WHAT HAPPENS WHEN POLITICS FAIL PEOPLE?

Sir,
 
A society always finds itself out of shape whenever politics fail to reconcile with the will of the people, for it is no doubt that the spinal thread in the socio-political fibre of a nation is harmony between leadership and the masses at large.

 People will always expect government to deliver all amenities necessary for their maximum welfare but it remains government’s choice whether to serve diligently or fraudulently. The choice on government’s side is determined by the quality of leadership within that administration.

This is why service delivery in Africa is severely compromised as endeavours of governance are wittingly compounded by self-serving interests and competing ambitions. We have a problem of poor leadership. Poor leadership creates the first crack towards political failure as it inhibits efficient State functioning that may entail job creation and sustainable economic growth, hence discontent boils out of a frustrated society. Abraham Lincoln once said; “Nearly all men can withstand adversity but if you want to test his character, give him power.”

Compromising the people’s will by unwilling State machinery will either propel people into revolt or cast them into suppression.
It is a fact that leadership legitimacy ends the second you lose people’s consent. The subsequent development is governance balanced through the abuse of the legislative and judicial arms. From the compromise of the people’s will, political failure shifts a society into the compromise of the rule of law. Draconian pieces of legislation are enacted to promote and protect the regime and its circles. A society goes down a series of misdeeds by the leaders in a bid to prolong their reign.

The right mindset, in the rise of political failure, should be to push for the radical change of mechanisms regarding the relations of the people and the State, as opposed to careless and haphazard democratisation. Such a mindset serves as a direct approach to any form of political failure.

The only remedy to political failure is to allow people to talk, criticise constructively without fear of victimisation or marginalisation. Oh cry my beloved Swaziland, time will tell. Let he who holds power be held accountable and answerable to the will of the people. No one and nothing should be above the will of Swazis. Constitutionally enshrined, the ability to express oneself is essential in harmonising the intents of the powers that be and the people. What then happens, dear reader, when our mouths are taped and hands tied? Time will tell.

N Dlamini

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