IS GOVERNMENT POLICY GIVING US HOPE?

The Honourable Prime Minister has tabled a government policy in Parliament.  As government policy is key in unveiling plans for the government five-year programme, it is critical for citizens to engage this document in order to fully appreciate what the government has prioritised during its term of office.  

The Honourable Prime Minister’s opening statement was as follows: “His Majesty King Mswati III, during the opening of the 12th Parliament, gave a clear policy direction necessary for the country to attain a developed country status by 2030.  This was also prayed for by emaSwati during their submissions at the Sibaya People’s Parliament.” He then stated that “As the new administration for His Majesty’s Government, we will rigorously pursue the Vision of Eswatini to transition from a lower middle-income country to attaining high income country classification”

Presenting

I would like at the onset to congratulate the government for presenting its policy direction to emaSwati, which gives hope that Eswatini’s development is well planned because they say if one fails to plan it, he plans to fail.  The Bible in Proverbs 29:18 says: “Where there is no vision, people perish”. The policy acknowledges that, “The Kingdom of Eswatini is confronted with surmountable multiple crises on the backdrop of poor service delivery at 0.35 (public service delivery index) and low economic growth, namely high rates of poverty at 58.9 per cent in 2017 (CSO); unemployment at approximately 35.4 per cent as of 2023 , deteriorating health service; gender-based violence with approximately 1 in 3 females having experienced some form of sexual abuse by age 18 years, and 48 per cent of women reporting to have experienced some form of sexual violence in their lifetime; burgeoning corruption; devastating climate change impact; increasing inequality; deteriorating education system characterised by limited Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Competencies – critical skills required by the labour market; declining national cohesion; diminishing national identity; and fiscal legroom to fund developmental programmes.”  The recognition of challenges that contributes to struggles for emaSwati is commendable because at the core of government business is to address emaSwati challenges.  Indeed, poverty, unemployment and inequality has left many emaSwati behind.  
Homegrown
I was really fascinated by this statement: “It is imperative that emaSwati and the government elect to chart their own path and take a focused approach, finding homegrown solutions, with the interest of the country and its people at heart.”   The clarion call for emaSwati and the government to chart their own path is a profound statement.  Even in our diversity as a nation, we are joined together by   common future underpinned by quest for a better life for all.
The policy also speaks to changing mindset underpinned by patriotism and excellence.  One gets a sense that the government feels emaSwati are not patriotic.  I somewhat agree with the government, as for example, corruption that has poisoned our country is a clear sign of unpatriotic emaSwati.  The poor services in the public sector also speak to this aspect.  The focus on excellence is also commendable, because emaSwati must receive world class   services from their fellow emaSwati employed in the public sector.
On the economic policy directive, I was pleased to note that the government will be intentional in supporting SMMEs in the country as part of strategy to unleash economic revival.  Key to this will be for government to ring fence some services to SMMEs.  Also, critical is for the Government to pay SMMES on time.  It is usually argued that the private sector should be the engine of economic growth.  In this policy statement, it is not clear on the position of the private sector in Eswatini.
  Prioritise
It is commendable that the government will prioritise infrastructure development so that the whole country would be a site of construction.  This will definitely create jobs for the lowly trained emaSwati.  It is my hope also, that rural infrastructure will be prioritised.
The policy statement states that: “A pro-growth and pro-poor budget will be maintained in line with the Sibaya submissions and call to end poverty in Eswatini.”  This should be underpinned and well-designed for people’s participation in the budget process as promised by the Ministry of Finance.  It will give effective opportunity to the citizens to make their views heard regarding budgeting priorities.  The policy also states that: “The public sector will be modernised to improve service delivery as mandated by Sibaya.” Every liSwati must enjoy services as a human right. It is disappointing that the government has not made an effort to   commit to human rights guarantee and protection in line with the national constitution. Regarding the policy stance on promoting Tinkhundla system through schools and other avenues, the system must speak for itself in how it delivers human right-centred services, how the three arms of governance operate independent of each other and how emaSwati’s dignity is guaranteed.

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