PM’S UNSAVOURY PARTING SHOT

On Monday, outgoing Prime Minister Sibusiso Barnabas Dlamini demonstrated his trademark verbal onslaught when addressing the media in what could be his last Cabinet retreat as head of government.

Since 1996, Umlangeni has been the key feature of local politics, and that include the five years; between 2003-2008 where he served as a member of the Swaziland National Council. It is being speculated that his political journey might have finally comes to an end this term.

It is just speculation, but no one can be faulted about it given that the Premier has finally launched his much anticipated book outlining his journey as one of the country’s most recognisable servants.

In the book, he tackled a lot of good, bad and controversial stuff, some that even touches on his private life. That is the stuff of great leaders, individuals with high self-esteem. I know there are some contents in his book that requires some serious confrontation, especially on issues touching on the 27 Demands, and the famous 1996 national strike organised by the Swaziland Federation of Trade Unions (SFTU) that had Manzini North MP Jan Sithole, Speaker of the House of Assembly Themba Msibi, Richard Nxumalo and Jabulani Nxumalo who were considered the big four of the then powerful labour movement.

I have digressed already. The premier in Pigg’s Peak demonstrated unseen turf guarding antics as he defended his government against what he termed unfair criticism from some sections of the media. Without mentioning a name, but it was never difficult to deduce who he was directing his tirade.

Personally, I was not shocked or angered by his reaction. It comes with the territory of being a leader especially in government.
Politicians do not take critics easily. But what was shocking about the PM was that this side of his life seemed to have long deserted him. In his final term in office, he appeared to be calm about everything thrown at his direction.

There was a time, where some political commentators felt that he had lost his mojo as a firebrand politician. But, in his new found calmness, he has kept things politically tight. Government might not have performed well in many portfolios, but Dlamini appeared to have provided enough war chest to thwart any onslaught from political detractors.

However, in all his praise, there was this one glaring lack of fire, enthusiasm if you like to call it that once characterised Barnabas.
The PM 1996 onwards was known for tackling the bull by its hones. He literally took no prisoners in his pursuit for peace and stability. He was not only hardworking but enthusiastic. He liked what he was doing. He enjoyed being the head of government. 

However, as he readies himself to vacate office, he lives behind a scenario that is not pleasing in terms of service delivery. The employment rate has reached 41 per cent, poverty levels are high and the health system has more holes than Swiss cheese.  But the PM still felt that there was a lot good that government delivered this term.

He might be right, but maybe what watered their every good deed was that in the areas where they had challenges, the casualties were the people on the ground.

As we speak farmers are still bitter at what they termed sabotage by the Ministry of Agriculture, which promised to supply them with farming inputs, only to face challenges that grossly affected many families. 

There are still long lines in revenue offices, which is government’s Achilles tendon.
These are the issues that should be eliminated by the time we reach 2022. As the PM played mother hen to his cabinet, I expected him to note these challenges going to 2022.

He is also better placed to guide the next PM on how best he can take the nation forward pre and post 2022. He is one of the remnants of political scholars, by virtue of belonging to the generation that was actively trained by the pre independence era. His political acumen cannot be doubted, even by his critics.

He has served government well during the turbulent pre-coronation era dominated by the late Prince Mfanasibili. His experience in politics came in handy in his handling of the labour forces in 1996. But his broad side salvo against a newspaper columnist was no doubt below the belt.

Many of us regard him far above that level of cheap politics or was he reminding everybody of his fiery side? It was not a parting shot, one would expect from a man who has navigated many political storms. For a man who has handled explosive situations, he shouldn’t have said what he said of his critics. We don’t want to remember that side of him, but instead we want to gaze at his high work ethic coupled with enthusiasm.  

However, after all has been said and done about Umlangeni, we already look forward to the next PM to usher us to the next level. We hope it would be a candidate that will have the interest of the people at heart.
Vision 2022 is about uplifting the standard of living for the ordinary Swazi.

The First World Status will be gauged by improved health standards, high quality service delivery. There will be no more shortage of passports, food in schools to name but a few. Here is to hoping that the post 50/50 government will bring more tidings to the ordinary people down there. 

Post your comment

Your name:

Your e-mail address:

Add your comments:

Please enter the code you see in the image:

Image:

Code: