Times Of Swaziland: BRING BACK OUR LAND

BRING BACK OUR LAND
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Sabelo Gabs Nxumalo on 08/08/2023 14:20:00


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