Africa-Press – Eswatini. Had respect still existed as before, the country wouldn’t have experienced civil unrests, burning and damaging of properties and infrastructure.”
These sentiments were shared by King Sobhuza II’s eldest son Prince Masitsela. He remembered his father for being instrumental in the country gaining independence and maintaining peace. He said King Sobhuza II also introduced the Tinkhundla system of governance, loved dialogue and education.
The 92-year-old prince said King Sobhuza II instilled respect and discipline throughout his reign. King Sobhuza was brought by God to teach respect and educate Emaswati on how to live.
Sharing memories of his father, he said King Sobhuza was a trendsetter, who also gave direction emphasising respect thus maintaining peace.
In order to have peace, he said respect must always be prioritised. He said the King also emphasised that respect should be two ways so that even the younger generation would learn from the elder and vice-versa.
“Silo Sobhuza emphasised that humility is key; respecting everyone regardless of age and status no matter how angry one was. This was one of the great lessons from King Sobhuza. Also note that proper respect is an instruction from God that is interchangeably used with honour throughout the Bible. It is repeatedly stated that it should be shown to everyone, parents and the King. Therefore, anyone who doesn’t show respect even against the King acts against God’s principles,” he said.
Blushing as he remembered his father, Prince Masitsela said he had never seen anyone as respectful as King Sobhuza, which was a great lesson to impart.
He said the King respected the elderly, women, children and the different regiments.
Adding, the prince stated that King Sobhuza was a people’s person who loved spending time with his people.
He said he would leave the royal residence to spend time with regiments emalawini.
He said that in turn gave people hope, made the people love him and taught them certain lessons about life. He said as his children, they would be sent to fetch water by the regiments regardless of the fact that they were emazinyane then.
He said King Sobhuza II lived a simple life such that they would deliver milk to him from Lobamba to Lozitha regardless of the fact that it was available at Lozitha. He said he wanted one from King Bhunu’s royal residence.
“He taught us respect and that people could be sent daily for the same errand and no complaints were expected. He could have sent cars to fetch it for him, but he sent us so that respect could be instilled in us.
By showing respect and honouring people, you grant yourself a long lasting life, well lived, peace filled and beautiful. This could be fixed if the current generation would know what respect entailed. What King Sobhuza taught is demanded by God and it helped not to have enemies or people who hold grudges against you,” he said.
He said if people wished to live a prosperous and successful life, they need to live by God’s word and follow biblical principles.
Moreover, the prince noted that King Mswati III also adhered to God’s instructions. He said he had honoured different people of different ages and statuses.
He added that the younger generation should positively respond to being reprimanded instead of negatively reacting to it. As a result, he said they would be blessed, prosperous and even create jobs for themselves.
He urged all Emaswati to research on their own and seek information on what had led the country to maintain peace and stability for such a long time; it all emanated from respecting each other.
“People should do unto others what they would want to be done unto them. Respect others because you would want them to respect you. I don’t think people would be destroying properties if they respected others and I don’t think they would want their properties to be burnt and destroyed. Respect also builds one’s character and we have lost it along the way,” he said.
King Sobhuza loved culture
King Sobhuza II loved culture and traditions.
He went to the extent of encouraging the chiefs to implement same in their respective chiefdoms. He said there was no cohabiting then because marrying and paying dowry was highly expected.
When quizzed on his take on the proposed Marriage Bill, the prince said the 18 years marriageable age was a new and strange phenomenon.
He said the Siswati culture had order and people did things according to cultural expectations.
He said it would be unheard of because culturally, the groom’s family would approach the prospective bride’s family requesting for her hand in marriage before any marriage takes place.
He wondered how and when this would be done if an 18-year-old would be allowed to marry willy-nilly.
“The rightful way to go about getting married is still practised, but allowing this will put everything in disarray.
‘Remember, these laws were made for the people by the people through their chiefs and the King who was ordained by God; honouring the laws will mean that they indirectly respecting the King. I personally think that this will lead to high divorce rates,” he said.
On a different note, Prince Masitsela strongly condemned the ongoing spite of killings of civilians and officers of the law.
“I had never in my life thought that we would get here as a country, this is not on, it shouldn’t be happening and it needs to stop. It is meant to destroy the peace that we have as a country.
Condolences
“I really haven’t gotten a chance to seek audience with Their Majesties to address this and send condolences for the loss of lives. I haven’t attended meetings with Libandla neither have I said anything because of my ill-health. Let me send a strong message to the perpetrators and instigators of the current situation to stop. This is not how you communicate grievances. We are a nation known for respect and peace, let us maintain that and use proper channels to communicate,” he said.
Tinkhundla system introduced in 1948
Prince Masitsela applauded the tinkhundla system of governance which he said was started by King Sobhuza II after World War II in 1948.
He said upon the return of soldiers, the King recalled them to where each constituency would be made of three or four chiefdoms and they in turn had their own advisory councils individually.
He noted that on behalf of the King, the chiefs looked after the people and the land and the people respected them as they represented the King, thus respecting the King.
“The chiefs also knew that the people were subjects of the King, therefore, they should take care of them so that the King is happy. The King had each member of Umsizi as part of each constituency. Remember, we were still under the colonisation of the British who scrutinised a lot of what we were doing,” he said.
The prince said King Sobhuza loved and promoted dialogue such that he would have Sibaya meetings with chiefs and different advisory councils once a year after harvesting at Lobamba.
He said this would help shape the country as the King would know what the people on the ground wanted through the grassroots level traditional authorities; chiefs.
Such meetings also helped the king know how Emaswati lived and how they wanted to live and be governed. This was discussed in detail as the chiefs came from the people.
He said this was where laws were reviewed, how marriages should be implemented and livelihood projects were discussed, tailor made for Emaswati and each region.
“People would know a simple thing as when they should start farming and which produce they should farm suitable for their regional climate; these were discussed during Sibaya. We have lost all this as a nation and each wants to do what they want without discipline when the whole point of Sibaya was to gather and share information on how to also better people’s lives. Nowadays, Sibaya is for everyone. The system of governance is the same with a slight twist because Members of Parliament now represent their constituencies and their respective people’s needs,” he said.
Harmony
He said the chiefs would then share information discussed with their subjects and impart knowledge. He emphasised that respect was key in all this so that there would be peace, social harmony and consideration for each other.
Adding, he said this showed that the country practiced democracy which is still the case under His Majesty King Mswati III because the MPs were voted for by the people from their respective constituencies.
“I remember how King Mswati III sent me with a delegation to the four regions of the country to ascertain how and where the elected came from and gather what and how the nation wants the system of governance to work. The people wanted the MPs to come from their constituencies working with the different constituency councillors,” he said.
Reminiscing, the prince said King Sobhuza II loved and promoted education for all such that Lobamba, Zombodze and Swazi National Schools were constructed so that Emaswati could access education.
He said later on, King Sobhuza II officially launched the University of Swaziland (UNESWA) so that the children of Emaswati could further their studies.
Prince Masitsela added that King Sobhuza was learned himself; he started his education at Zombodze National School. He said there were dissenting views when he was supposed to go to Lovedale as some feared that he would die overseas.
He said Queen Gwamile with the help of Prince Maveletiveni ensured that he studied in Lovedale with the view that his education would also benefit the country and nation at large.
“He also encouraged us to go to school, none of his children would not go to school. We would travel in different groups from Lobamba and Lozitha to our different school destinations because he wanted all of us to be educated,” he said.
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