Times Of Swaziland: SA EAGER TO KNOW TINKHUNDLA SYSTEM – ‘CRUISER’

SA EAGER TO KNOW TINKHUNDLA SYSTEM – ‘CRUISER’
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BY JOSEPH ZULU  on 07/12/2020 23:57:00


PIGG’S PEAK – Popular South African politician Julius Malema has often made
it clear that he does not like Eswatini’s system of governance, but this may
be the opposite for many other South Africans.
Minister of Tinkhundla Administration and Development David ‘Cruiser’
Ngcamphalala said many South Africans wanted to be educated on how the system
worked.
Ngcamphalala said some of them were even willing to travel to the kingdom to
understand the system.
He revealed this during a workshop for Members of Parliament (MPs) for the
Regional Development Fund (RDF).
require
However, Ngcamphalala said such would only be done at government level.
He said it would also require assistance from other ministries such as that of
Justice and Constitutional Affairs.
The minister noted this during a presentation by Dumisani Sithole, who is the
Director-Decentralisation in the ministry.
During the presentation, Sithole said South Africans had shown interest in the
system as some wanted to become independent candidates during elections. At this
point, the minister interrupted saying, ‘basibhalele’, meaning, they had
written to us.
Sithole said the Tinkhundla system of governance was very effective when
followed properly, in particular because the candidates represented the people
directly.
“We are not using political parties, but a system of representation,” said
Sithole.
He said what the people needed was evidence of development. “If the system
delivered, people would have no need for political parties,” said Sithole.
However, some of the MPs expressed concern about the lack of decentralisation.
effectively
They said the challenge with the system was that the ministry had not
effectively worked on taking the services to the people.
Sithole highlighted that some of the tinkhundla centres such as Mayiwane were
designed for the purpose of providing all services. “We want all the
tinkhundla centres to be like that,” he said.
Sithole also reminded the MPs that they were the representation of the
government. “You are the link,” he said.
He said in that way, government would be visible to the people.
Madala Mhlanga, the MP for Mhlangatane urged that the system should not neglect
the youth because they  were the future leaders.
He said in the next elections, it was likely that they would vote for young
people.
urged
Scorpion Nxumalo, Madlangempisi MP, also urged that the youth should be included
in the plans. He also said the system should document their plan of action.
Nxumalo said recently some young people asked him what Vision 2022 entailed. He
said this would be clearer to explain if there was a booklet designed for young
people to read.
Robert Magongo, the MP for Motshane, commended Sithole for the presentation on
tinkhundla. However, he said the presentation was not accorded enough time.
Magongo also said the executive arm of government was responsible for failing
the tinkhundla system. He said the delivery system should be fast.