Our country, Eswatini, is often described as serene, gentle and culturally anchored in a way that sets it apart in a rapidly changing world.
To the outsider, and even to some within, the kingdom appears as a haven of peace - a nation where respect, humility and order still hold firm.
Yet, to mistake this surface calm for genuine peace is to misunderstand the emotional and psychological state of the country today.
It is not peace that one finds in the kingdom, but quiet – and the two are not the same.
There is a growing sense that what passes for stability is, in fact, a delicate and increasingly strained silence.
Many citizens go about their daily lives with an unspoken heaviness, a feeling that something in the nation’s soul has shifted and that it has not quite returned to itself since the events of 2021.
Beneath the polite greetings, the cultural courtesies and the outward expression of respect, a deep unease has taken root.
A Nation Changed Since 2021
The pro-democracy protests of 2021 marked a turning point in Eswatini’s post-Independence history.
The country witnessed levels of confrontation, violence and State force that were previously unthinkable. Lives were lost. Families were shattered. Many were injured or imprisoned.
Whether one interprets that moment as unrest against lawful authority or as a legitimate public outcry against decades of political and economic frustration, the truth remains that the nation was wounded.
Since then, the atmosphere in the country has never fully recovered. Conversations are guarded. Criticism of leadership and governance structures is often expressed only in whispers or private spaces.
Citizens speak with caution, as if their words carry invisible tripwires. The national psyche has absorbed a sense of fear that has dulled public confidence and narrowed the space for open engagement.
The Psychology of Silence
A nation can only suppress its collective feelings for so long before that silence turns suffocating. Many emaSwati now live in a state that psychologists might describe as ‘silent anxiety’ - a lingering, constant vigilance. People are free to move, work and socialise, but never fully free to speak.
That form of quiet is not harmonious; it is self-regulating restraint.
In this environment, distrust has grown - not only between citizens and the State, but among citizens themselves.
A fear of surveillance, real or perceived, has entered public consciousness.
People hesitate to express their political views, even among close associates, for fear of consequences.
There can be no lasting peace where citizens feel watched more than heard.
The Socio-economic Reality Feeding the Tension
Although politics remain at the centre of national debate, the deeper frustration many emaSwati carry is rooted in daily survival.
The economic reality has hardened, and for most households, life has become a battle of endurance rather than progress.
Youth unemployment remains alarmingly high, leaving thousands of educated young people idle, disillusioned and increasingly hopeless about their future. Each year, universities and colleges release more graduates into a labour market that is not expanding.
A country cannot expect social stability when an entire generation sees no pathway to self-reliance.
Inequality is widening and the perception which is widely held, is that opportunity is selectively enjoyed by the politically and socially connected.
The majority survive hand-to-mouth and the dignity of work has eroded for many.
The cost of living continues to rise, while salaries remain stagnant. Basic goods once considered affordable, are now a strain for the average family.
Parents absorb daily anxieties about school fees, food and transport, while the value of the local currency the Lilangeni continues to weaken.
Service delivery remains a sore point. Public health facilities struggle, suffocated by decades-long shortage of drugs.
Infrastructure in many communities is neglected, and access to essential services is uneven.
Citizens increasingly question why the basics - water, electricity, medicine and education - remain inconsistent. Overlaying this is the shadow of corruption.
Whether through proven cases, allegations or perception, the belief that public resources are misused has damaged trust. Public outrage is not solely about corruption itself, but about the impunity that appears to accompany it.
Accountability is the oxygen of any functioning democracy; without it, institutions weaken and public faith collapses.
Why This Situation Is Unsustainable
A country cannot indefinitely rely on silence to maintain order. Nations do not fracture because citizens speak; they fracture because citizens remain unheard for too long. Eswatini must confront a difficult truth: Calm is no measure of contentment.
A society can be quiet for two reasons: Because it is at peace or because it has been taught not to make noise. Only one of those is sustainable.
The risk is not in public expression; the risk lies in the build-up of unspoken frustrations. History across Africa and the world offers countless lessons: When inequality widens, when citizens feel excluded, when leadership and people grow distant and when fear replaces dialogue, pressure builds beneath the surface.
