VICIOUS CYCLE OF POVERTY

Sir,

If government were in the service of emaSwati it would have ensured that legalising dagga would have happened long ago to help alleviate the numbers of unemployed people in the country. Those in government tasked to monitor the economic development of the country are blissfully wealthy to think about the majority of the citizens wallowing in a vicious cycle of poverty. Legalising dagga, not for recreational purposes, could unleash such economic boom that, in terms of returns, would make the decades-old sugar cane farming an activity of the insane.

Prosperity

The resultant economic prosperity could translate into a radical fundamental transformation of the lifestyles of the majority of the people shackled by poverty and disease on the foot of the economic ladder. But the obtaining political system appears well disposed in denying the people economic independence for political expediency just to keep them leashed and dependent on their generosity. Cigarettes, which are the mainstay of some economies such as Malawi and Zimbabwe in SADC, are readily available everywhere notwithstanding their concomitant high mortality on smokers.

Massively

Even our beloved sugar is causal to some of the worst diseases and medical conditions that afflict mankind yet sugar cane is still massively farmed here. The trajectory to first world status requires radical transformation of individual and collective thought processes and attitudes. Problems and challenges should stop being obstacles but become opportunities. This is not the time to reinvent the wheel with so-called studies on the subject matter. The herb is today widely exploited by multinational pharmaceutical industries across the globe for its scientifically proven medicinal qualities. This target market is now readily available while further uses of the herb domestically, such as in the textile and apparel industries, may be pursued.  

Procrastinating

One wonders why our lawmakers, instead of procrastinating, have not tasked Cabinet to map a way forward with time-lines towards undoing the colonial legislation that is holding us captive both physically and intellectually not to speak of economically. Perhaps this has to do with the inherent weakness of the system in that real power does not reside with the people, and by progression Parliament, hence lawmakers are not catalytic in brokering a better tomorrow for all.

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