Times Of Swaziland: CONCERNS ABOUT HOME AFFAIRS REP AT GOVT HOSPITAL

CONCERNS ABOUT HOME AFFAIRS REP AT GOVT HOSPITAL
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Editor on 28/11/2024 12:16:00


Sir,
I write to bring attention to a troubling situation regarding a Home Affairs
representative stationed at the Maternity Ward of Mbabane Government Hospital.
Her role is to assist parents of newborns with registering their children and
issuing birth certificates, an initiative by the government, designed to
simplify this important process. Unfortunately, her conduct raises serious
questions about professionalism, efficiency and accountability within our civil
service. To begin with, this officer’s apparent disregard for time is
unacceptable. She routinely leaves for lunch at 2pm, only to return around 4pm,
resulting in a two-hour break.
Disrupts
Are government employees now entitled to extended lunch hours that the rest of
the nation is unaware of? This behaviour not only disrupts service delivery but
also leaves parents, many of whom are juggling limited time and other
responsibilities, stranded and frustrated. The lack of oversight enabling such
conduct must also be questioned, where are her supervisors and are they aware of
her blatant disregard for her duties? Even more troubling is the dismissive
attitude she displays upon her return. Instead of treating parents with empathy
and professionalism, she behaves as though she is doing them a personal favour.
It is important to remember that this role is not her personal undertaking, but
rather part of a government initiative designed to serve the public.
Respect
This lack of respect for citizens undermines the very essence of public service,
which should be rooted in accountability and efficiency. Furthermore, this
officer insists that parents bring E15 Emalangeni on the collection date for
lamination of the birth certificate. While this fee is not exorbitant, the
coercive manner in which it is imposed is highly questionable. Lamination is not
a government-mandated requirement, and parents should be given the choice to opt
for it or not. This seemingly minor issue reflects a broader problem: the casual
disregard for the principles of voluntary service and transparency within the
civil service.
Another major issue is the inefficiency in her work process. She spends over 30
minutes attending to a single pair of parents, yet when it is finally your turn,
it becomes apparent that the process involves nothing more than filling out
basic forms and making copies of identification documents. This excessive delay
is unjustifiable and creates long queues for other parents, many of whom are new
mothers recovering from childbirth or juggling care for their newborns. The lack
of urgency and consideration for the needs of others is deeply disheartening.
It is crucial to highlight that this is a government-driven initiative, not her
personal project.
However, her conduct reflects poorly on the government she represents. EmaSwati
have long complained about poor service delivery across various government
departments, and this instance is no exception. Whether it is delayed services
at Home Affairs, inefficiency at health facilities, or dismissive attitudes at
municipal offices, citizens are continually met with frustration when dealing
with civil servants. This initiative, like many others, has the potential to
significantly improve the lives of emaSwati, but only if it is implemented with
integrity and efficiency.
Jubela