TIME FOR A MOAN

I don’t want to be moaning. But sometimes one has to. First, corruption. There are few issues that are more damaging to the moral fabric of a country than corruption. And when the moral fabric disintegrates, then anything can happen. We don’t want that. The directive given by His Majesty to the nation at the recent Sibaya is – get rid of corruption. Exactly what is needed, but I’m afraid an ingrained, greedy-dishonesty within a country does not disappear overnight. Admittedly, a specialist Anti-Corruption Task Team is now in place to resuscitate an anti-corruption programme too long in the margins. But trust in the integrity of the Anti-Corruption Commission itself is diminishing by the minute. So, a sustained impact will take time, unless you have an all-consuming political tornado sweeping everything before it. We don’t want that either.

Statement

Horses for courses; our minister of Finance is top grade at his job but why, instead of the Task Team, did he make a comprehensive public statement on anti-corruption progress in the Times on  August 19 2024? And what was missing - something even our parliamentarians failed to pick up on - was the action against the people responsible for the corrupt activities that have been discovered? Corruption doesn’t happen on autopilot. It’s motivated and managed by human beings. There must be some already in the government sights for an indictment and subsequent prosecution; but many examples of theft, excess and unaccounted-for expenditure in the article and no mention of anyone being brought to book. Until you punish the thieves you won’t get rid of corruption. And there should be no preferential treatment among alleged culprits. Ironically, the very day I drafted this, the Home Affairs arrests were published. That’s progress, but the real evidence of reform will lie in sustained momentum.

And a week later we were told by the minister of Finance that economic growth is higher than forecast; excellent! And that it’s attributable to the Sibaya statements on eliminating corruption; no way! You think investors are so gullible that a public statement of intent, however authoritative and well-meaning, will cause people, domestically or from outside, to ramp up the economic activity or rush in with new investments?  No, they wait to see results; and that takes time.

Missed

Next issue – tourism. Have I missed something? Is there substantial tourism investments currently underway in this country of magnificent scenery, with friendly and peaceful people? We have precisely what it takes to create a tourism niche that leads the world. Many thousands of tourists in the world don’t want a holiday lying on the beach. They want to walk and talk euphorically among the hills. Or horse-ride and cycle along paths dug and crafted by thousands of local workers. It isn’t government’s responsibility to create jobs. But it does have the responsibility to create the conducive environment (road access and good trails) that will attract domestic and foreign investors; who then create the jobs.

Government needs to deliver, and then promote it like crazy around the world. There have been too many photos of our senior people smiling, and shaking hands (well, not even that anymore); with nothing happening afterwards. Tourism is the biggest generator of jobs of any sector, and we are failing miserably. Next, I would like you to please park your vehicle. Then walk in terror with our young pupils along the ‘non-pavements’ in our urban and peri-urban areas. I cannot cover every route, but I give you one example of many - the road parallel to the former highway into town, where scores of Mbabane Central High School pupils walk to school every morning. The need for a pavement there is screaming at every passing motorist that cares.

Because there are drivers along that route who think only of themselves, and drive at excessive speeds, barely millimetres from the young pupils who have to walk on the road. Approaching roads to all schools should have pavements, with pupils compelled to use them and police observation. Reckless drivers must be punished. That’s how a new safe driving culture is created, and lives are saved.

Prosecution

Is the Home Affairs case just one of the 150-plus anti-corruption cases put on hold since 2017? And what has happened to the several hundred serious criminal cases where prosecution delays cover many years? Are all these people on remand, or out on bail? Is the bail system under control? It would have required a massive programme, with technical assistance support and temporary court facilities. But nothing appears to have happened. I’ve asked for a public statement on this. Shame me publicly if I have got it wrong. But I don’t think I have. Even if hundreds of plea deals were struck, we should still hear about the cases. If Amnesty International got hold of all that we’d be a basket-case in international rankings.

Donors take it seriously too. And have we forgotten how important, to potential foreign direct investors and tourists, is our respect for human rights and speed of justice delivery? Assuming, with the greatest respect, that the above has sunk indelibly into the minds of people who matter – in fact you all matter – I will end with an appeal. Can those, whose words are shared with hundreds of thousands of people, please scream repeatedly at the top of their voices: “Real men never abuse women and children in any way whatsoever.” Let us also see it on billboards in every town.
                   

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