NEW YEAR, STILL NO POSITIVE CHANGE

“Reconciliation is a part of the healing process, but how can there be healing when the wounds are still being inflicted?” – N. K. Jemisin

We are from the Christmas holidays and tomorrow marks the start of a brand New Year, after that the festive holidays come to an end.
Traditionally, the festive spirit is in the ‘togetherness’; it is a time to do introspection on how we have treated others throughout the year, and resolve whatever differences we had. It is a time of joy. A selfless time, where we (or, rather, should) forgive each other for any wrongs we committed against each other during the course of the year.

It is a time when we need to take stock of what is important in our lives, and become ‘better’ versions of ourselves. In general, we are encouraged as we start the new year to be joyful, charitable, generous, kind and forgiving - which are all human behaviours that should make us live happily and in peaceful coexistence with each other. After all we have gone through, especially politically, throughout the year in this country, will this day be as joyful as it should be? Or, will it be a ‘black Christmas’, where we will take stock of what we went through, try to overcome the pain, and misery of that fateful, June 29, 2021 debacle, and what ensued in the subsequent year? Our country has become a cauldron of fear, and uncertainty. We have turned into killing fields.

Tragic news

On December 20 the country, once again, after an uneasy calm and lull in the shooting of law enforcement officers, we woke up to read about tragic news, that three police officers were reportedly in critical condition in a hospital after they were shot by unknown gunmen the night before (December 19). The trio was shot at Kwaluseni, just after they had assisted employees of OK Foods Kwaluseni to close their supermarket for the day.
The three officers were reportedly shot at by unknown gunmen who were travelling in a black VW sedan, which had been driving up and down the road for a lengthy period. The killing spree continues while our leaders turn a blind eye to long-intensifying calls for dialogue.

It is without any shadow of a doubt that we are living dangerously in this country. Tomorrow is not guaranteed. We now live for today, with any prospects of living to see another day diminishing hourly. Like our shadows, fear stalks us every minute of the day. We do not fear primates or the proverbial dinosaur, but, now fear, fellow human beings - both the faceless and sadly, the people who should protect us, our government. On the one hand, faceless people are roaming the streets during nocturnal hours of the night, hunting down targets they can kill. They do not hesitate to terminate sacred lives, at the slightest pull of a trigger for what is suspected to be for political reasons.

On the other hand, the government, using its security forces, is on the rampage, intimidating, harassing and placing under surveillance those it perceives to be anti-system of governance. Before I penned this article, I did a lot of pondering, and introspection. The things I am going to say may not go down well with some of those in our midst, especially those in leadership positions. But, if truth be told, to heal from our political differences, it is vital that we confront our demons, speak out against injustices, and as writers, write truth to power. It will not do us any good to ‘romance’ the situation and look the other way, while the country is being destroyed. Truth hurts, but if accepted with an open mind, it builds character.

Nonentities

We cannot afford to allow leaders we trust to play Russian roulette with our lives. We are not stooges to be treated as slaves, and nonentities in our own country. The country is now defined by brutality, intolerance,  hatred for each other and violence. The million-Dollar question is: Why? Where have we lost it? When will it end - if ever? We had previously enjoyed relative peace, amid turmoil from surrounding countries. Whenever we had conflicts, the emaSwati spirit of ubuntu, always rose among us, and instead of viciously poking each other in the face, in a sadistic manner, intent on proving who had power over the other, we had always resolved our differences, amicably.

With the new breed of leaders at the helms of power, remnants of that priceless spirit have dissipated into thin air. We are now defined by pride, haughtiness - and, sadly, violence. Power has not only corrupted us, but it has done so absolutely. The peaceful demeanour of the country has been destroyed, desecrated, defiled, and profaned by leaders who think they are gods. Amid such negativity, there is this incessant cry from lovers of peace: Where have voices of reason disappeared to in this country? Where are the advisors who can call upon our leaders to stand up, be counted, discard arrogance, and commit to a peaceful resolution to our problems?

