TRUMP’S POLICY A WAKE-UP CALL

Sir,
While the assistance that the United States (US) has been consistently providing to low-income countries, including Eswatini, since time immemorial was supposed to be interpreted as an act of kindness, it is a fact we cannot deny that such a gesture perpetuates the culture of dependency. As we speak, lives have been placed in jeopardy after US President Donald Trump signed an Executive order announcing a sweeping pause of foreign aid and this, one must admit, has the propensity to lay fertile grounds for the resurgence of HIV/AIDS. More so because lifesaving organisations like PEPFAR will be affected.

Rely

But why do we rely so much on handouts in the first place? It is surprising how the Eswatini Government Spokesperson, Alpheous Nxumalo, was quick to remind other countries like the US of Eswatini’s sovereignty, especially when these countries challenge our local political body or denounce human rights violations in our country. However, uMnguni failed to remind them that in times like these they should not to ‘turn their noses up’ at our internal affairs, as we are a sovereign State, which can sustain its own people financially or otherwise.  For the past years, we have been doing little, if not nothing, to explore means to design a strong, well-functioning health system to sustainably improve the performance of our health institutions. We have been routinely relying on foreign aid, from the American people in particular. EmaSwati have been lamenting of a collapsing health system for far too long now, but the response has been inaction.

Risks

I comprehensively understand the life-threatening risks the US’s halt on foreign aid may have to emaSwati, whose incomes are below the federal poverty threshold, as compared to the elite who are supposed to be taking significant decisions on behalf of the poverty-ridden population. The elite population, who hold powerful positions, are the ones in my view, that misuse public funds and fail to establish a strong health system. And when they need medical attention, they resort to travel to private crème de la crème medical facilities beyond our borders at the expense of the financially struggling populace. Eswatini’s healthcare system is already crumbling under the strain with patients dying like flies as they wait for unavailable medical drugs in our health facilities.

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