THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE UGLY

COMMENT

As the kingdom wakes up to news that the Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Bill has received Royal Assent, we thank His Majesty for the wisdom in heeding to the cries of his people and authorising efforts towards protecting the nation against the escalating acts of violence.

This is good and we congratulate all the organisations that have been advocating for this Bill over the past 12 years, for their perseverance and commitment to ensuring that we strengthen deterrence against violence, especially against women and children, while also providing better access to justice for every member of our society.

However, we should not rely on the law to protect ourselves, but rather on our morals, our compassion, ubuntu, tolerance and respect for one another as human beings.
These are the tenets of a good society.
We need to exhibit these traits across other sections of our society, which includes good governance and respect for the rule of law – particularly by those entrusted with public office.

They should understand that a flagrant disregard for the law in the use of public funds or the abuse of office contributes significantly to lawlessness in general.
For instance, it becomes a matter of grave concern when we have a government applying divisive tendencies by declaring a financial crisis and zero cost-of-living adjustment to public servants on the one hand, while dishing out expensive promotions in the security forces on the other.

This is very bad and it serves as a recipe for anarchy; especially because all these sectors draw funds from the same pot. 
If government has issued a freeze on hiring and salary increase, every public servant ought to be subject to the same rule.
 Placing others above the rules is placing others above the law.

The security forces should not be surprised, therefore, when the citizens demonstrate similar behaviour in the conduct of their lives by placing themselves above the law and taking matters into their own hands to resolve differences, such as the torching and killing of the elderly man we read about today.
We condemn these ugly acts of violence with the contempt they deserve. This is certainly not the Eswatini we want!

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