in his stride toward freedom is not the White Citizens’ Council or the Ku Klux Klan (kkk), but the white moderate, who is more devoted to ‘order’ than to justice; who prefers a negative peace which is the absence of tension to facing the truth.”
Our beloved Eswatini has too many people who are respectful moderates, trying to constantly find the middle ground or peace, which, is not a bad thing but when the truth is compromised again and again it becomes detrimental to the very peace they so seek. The reaction of the workers during the May Day celebration was symptomatic of a larger underlying political tension that still lingers within some emaSwati post-June 2021 unrest.
Sibaya Dialogue was a lost opportunity
As a loyalist and traditional liswati, it is difficult to call it as I see it. EmaSwati has become very afraid to speak against our political establishment considering recent developments emanating from the June 2021 unrest. The arrest and subsequent conviction of two parliamentarians for speaking out have not been helpful in terms of openness. Sibaya Dialogue fell short of the voice of many emaSwati, middle class, and workers who contribute a lot to the growth and development of our country.
BakaNgwane are afraid of collective representations, hence their total dislike of political parties. This I understand and to those that know my thinking they would know that I am not a great fan of Political Parties either, given their track record in Africa. However, bakaNgwane have gone further and generally dislikes any form of representative groupings. Be it unions, professional bodies, civil society groups, (except curtain church and traditional groups) and opting to work with individuals only. They argue that individuals speak their lived truth without any undue influence and can’t be hijacked by ambitious political leaders with an agenda. This argument may sound plausible to some extent, but it has serious floors.
1.) Individual presentation cannot be a true reflection of the whole country given that approximately six hundred thousand adult emaSwati could not have been covered and the three minutes given to those who did speak was hardly enough. There could not be enough time to debate matters collectively. We are ignoring great minds.
2.) There are situations where individual citizens simply do not have the expertise to know the solutions and can only express their frustrations (emanyeva) which was the biggest part of the Sibaya. This is good and helps the policymakers but why are the policymakers not known and part of the Sibaya Dialogue? Only a proper Sibaya Policy Conference with national stakeholders can deliver collective solutions to give a new government to implement.
I believe that if we can’t collectively present views as representatives of the various bodies and groupings within the country, we are fooling ourselves. The loyalist rural masses will hide again as the progressive force calls for the blood of the royal family. An inclusive approach would have been to officially invite bodies and groupings such as the workers’ unions, teachers, nurses, professional bodies, medical dental council, business groups, law society, churches, etc. to present specifically on their field of expertise and how they could improve the country. Medical workers know the problems and solutions to drug shortages.
An individual teacher, doctor or worker speaking for three minutes at Sibaya did not represent teachers, doctors, or workers but himself or herself. We can’t in all honesty say that the views of all emaSwati were presented at the Sibayeni. The policy of a Nation is not formulated by three-minute presentations by individuals. The question that remains is whether is this good for the future peace and prosperity of the nation or just window dressing, until another unrest.
Royal Resentment still exists
The biggest challenge concerning monarchies is that they can’t see the true picture of how the citizens feel about them until it’s too late. Where are monarchies world now? They see huge crowds praising them and bawling on the outside but inside they are causing. Their resentment and hate for the royal families rise during hard times. The average liSwati secretly blames royalty every time they do not get services in hospitals, clinics and public institutions.
Regardless of what the deputy prime minister may say, government failures are perceived to be the fault of royalty in any kingdom, unless it’s a true constitutional monarchy like the UK. A politician Eswatini has no hope of becoming anything outside royalty. They serve and are relieved at the pleasure of royalty. Those who do not make it back are bitter and angry because they have no real control over service delivery, hence 90 per cent don’t return to Parliament.
The emaSwati business fraternity has not been spared this feeling of helplessness. The rise in foreign businessmen alleged to have royal connections has made even local businessmen bitter. The perception rightly or wrongly is that Asians have taken all the retail business and now foreign royalty-connected companies are taking the rest. Tibiyo Takangwane and Tisuka were designed to be transparent royal partners, looking after the business interests of royalty are nowhere to be seen. False rumours and murmurings about royal involvements in all kinds of business are the order of the day. Royal advisers remain silent.
Government effort undermined
The government cannot function optimally under the infiltration of secretly disgruntled civil servants. If the licked EIFU (Eswatini Financial Intelligence Unit) documents are anything to go by our government is in trouble. The only saving grace for our monarchy and government has been the lack of traditional, strategic leadership and cohesion within the progressive movement. They just want to eat too. We have an excellent Cabinet led by capable individuals including our prime minister but because they are not elected by the people, they are working against the tide. The people they are working with are not motivated and do not feel they are part of this nation. Citizens who are not closely connected to royalty feel like second-grade citizens.
The outcome is that they either give the bare minimum, are undecisive, or they get their share through corruption. The morale levels at some workstations are appealing, making it difficult for the government leadership to deliver.
Source: times
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