Times Of Swaziland: How can we watch our people eat cow dung?

How can we watch our people eat cow dung?
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The Editor on 01/08/2011 00:00:00


Sir,
I am a concerned citizen living in a faraway country. I am writing this letter
because I am deeply concerned with the media reports about Swaziland at the
moment. My specific angst is a report on the BBC website, posted on July 27,
entitled "Swaziland: HIV patients ‘eat dung to make drugs work’". I cannot
begin to describe the range of emotions that overcame me when I read the story,
not least being disappointment and shame.
There is no excuse for the Swazi government. 1.2 million people should not be
that difficult to govern. We should be prosperous and proud. How can we sit back
and watch our family eat cow dung? How do we let our country slip right out of
our hands, because I can guarantee that if we are seen to fail there are many
countries out there that would be quite happy to take over.
Once that happens, it will surely be impossible to regain our uniqueness and
existence.
My call is to the young, educated Swazi with a voice and an idea. If you ever
doubted when the time would be to stand and make your ideas known, I am here to
tell you that this is the time. The lightning bolt has struck.
I am confident that there are people with better ideas than what is being
floated at the moment. Change can happen while we still maintain our culture and
individuality.
What picture do such headlines on the BBC site paint of Swazis? What kind of
stain do we choose to leave in the minds of the global community when they think
of us?
Citizen K