Times Of Swaziland: ‘Traditional values have  key role in modernisation’

‘Traditional values have  key role in modernisation’
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BY MARTIN DLAMINI  on 13/05/2013 06:42:00


CAPE TOWN, SA – A group of panellists at the World Economic Forum, which
included His Majesty King Mswati III, were unanimous in opinion around the
importance of traditional values as a foundation for effective socio-economic
development, especially for African states.
This emerged during a panel discussion on Africa’s Values Context, which
looked into the relevance of tradition with modernity.
Japan was cited as a good example of how a country could become a developed
nation while keeping a strong hold on its culture and traditions. Reference was
also made to Great Britain as a modern state with high regard for its
traditional monarchy that has state functions.
Also in the panel were the founder and Executive Chair of the Mandela Institute
for Development Studies (MINDS) Nkosana D. Moyo, Minister of Foreign Affairs and
Regional Integration of Ghana, Hanna Tetteh, Cardinal and Roman Catholic
Archbishop of Abuja, Nigeria’s John Onalyekan, Executive Chairman and CEO of
Basetsana Woman Investment Holdings in South Africa, Basetsana Khumalo and
Creative Director of Amateur Heads Media in Nigeria, Ishaya Bako.
His Majesty the King kicked off the moderated session by sharing the secret of
Swaziland’s traditional success despite colonial rule prior to independence.
He said Swazis have used their own unique strength found in traditional values
and a sense of ubuntu in order to withstand the negative influences of
modernisation.
He said ubuntu helps embrace diversity, differences, race, religion which are
key ingredients for socioeconomic development and promoting and sustaining
peace, stability and interdependence in Swaziland and elsewhere.
His Majesty said these values were necessary for interconnectedness from
community to country and continental level as most African economies are small
and cannot sustain the large-scale enterprises that can lead to massive job
creation that can help lift Africa out of poverty.
The crucial issue that needs to be addressed, he said, is how Africans can
resolve the innumerable development problems by utilising the strengths of their
unique value systems and natural resource endowments to drive socioeconomic
integration and growth among African nations.
He said given our rapidly changing societies, our values need to be constantly
supported in order to address the challenges confronting the African continent.
The forum ended on Friday.