It is very painful to witness government leaders we used to look up to, completely trusted to bring about stability, and sanity to our lives, now behaving in a very militant manner. Let us not fool ourselves. The ship is sinking. The dark, and swirling political waters are threatening to capsize the political Titanic, drowning us in a sea of violence. As much as no condition is permanent, by the time things calm down, many of us would be part of death statistics - provided, we continue digging in our heels, refusing to engage in dialogue.

 It is heart-wrenching to those of us who love peace, and harmony to witness some of those in leadership positions, instead of calming down by word, or action the volatile situation we are currently facing in the country, becoming confrontational to the people they have authority over.
They are persistently fanning the fires of hatred with their flippant comments, and aggressive stances towards situations that call for calm, level-headedness, and visionary leadership.  

Worsening

Two such leaders are the deputy prime minister (DPM), and government spokesperson. Many of our people would love to hate these two leaders. Their flippant, and controversial responses to volatile situations are worsening the capricious, and unstable situation. Some of us cannot help but conclude that after these two were suddenly thrust into power, it had seemingly gone into their heads. Incidences of their flippant reaction to explosive situations are too numerous to count. These two gentlemen have always, more often than not, lost sight of the fact that anger now defines our people, lately. They must guard their tongues whenever their responses are sought. The onus lies on leaders, especially these two, to tread carefully whenever they respond to the current, political impasse.

I am human and cognisant of the fact that as humans, none of us is fallible. We are prone to making mistakes. On the other hand, as the rank and file of society, we expect our leaders to be objective and impartial and respond diplomatically to unstable situations. As much as we understand that they report to higher echelons of power, and are expected to appear to be in control of situations, they must do so rationally. When you are a leader, you just do not act emotionally, and irrationally, and only be concerned about proving your acumen of responding with an iron fist to cagey situations to those in the lower rungs of society that you are the ‘boss’.

I am always taken aback by the unadulterated insults, and derogatory language directed at our leaders. To the people, our leaders have lost all semblance of credibility and respect. Our leaders need to understand that leaders earn respect, and do not enforce it. As we enter the new year let us do our best to reconcile with those we do not see eye to eye with. Let us endeavour to discard pride and arrogance. In memory of those who died tragically on June 29, 2021, or were injured, as well as to all the law enforcement officers who succumbed to the bullet, or are presently in pain in healthcare centres, let us all embrace the spirit of brotherhood and sisterhood this festive period.

No amount of hatred or brutality can take away the fact that we are one nation. Let us all retain our priceless, Christian values. It is important to understand that none of us is more patriotic to the country than the other.I sincerely pray and hope that the imminent dawn of the coming new year will usher in a new spirit of hope, renewed minds and solid commitment to dialogue from everybody on both opposing sides of the political chasm.

Humbleness

Finally, in humbleness, and with due respect, I sincerely call upon our King, as the leader, and father of the nation, to say something and calm down the volatile situation affecting our country. He is the symbol of unity, we look upon him to bring together all his warring children to the roundtable, where a truce, and dialogue can be instituted, and save us all from destroying each other. Let us all save this beautiful kingdom from imminent destruction. As a senior citizen, I have witnessed a plethora of times how the concept of dialogue had saved people, and nations, from destruction numerous times in the past, as well as brought sanity in the imminent destruction of families, friends, and relationships.

In the words of Roy Barnes, “We are all one - or at least, we should be - and it is our job, our duty, and our great challenge to fight the voices of division and seek the salve of reconciliation” How awesome it would be to one-day witness members of all political parties in the country, coming out from a neutral place, embracing, and shaking hands with the likes of the current DPM, Themba Masuku, Government Spokesperson, Alpheous Nxumalo, and others, after a successful, negotiation stint that would take this beautiful kingdom to greater heights! Impossible? No ways! With God, whatever is impossible with men, is possible with God!

Happy New Year to everyone!
Peace! Shalom!

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