DOES ESWATINI NEED ARMY?

One very interesting aspect of Eswatini’s political leadership and traditional structures is that they refuse to be moved by all the political upheavals of the recent days and months.

We are fast approaching the first anniversary of the June 2021 unrest and it is like nothing has happened politically. Even the dialogue remains elusive, with only a E22 million budget which promises that someday we shall have it. It was, therefore, not a surprise that when the army undertook its recruitment drive it would start at tinkhundla centres. The youth turnout was interesting given the recent negative sentiments against the monarchy and the army in general as expressed through social media and political party rhetoric. The population of Eswatini, as of 2022, is 1 178 665 emaSwati with an approximate 3 000 standing army. Of this total population, 38 per cent are below the age of 14 years, representing 447 893 children.

The remaining population is 730 772 of which more than 58.54 per cent are 15-35 years, about 438 463 emaSwati. This means the active adult population is 292 308. We need to note that four per cent, which is 47 147, represents elderly emaSwati above the age of 65. Let these figures sink in because they shocked me into the reality that we are very few people in this seven billion plus world population.

The army issue

One of my brothers, Zakhele Mike Dlamini, recently asked me if we needed an army in the country. He proceeded to question how we could fight Mozambique with a population of 32.9 million (standing army of 9 000) on our east and South Africa with a population of 61.1 million and a standing army of 90 000 on our north, west and south sides. His immediate assumption, and that of many, is that a national army is needed only for war against neighbouring countries. We need to define a national army first to get a better picture.

National armed forces

The armed forces are institutions established by the State for the primary purpose of national defence against external threats and internal conflicts. The army must defend the territory of a country and defend the rights of citizens as per the Constitution. Effectively, defending the Constitution even against internal threats and conflicts, and these threats would include ordinary crime (eg cattle or car thieves), organised crime and terrorism.

The composition of the armed forces can differ substantially between countries. The armed forces include: (i) Regular military forces; military institutions whose primary purpose is readiness for war and including all their military support functions. Such forces may be professional or based on conscription, or include a combination of professional uniformed staff, professional civilian staff and/or uniformed non-professional conscripts. (ii) Auxiliary military forces; professional security forces that can be called upon to assist the regular military under certain conditions. (iii) Reserve military forces; military forces composed of either volunteers or compulsory recruits who can be called on to reinforce the regular military – for example air force reserves, special tactical police units, national guards, territorial, militia and home defence forces, among others. Given the above definitions, my answer is yes we need an army. Maybe one should add that the sophistication of high-tech weaponry means one cannot underestimate any small army but the primary objective must not be for war only.

Huge turnout at tinkhundla centres

Most African counties have a very young population and Eswatini is no exception. When thousands turned up for the army recruitment trials at the tinkhundla centres, despite the recent negative sentiments against the armed forces, one must stop and ask serious questions as to what is really driving the turnout. All will agree that the high unemployment rate is to blame. Basically, one could argue that the youth did not care about the political undemocratic dispensation alleged, but just needed a job. After all the army basically takes orders from their political leadership regardless of political ideology.  Others, again, say yes the high unemployment caused the high turnout and  the youth do care about the political dispensation but just needed a job. Again, loyalists would say the high turnout was due to unemployment, yes but also their belief that the youth are loyal to the monarchy and would like to serve it  through the army. Whatever the reason the young turned out in such big numbers, one common factor is high unemployment.

Unemployment real internal threat

The armed forces of the kingdom were established by the State for the primary purpose of national defence against external threats and internal conflicts or threats. When far too many young people find themselves without a job and means of survival, the State is at risk. Our freedoms, as guaranteed by the Constitution, are at risk as crime increases along with political instability. The army has a duty to step in and defend the Constitution and citizens; not by military force but by providing means of survival for the youth, through skills and discipline.

Revival of national service

The Gcina national service can take up a large number of the unemployed youth. The army can manage this programme which would give the much needed discipline and educate our young on who we are as emaSwati, where we come from and where we are going. There are several government farms and national land that can be used by the army to grow crops using the youth as partners. They don’t need fancy lodgings but tents, uniforms, and discipline. The Israeli State has been able to do this for years. Botswana has a national service which is managed by the army but is not military but social in nature. The youth cannot get a government sponsorship to study without one year of national service in Botswana. The young Batswana get to make friends on an equal basis and lean skills with discipline.  

Reserve military forces

A small country like Eswatini does need military forces reserves which would compose of either volunteers or compulsory recruits who can be called on to reinforce the regular military should the need arise. They would have a disciple, training, and proper indoctrination to be able to understand and defend the State. Send comment to septembereswatini@gmail.com

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