Times Of Swaziland: REDUCE NUMBER OF MINISTRIES

REDUCE NUMBER OF MINISTRIES
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Editor on 20/02/2024 08:21:00


Sir,
There is leadership bankruptcy in Eswatini manifested by the decisions taken on
the operations of many public organisations hence the absence of progress in the
country. The current situation has exposed the directionless of the system of
governance. This is the time where tough and unpopular decisions have to be
taken and religiously implemented. As a country, we should simply swallow our
pride and not wait for other countries to decide for us.
Advice
As usual, the Tinkhundla System of government is known for resisting taking
initiative advice while things are still manageable and only moving at the last
dangerous moment. Under the prevailing financial conditions faced by government,
why not reduce the number of ministries? The main problem of Eswatini is that
emaSwati, especially those in power quickly learn how to shift goal posts and
blame soft targets. These people do not differentiate between the failures of
the Tinkhundla System and the individuals running the system of government. The
system puts so much emphasis on individual merit and the collective is an
afterthought and never a guarantee.
Worried
While government is worried about the wage bill and the huge number of civil
servants, it defeats logic for them to employ personnel for the armed forces and
in some cases extend the employment of certain public officials who have reached
the retirement age. Age and early voluntary retirement, if properly applied
could systematically reduce the number of civil servants and encourage the
junior officers to work hard for promotion.
Damage
Some regional administrators in the country are retirees and this must most
certainly demoralise those they lead who have many more years to go before
retiring. The danger and damage of this practice should not be ignored but it
should be corrected. Stubbornness and or arrogance in this practice may develop
into cracks within critical organs of government.