Times Of Swaziland: PARDON ME SWAGAA I DIDN’T GET THAT

PARDON ME SWAGAA I DIDN’T GET THAT
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By Nontobeko Tshabalala on 29/06/2018 23:28:00


What is even the truth when the Swaziland Action Group Against Abuse uses the
Bible to justify not supporting the Pride March? We read their comments where
the organisation emphatically stated it would not be participating in the march
with a lot of pause and true bewilderment. We didn’t even realise SWAGAA was
faith-based like that.
My incredibly smart friend Zanta Nkumane and I had a conversation about this and
its many problematic corners...come and eavesdrop or whatever the visual
equivalent is.
Nono: First of all I am so excited that the Pride March is shaking all the
tables in the kingdom! Literally scattering all the hypocrites. I’m also so
bored by all the prejudiced reactions because they prove precisely why an event
of this manner is necessary.
Zanta: The world is changing. Our country can decide to adapt or die. We can no
longer be this pocket of a country where time seems to stop moving and a people
that refuse to evolve. Living in denial does not serve anyone, it stunts growth.
Tables have been shook and will continue to be shaken. I don’t understand how
we continue to fear love and acceptance. In the words of Kwanda in Inxeba -
“How can love destroy a nation?”
Nono: Kindred, what is in the water there by SWAGAA? They say they will continue
to serve the LGBTI community because they are well aware of the violence the
demographic faces but I don’t understand how they are completely blind to the
fact that this statement is a form of abuse! It’s like they can religiously
rationalise the subjugation faced by LGBTI people but still want us to believe
they are able to serve the community in any sort of honest way.
Zanta: *le sigh, le crise* How embarrassing was that statement coming from one
of the oldest activist/human rights focused NGOs in the country? I just want
them to know, and the country in fact, that we cannot hope to achieve a positive
social shift if our movements remain exclusionary.
‘If we going to heal, let it be beautiful’ right? Beautiful means wholeness,
inclusion. The narratives and discourses of religion and God in this country are
heart breaking. They are articulated and expressed to yield and defend hate,
exclusion and grey, shady morals. Morals that are switched on and off to suit
whatever agenda is being shoved down our throats.
The same religion is used to excuse rape, murder of women and children – the
very work SWAAGA is involved in. How did they not catch that?  When I got to
where the communications officer of SWAGAA said ‘Lord Jesus’, in that
damning article, I wanted to howl. If that’s the stance they are taking, then
the work they are doing is void of true purpose – their goals will not be
achieved.
Nono: Oh my soul, did you also see the comments by the Police PRO who was
‘speaking in his capacity as a man of God’. I was like ‘girl lol what are
you even doing? Why are you even doing it?’ Churches are mad violent spaces
because they can, do and have discounted people’s humanity. I’m not about
it. Do we even have hate speech laws in the country, because I’m certain this
qualifies?