CCTV CAMERAS AT IMIPHAKATSI

Sir,
I am writing as a concerned citizen and taxpayer of Eswatini to voice my grave concerns regarding the decision of government, through the Ministry of Tinkhudla and Administration, to allocate millions of emalangeni for the installation of CCTV cameras at all the imiphakatsi across the country. While security is important, I believe this decision is a blatant waste of public funds, especially given the current financial challenges facing our nation.

As we all know, Eswatini is undergoing a severe financial crisis, and urgent priorities need to be addressed. The recent executive orders issued by President Donald Trump to freeze funding to Eswatini will undoubtedly impact our economy, and we cannot afford to squander scarce resources on such an endeavour. The kingdom is facing pressing needs in areas such as healthcare and education, yet government seems to be more concerned with installing cameras at every imiphakatsi, a decision that does little to address the critical needs of the general population.

Additionally, the recurring installation of new imiphakatsi every time a chief passes on and is replaced further complicates the matter. Government should ask itself: Will it be financially viable to continuously instal new CCTV cameras in these newly established imiphakatsi? This seems impractical, especially in light of our current financial situation. It would be far more sensible and cost-effective for government to utilise the police and military forces to provide security at the imiphakatsi, rather than wasting millions on unnecessary surveillance infrastructure.

The focus should be on using available funds for more essential services, such as strengthening the healthcare system and improving the education sector, which are both in a state of crisis. It is disheartening to witness taxpayer money being channelled into projects that serve a select few, while the majority of the population continues to suffer from the lack of proper healthcare and educational resources. Furthermore, it is well-known that a company has been earmarked for the installation project, which raises suspicions of corruption.

Given the circumstances, this decision only reinforces the notion that government priorities are skewed and are not set with the well-being of citizens in mind. I urge the prime minister and government to reconsider this decision and redirect the funds toward pressing national needs. It is time government addresses the real challenges faced by the citizens of Eswatini, rather than prioritising projects that only serve to benefit a select group of individuals. The time for change is now.

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