As we battle the health crisis presently gripping our country, it is only natural to blame government, particularly those in power. We all seem to forget that government is the ordinary emaSwati, you and I. The other day, the Minister of Health was carrying boxes out of a Central Medical Stores truck and running around, desperately trying to portray an image that he is doing all he can. And no doubt that he is doing all he can, as many other civil servants are.
Civil servants have failed emaSwati
It is extremely difficult to say this, but it must be said. EmaSwati have failed fellow emaSwati. We can blame government and the leadership, but in reality, the ordinary liSwati, particularly in the Civil Service, who has been given the responsibility to serve the civilians, has failed.
I don’t want to believe that the quality of service offered at every level of government is up to standard. We can blame the health sector, but it’s across every ministry.
It is almost like no one knows what service to the people is. One would come looking desperately for a job, but the moment they get the job, they forget they are there to serve the citizens of the country. We find every excuse not to work. I hear this cry every day that the government is not delivering services, and I ask myself who government is.
The people on the ground find the smallest reason to close the clinic, hospital or to close their offices and go home. If there is a small part of the machine that is missing, one closes the department and goes home or worse still, sits around doing nothing and waiting for Shayile time.
The culture of service is just not there. Government assets are deliberately neglected. For example, at William Picture Teacher Training College, the wind blew away the Marquee, and the expensive air conditioning units were left exposed to the weather elements. No one bothers to bring them indoors for months. This is a college with administrators, teachers who saw this every day. We need to ask serious questions: Why is this happening?
Citizenship studies are needed
Citizenship education is offered at the primary and high school levels in some European Countries, like Ireland, and develops knowledge, skills and understanding that pupils need to play a full part in society as active and responsible citizens.
One may be surprised to learn that there are some emaSwati who don’t know just how important a role they play in the overall development and growth of Eswatini in whatever seemingly small job they do. Others may grow to adulthood, not understanding their rights and responsibilities as citizens of the Kingdom of Eswatini.
They learn along the way, bits and pieces. We all have legal, social and political rights and responsibilities to this country. Allow me to break these rights down, and maybe we can begin to understand why some emaSwati give poor service to fellow citizens.
Active participation
The ordinary liSwati of a certain age has the right to participate in civic life, including voting, engaging in public discussions and debating matters that affect their lives and their country.
I have the right to sue a civil servant who abuses or misuses government property. At the same time, they have the responsibility to listen to fellow citizens and contribute to the development of their community and the country. It should not be only about you and your family, but about the country too. Citizens must feel that this is their government, so that government assets are also their assets. They should look after them as if they were their own.
Democratic values
Citizenship Studies would teach the young liSwati that issues of equality, justice and the rule of law are important in fostering patriotism and a sense of belonging. Eswatini is a highly unequal society, but our Constitution states that we are all equal.
The society is respectful, but they recognise the inequality, which is reflected in poor public services. This raises the question: Why would I serve a country that does not see me as equal to others? How do we see ourselves as emaSwati? How are our political leaders appointed to form government? Is the head of the department appointed correctly?
Was the CEO appointment transparent and based on merit? Are all employees treated equally, including wages and salaries? How do they feel processing huge travel allowances while earning peanuts?
All these questions influence the attitude of the emaSwati who are expected to deliver the services.
Critical thinking and engagement
In a country where critical political thinking is frowned upon, emaSwati will always find a way to express their frustration. The level of poor service delivery within the Civil Service and the terrible customer service within the general public is a form of silent protest.
Without necessarily getting into party political systems, emaSwati must find healthy ways of allowing and encouraging critical thinking about social and political issues. This will enable individual citizens to analyse information, form their opinions, and engage in constructive dialogue.
National service critical
Listening to the prime minister talking about the great plans he has for the future transformation of the nation, I could not help but wonder if he can see what is happening to the youth. They are lost, especially the boys. The population of the youth is simply too big, and government needs a marshall plan for them. The parents are failing to instil the necessary discipline, not only in terms of general respect but most importantly in terms of survival skills.
EmaSwati need to collectively adopt a nationalist ideology which will counter this feeling of inadequacy and foster a spirit of full and proud citizenship regardless. Not for the privileged few, but for all.
National service has a way of uniting people from different backgrounds at a young age and forming lasting friendships.
We have lived in the shadow of bigger nations, sandwiched between South Africa and Mozambique, and the time has come to carve out our own identity like Switzerland. Yes, we are known for our traditions, but we need to get into the digital age together without this inequality.
Eswatini must be about all emaSwati, regardless of their station in life. Let’s teach our children through national service to be proud emaSwati, and then we will love each other enough to be concerned about the services we give to fellow citizens.
Comment septembereswatini@gmail.com
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