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Sir,

It is time for our leaders to realise that emaSwati are actually looking for freedom and democracy and not excuses. The promises declared at election campaigns must carry national aspirations based on campaign documentation. Under this system, aspiring Members of Parliament (MPs) promise undocumented dreams without any connection to the national development strategy. We need a system that will deal with its failing leaders and the electorate to know who it votes into power thus avoiding none reputable and none capable people from raising to high offices.

None of the captains running the current system of governance have ever applied for their positions, implying that the system has a problem, thus failing to act on none performers. This is probably the biggest problem of the current system

Zombies

This system is capable of turning good people into zombies that can do anything for undocumented selfish benefits that turn out to be embarrassing in future. If government fails to provide the necessary services for whatever reasons, those governing must simply resign or be recalled.

Those in power are now worried about their future and safety. If corruption bothered our authorities, the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) would have rounded up all those in public office who have bank accounts in foreign countries. This system and corruption are inseparable due to many documented reasons. Corruption does not exist in isolation, it is operated in a huge network and with the right connections in high places. Why are emaSwati being fooled about the war on corruption?

There is a need to uproot corruption, but politicking and propaganda will not help the country and its citizens. When reading the Constitution, one notes with sadness of the missing links in the protection of emaSwati structures and organs at the lower levels. The ownership of land according to clan, family and chiefdom is not articulated in the supreme law of the land. Decisions taken by inner councils in chiefdoms can be easily overruled and ignored by the upper traditional structures. The uncertainty of land ownership may also cause chaos if it is not urgently addressed.

Babe Shongwe