Times Of Swaziland: ROUNDTABLE FAVOURS EVERYONE

ROUNDTABLE FAVOURS EVERYONE
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Editor on 13/07/2022 08:18:00


Sir,
Of late it has been quite evident that, more than ever before, change will be
inevitable, and this has rubbed a couple of people the wrong way. This is
because the current status quo feeds their lifestyles, and anything opposing
what is being offered is detrimental to their livelihood. For the past few
months I have noticed an increase in the amount of what you could term revenge
attacks, where those who feel pro-democracy calls are a threat to their lives as
they know them, resort to indirectly threatening all those who plead allegiance
to any entity calling for political reforms. From observation, one can tell that
the current political landscape is more personal to most than others.
Change
This, however, demonstrates the lack of understanding of change. To see change
as a threat will do more harm than good because it will cause unnecessary
resistance and further make what presumably could be a smooth transition, hard.
Unfortunately, reforms are now seen as the enemy and battle lines have been
drawn with everyone anticipating who will have the final say. The general
atmosphere is tense and bordering on pretence as we all continue living as
though everything is fine while harbouring internal thoughts of which side we
are on and how best to address or commit to those we favour. The division among
the populace is as clear as day and each side is living in fear of the other.
It is somewhat amusing to witness the intensity in conversations when you add
anything politically related, you can always tell that people have gotten to the
point where they would actually die for what they believe in. Politics has
become a deadly game in this country and one wrong move might find you six feet
under. However, that is the downside of change, that as much as we can deny it,
there are bound to be a few casualties. Now, the problem comes when you start
questioning how long one can sustain their beliefs through the use of force or
belligerent behaviour. The threats can fly, the burning may continue, the
jailing as well, but how long before change happens?
The truth is, being resistant is just a delaying tactic of what is evidently
inevitable. In fact, both parties are possibly going about it the wrong way and
don’t realise that each way is deadlier than the other. Change is bound to
happen, but we need to be cognisant of the fact that it might not come the way
we want it, this goes for all parties involved. The smoothest way to get things
going is to sit at a roundtable and come to a compromise which favours everyone
involved.