THE WORST IS YET TO COME

Sir,

It is certainly true that in this country now called the Kingdom of Eswatini we almost never ‘search endlessly’ for more information when our government publicize certain information.
The information we normally get from our government is always lacking and never challenged.

economic crisis
Nonetheless, it is likely that most people devote far more time and effort to seek for information when they want to buy food or beauty products than when deciding to vote in the national elections. I follow politics closely these days. I spend more time than usual reading the newspaper and other materials, figuring out what’s really wrong in this country. As I became more and more open-minded, it is becoming clear now that the political system is problematic.

Under the Tinkhundla system of Governance established in 1978, the government seems to be failing to tackle these challenges effectively. It’s clear to me that the ‘archaic’ system of governance had plunged the country into a deep financial and economic crisis and like all the other past years the electoral process will unlikely bring any real change.

Thanks to the SACU revenue which allowed the kingdom to set our taxes below South Africa’s. This means South Africa has been subsidizing the Kingdom of Eswatini to compete with it for investment with their more attractive taxes. In a way this SACU formula protected our country into dependency on South Africa. But what will happen now? Since South Africa is pushing for a total overhaul of the SACU agreement. I can promise you, the Tinkhundla system will be unmasked.

course of humanity

 The SACU share has declined by 24 per cent and already we are feeling the pinch. Look at what is happening now. After the 50/50 celebrations, our country has been mired in a deep financial crisis. It is unbelievable though that government continues on a spending spree against this backdrop. For example the EBC is driving around with many rented top-of-the range cars as if it’s a show.

This government is so uncaring but is important that as people of Eswatini we do the opposite. Let us care for the poor people and fight for social transformation even if you are well educated or rich. I am not asking for a pity party here or trying to make anyone feel guilty. I am a pretty privileged person, but I refuse to betray the course of humanity. We also need the world to help us pressure our government to introduce democratic reforms. ‘The ultimate tragedy is not the oppression and cruelty by the bad people but the silence over that by the good people’- Martin Luther King, Jr.

Lungile Sukati.
doublel@gmail.com
 

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