The kingdom remains at a crossroads. It can either address the underlying issues through open, courageous engagement or allow them to harden into long-term instability.
If the nation is willing, Eswatini can still rebuild trust and chart a new path without rejecting its heritage or identity.
Reform does not mean erasing tradition; it means modernising systems to meet the needs of the present.
Here are a few plausible remedial suggestions for a way forward:
1. A committed national dialogue
A structured, inclusive national dialogue could serve as the first bridge toward healing, but it must be genuine. It must accommodate government, traditional leadership, civil society, youth, private sector, labour and pro-reform voices. Listening is not concession; it is leadership. There was a clarion call for an inclusive type of dialogue in the aftermath of the June 2021 debacle. Unfortunately, government had their own type of government in mind which in the perception of many, failed to usher in lasting peace.
2. Evolving governance to strengthen accountability:
Eswatini can retain its cultural framework while introducing reforms that safeguard accountability. Stronger oversight, clearer separation of powers and checks and balances would not diminish tradition; they would protect the nation from institutional vulnerability.
3. Combatting corruption with systems, not speeches
True anti-corruption reform requires independent institutions with the power to investigate and prosecute without interference. Public procurement must be transparent. Whistle-blowers must be protected. Where consequences are visible, trust returns.
4. Re-imagining the economy to create opportunity
The economic model must evolve. Youth innovation, small-business development, digital industries, agriculture value-chains, tourism repositioning and regional investment partnerships could stimulate growth. A nation cannot prosper if the majority remain excluded from economic participation.
5. Strengthening public services
Credibility begins with service delivery. Hospitals require resourcing, adequate - not shortage - drugs. Schools need support. Adequate teaching personnel - permanently employed and paid well. Infrastructure demands maintenance rather than reactive repair.
Citizens who see improvements in daily life regain national optimism.
6. Rebuilding trust through transparency
Communication between the State and citizen must be open and two-way.
Remove or abolish this sickening politicising of security forces who hunt down those exercising their fundamental human rights.
Leaders who speak honestly about national challenges, who engage publicly and invite feedback, generate respect even in disagreement.
Trust is not commanded; it is earned.
7. National healing and emotional reconciliation
The events of 2021 left emotional scars that cannot be ignored. Healing requires acknowledgement of the past, support for affected families and platforms where grief, trauma and truth can be expressed without fear.
Peace grows where wounds are treated, not hidden.In conclusion, Eswatini stands at a critical juncture.
The country can either continue on a path where fear, inequality and mistrust deepen or choose a new path grounded in courage, dialogue, empathy and reform. Lasting peace is not the result of silence or suppression. It is built on justice, fairness, opportunity and trust. Citizens deserve a country in which they can speak freely, pursue prosperity and believe that their leaders act in their best interest. Eswatini has never lacked resilience. Its people are capable, resourceful and deeply patriotic. Above all, bayabeketela, but are not fools. But patriotism thrives best in an environment of dignity, inclusion and shared progress.The journey towards a more just and prosperous Eswatini is not a dream out of reach.
It begins with acknowledging the truth, embracing reform and working collectively towards a future where peace is not an illusion but a lived reality for all people. It is about time we save this country from an ominous, potential future breakdown of law and order that might see us following in the deadly path of countries like Sudan, Madagascar, Tanzania, Zimbabwe, etc.
We must imagine a future where Eswatini is stronger, more just and united. Where every citizen, regardless of background or circumstance, can thrive.
Where leadership is accountable, communities are empowered and morality guides governance, where the spirit of Ubuntu is not merely celebrated in words but lived in deeds.
Ask yourself: When our grandchildren look back on this period, what will we tell them? Will we say that we stood by silently while opportunities slipped away and corruption grew? Or will we say that we rose, spoke and acted for the nation’s survival?
The answer lies in our actions today. Let’s embrace true peaceful living. Pace! Shalom!
Alex Nxumalo 7605 8449/7603 6600.
To the outsider, and even to some within, the kingdom appears as a haven of peace - a nation where respect, humility and order still hold firm. (Pic: Brainy Quote)