BRING BACK OUR LAND

Recently I watched a video clip of King Sobhuza II talking about our land claim from South Africa (SA).

Yes, we have had a long-standing land claim for years. In fact, we even have an entity called the Border Restoration Committee (BRC). The land was lost to emaSwati as a result of concessions to the white settlers around the 1840s. No Swati King had, in fact, signed the land away. EmaSwati were never defeated in war to warrant the nation to relinquish any of its land. There are reports that the BRC signed a draft agreement between Eswatini and SA to solve the land dispute amicably, but nothing has been communicated publicly. The case for Eswatini is very strong, with all the documented support required. The fact that the culture and language within these areas are the same as in Eswatini is reason enough to support the claim. No wonder King Sobhuza II said we are not in any dispute with anyone. All we want is what is ours and if anyone disputes that then they must show how they got the land.

Kosi Bay compensation

Given the complexity of the land issue, I would put forward a compromise that brings this matter to an amicable end. I would propose that emaSwati should settle for the northern Ingwavuma strip to the sea, taking Kosi Bay and giving Eswatini excess to the sea. The rest of the Mpumalanga land would be officially given over to SA with one condition. That His Majesty the King can build royal residences so he can visit emaSwati in SA for traditional ceremonies annually or periodically.  This would strengthen our African culture and keep our traditions alive, until emaSwati wish to return home themselves. The main advantage is development for the residents of the kwaNgwanase, also known as Kosi Bay Town. Presently, this is a small underdeveloped town in the far northern Umkhanyakude District Municipality in the KwaZulu-Natal Province of SA.

The closest small town is Manguzi, some 13 kilometres away from Kosi Bay and two kilometres from the Mozambique border. It is possible to walk from the Kosi Bay estuary to Ponta do Ouro in only an hour or so. It is one of the quietest beaches in SA. The Kosi River Mouth is known as ‘the aquarium’ because of the clarity of the water and the abundance of fish species. There is no meaningful development in this area. Eswatini would be able to develop the area as its main and only coastal city. SA has many coastal cities and Kosi Bay is very marginal to them, beautiful as it is. Our relationship with the Zulu monarchy and the African National Congress (ANC) can broker this deal even if it means giving the residents dual citizenship for a while to allow them to continue to benefit during their lifetime. After all, most have earned their benefits.

Tourism benefits  

Eswatini can benefit greatly from the Kosi Bay area. This area’s three-lake system is part of the Greater St Lucia, the iSimangaliso Wetland Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and is home to a large variety of birds, including a number of rare species. The lakes and clear beaches of Kosi Bay are nothing short of magnificent. There is so much going on here in terms of natural attractions. The birdlife is incredible, and the scenery is just unmatched.

Land issue in SA

The land issue is a very thorny issue in SA. The South African political parties, particularly the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), AZAPO and, to a large extent, the ANC have realised that without land, economic empowerment is not feasible. However, their western political indoctrination makes it very difficult for them to realise that their answer lies in land restoration, not land nationalisation. Land restoration would require that they recognise the original custodian of the land, which are the traditional leaders (kings and chiefs), who held the land in trust for the African people. The general narrative throughout the world is land restoration, particularly to indigenous people, not the communist/socialist style nationalisation. They despise their African traditional leaders whom the western legal system, they so admire, recognises as the true custodians of the land.  Note that when white settlers arrived in Africa, individual Africans did not hold title deeds as we do today. The land was held by chiefs, kings or clan leaders for the people.

Our Eswatini land claim has been laughed at because they claim we want too much, even Pretoria. The development that has taken place throughout Mpumalanga makes it very difficult to successfully win back this land. We can only use our claim to strengthen a position of compensation rather than restoration. Our compensation would be northern Ingwavuma as development there has been very minimum. The population in northern Ingwavuma is poor and very small in number, hardly 20 000. One notes two or three schools and clinics; and very few towns and settlements of note. Private lodges and motels are dotted everywhere along the seafront but nothing really big. Manguzi town is 13km from Kosi Bay and is the largest community there. This rural town is equipped with two schools and a hospital, which provide the locals with their basic needs. It occupies only 5.6 square kilometees and is home to about 5 600 people.

Traditional governance  

The political indoctrination of South Africans is such that it would be very difficult for the traditional structures of the kingdom to function within the greater part of Mpumalanga, should the land be restored back to Eswatini. The political party system has been fully entrenched into South African society such that our Tinkhundla System would simply not function. This would cause a great deal of conflict such that the compromise of Kosi Bay would be a better solution. We can build a great country once we have excess to the sea. The Kosi Bay district would join Hhohho, Manzini, Shiselweni and Lubombo districts. Great hotels, casinos, shopping malls, and infrastructure will be built to receive international shipping lines, private yachts and cruise ships. A railway line can support the manufacturing industry from Big Bend directly to Kosi Bay cutting many kilometres to Richards Bay. There would be a lot of work to do but it would be ours to develop. Presently this area is totally neglected by the South African government. Comment septembereswatini@gmail.com

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