Times Of Swaziland: WORKING FOR FREE CAN LEAD TO SUICIDE?

WORKING FOR FREE CAN LEAD TO SUICIDE?
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Editor on 09/01/2025 07:36:00


Sir,
A lot of emaSwati are committing suicide because of depression.There are
different types of suicide: Anomie, egoistic, fatalistic and altruistic. A
sociological thinker, Emille Durkheim gave himself time to study suicide as a
whole and funny enough, most Sociology students read it for excelling over
giving others insight. After reading in depth, I found it wise to share with
‘the world’ in writing what really anomie is. As much as this beast was
discovered in the 1800s, it is observed even today.
People are killing themselves because of economic depression. This clearly
suggests that anomie is caused by being depressed economically; being
financially strained.
Plight
It has become a norm for emaSwati to work without pay. Recently, I have written
about the plight of students from the University of Eswatini and even went an
extra mile to solicit help from one of the richest people in the world; Bill
Gates. Apart from students who are struggling financially in the Kingdom of
Eswatini, the working class is equally struggling to make their ends meet.
Before we even get there, there are those that are working, but are getting
‘nothing’ as payment. It is worth mentioning that during this ploughing
season, emaSwati need help to finish off their activities in the fields.
Paying
This includes weeding, treating crops with pesticides, transplanting,
harvesting, shelling and winnowing. Upon asking for help from neighbours, those
who were being helped only offer food as means of paying those who were helping.
Who needs help in a world full of bills to be paid? Now that children are
returning to school, will food cater for the children’s physical needs which
are school uniforms to mention but a few? Lack of money causes depression, which
leads to people taking their lives. Can you blame them though? Since the working
class is responsible for paying some emaSwati citizens with food instead of
money, they are not to blame. They are not willingly doing this, but are forced
by the economy of the country. One can vehemently argue that the working class
is working for free because they get paid way less than what they work for.
Compare
If one can compare a teacher’s annual pay in the Kingdom of Eswatini, with
that of teachers abroad, a conclusion can be made that the work of Eswatini
teachers is seen as a joke in the country. Mshengu High School has lost a head
teacher who committed suicide on Christmas Day. He had allegedly embezzled funds
as a way of sustaining his daily needs.
He suffered economic depression which led to him being a doer of anomie. We will
die questioning ourselves why people are committing suicide at such a high rate
if we do not stop making emaSwati work for free!
Siyanda Mzolo