Corruption remains one of the most devastating forces crippling development in Eswatini. While it is easy to quantify this scourge through unmet development goals, its true cost is deeply personal. It is measured in dreams deferred, especially the approximately 56 per cent of youth trapped in unemployment, talents wasted as more trained young people have no space to showcase their talents, lives lost through a lack of drugs and essential supplies in hospitals and those who decide to commit suicide and public trust in government is destroyed. Parliament estimates that Eswatini loses massive sums to corruption annually, draining the resources needed to build infrastructure, fund scholarships and equip hospitals. It is clear that for the Kingdom of Eswatini to achieve its sustainable development goals and foster an equitable society, it must move beyond rhetoric and execute a rigorous, multi-faceted strategy to dismantle entrenched graft.
When public funds are misappropriated, the immediate victims are ordinary emaSwati. Scholarship funds meant to help gifted children pursue medicine, engineering, nursing, teaching, to mention a few, vanish into the private bank accounts of compromised officials.
Corruption is stealing the kingdom’s potential
When a young, brilliant liSwati cannot continue their education because bursary allocations were diverted, the entire nation loses a future innovator. This is the sad reality confronting the kingdom.
Furthermore, systemic corruption alters the very fabric of society. It normalises a culture of ‘who do you know?’ where expecting a small bribe (lokuncane) or a token of appreciation (emantjontjo) becomes the baseline for public services that are supposed to be free. One recalls media reports that drugs were being sold during shortages in public facilities. Even when the Ministry of Home Affairs announces passport shortages, some officials allegedly issue documents when bribes are paid. This environment penalises merit, pushes the country’s top talent to migrate abroad and discourages foreign direct investment. Institutional bottlenecks are a serious challenge for Eswatini. To this end, to effectively combat this crisis, Eswatini must first address structural weaknesses within its primary anti-graft architecture. Currently, the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) operates largely as an investigative body under the Ministry of Justice. Unlike specialised independent prosecutors in peer African nations, the ACC cannot prosecute cases directly; instead, it must refer them to the director of public prosecutions (DPP). This structure creates bottlenecks and raises concerns regarding institutional autonomy.
Furthermore, legal challenges surrounding the constitutionality of certain sections of the legislation governing the ACC have occasionally left the agency paralysed, causing high-profile cases to stall in the judicial system. In this regard, an effective fight against graft requires a legislative overhaul that grants the ACC complete operational and financial independence, enabling it to investigate and prosecute without external interference. Unfortunately, there seems to be a lack of political will to provide the institution with the necessary legal powers and resources for effective combat against corruption in the country.
Erasing the stain of corruption from Eswatini requires moving past piecemeal interventions and approaches towards a unified framework. A meaningful breakthrough rests on four critical pillars:
1. Enacting robust whistle-blower protections
Eswatini currently lacks a dedicated legal framework to protect individuals who expose wrongdoing. Citizens face immense risks of retaliation if they report official misconduct. Passing an enforceable Whistle-blower Protection Act is paramount. If the public cannot report graft safely, corruption will continue to thrive in the shadows.
2. Digitisation of public procurement
A significant portion of diverted public funds occurs during the acquisition of goods and services by government. Transitioning from manual government procurement and tendering to open-source, digital e-procurement platforms will minimise human manipulation. Publicly publishing contract awards, bidding values and corporate beneficiaries eliminates the opacity where corrupt syndicates operate. It is worth noting that government has been revamping its procurement legal framework, which will make it more transparent and accountable.
3. Public accountability and judicial speed
The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) consistently uncovers severe financial irregularities, yet visible consequences for perpetrators remain elusive. To this end, the Judiciary must establish specialised anti-corruption fast-track courts. Publicly exposing, prosecuting and seizing assets from corrupt officials sends an unambiguous message: Graft should carry heavy penalties.
4. Cultivating a moral revolution
Law alone cannot alter deeply embedded cultural habits.
Eswatini’s anti-corruption strategy must engage civil society, traditional structures, churches and academic institutions to foster public awareness. Educating the youth on integrity and merit ensures that the next generation rejects the normalisation of bribery.
In this regard, the church and parents should play a leading role. It is clear that government is not going to lead the fight alone. Hence, the call for a national movement, as we did in the fight against HIV/AIDS and COVID-19, where the entire society was mobilised.
Let us all join the fight against corruption or we will forget the First World.
Corruption remains one of the most devastating forces crippling development in Eswatini. While it is easy to quantify this scourge through unmet development goals, its true cost is deeply personal.