Lawlessness will not end until...
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+( abduction of 1yakatfo +igh School +ead teacher 0lungisi .unene, was the highlight of yet another dramatic week in the life of emaSwati.
This was a very unprecedented situation, one that has sent shockwaves around the country.
,t actually demonstrated that the socio political crisis this country faces is very serious and could get worse.
,t needs urgent attention spearheaded by those in leadership and involving all relevant stakeholders.
The drama began a few days before last 0onday, when there was uncertainty regarding what would happen when the new week began.
0any emaSwati were an[ious to know if they would be safe, following a circulating audio recording purported to have been made by an unknown µcommander.’
Among other things, the voice in the recording had made it clear that there would be trouble for anyone who left their homes on 0onday. 3eople were warned against going either to school or work.
0any emaSwati looked to government for di rection and true to form, got assurances that all would be well.
FORCES
9arious voices from government gave assurance that the country’s security forces would be out in full force to ensure that the general public was safe.
*overnment Spokesman Alpheous 1[umalo used all available media platforms to encourage the public to µconduct business as usual’ because their safety was guaranteed.
+e said, heads of security had assured that peace, security, stability and the rule of law would be maintained.
3ublic Service 0inister 0abulala 0aseko was more colourful, saying the threats were Must ru mours that would not materialise.
As fate would have it, these assurances were widely ignored – not by all emaSwati but by many, so many that even as we speak, certain establishments have disciplinary processes lined up for some of those who were absent from work on the day.
,f , could digress a bit here, a lot of resources were to be used to ensure the safety of the nation. While one may not be too sure of the actual pro cess followed, it was clear that the army, police and Correctional Services department were to be roped in, with some officers possibly ordered to work overtime.
0onday has come and gone and we all witnessed the confusion.
As observed in my article last Sunday, teachers, parents and learners were all in a sad state of un certainty, owing to the fact that every liSwati has learned not to disregard such threats.
3eople no longer have faith in government’s assurances of safety, largely because at times, these fail to live up to e[pectations.
2n 0onday, some schools did not have lessons while others were ready to proceed with normal operations but had to suspend all plans following the failure of some teachers and pupils to show up.
SITUATION
A significant number of government offices in various towns were also closed as everybody assessed the situation.
That this situation would have been avoided had the all important talks reTuired to calm tempers been held, is now sounding like a song from a broken record.
,t has been repeated far too many times.
Were it not important, this call would have become boring.
+owever, concerned emaSwati, most of whom are outside the government machinery, continue to call for dialogue.
,n the past week, two prominent members of society insisted on talks being held to bring the chaotic situation under control.
These were retired 8niversity of (swatini 81 (SWA /ecturer 'r 3.4. 0agagula and Senator 0khululi 'lamini.
,nterviewed by a news presenter on SA%C on
Tuesday, 'r 0agagula said whenever there was a conflict of ideas, it was important to talk.
³,t doesn’t matter whether you agree with what the people are saying or not, you need to talk to them. 2therwise, they might resort to drastic means to be heard,´ said the well known educator.
Senator 0khululi 'lamini, a former elected 0ember of 3arliament 03 for +hukwini, said almost the same thing in 3arliament a day later.
+e was Tuoted by our sister publication, the Times of (swatini, as blaming the 0inistry of Tinkhudla Administration and 'evelopment for the ongoing socio political unrest in the kingdom.
+is view is that had the ministry conducted enough engagement with the population, there would never have been any instability.
%oth men are talking about engagement, which is basically the dialogue the nation was promised mid last year.
,t is unfortunate that some politicians still hold the view that the might of the military could be enough to bring the chaotic situation in (swatini under control.
BUDGET
Speaking in 3arliament on Wednesday, Senator 0oi 0oi 0asilela said no e[pense should be spared when formulating the 8mbutfo (swatini 'efence )orce 8(') budget.
Without providing detailed evidence of what he was saying, he stated that every country in the world invested hugely in the military.
+e was worried about what could happen if the security of the country were to be tested. The Tuestion is Tested by whom"
1ot even one country has threatened to invade (swatini. 2ne hopes that the senator was not referring to the ongoing unrest because that is an issue that should be adeTuately dealt with by the police.
0inister of )oreign Affairs and ,nternational Cooperation Thuli 'ladla supported Senator 0a silela, giving an e[ample of Tan]ania, a republic where political parties are allowed to operate.
The minister said she recently visited Tan]ania and was impressed with the level of training its military underwent.
She said soldiers in that country were respected because of the role they played in protecting the country and its citi]ens. , underlined the words µits citi]ens.’ The army will always be respected where it protects the citi]ens.
After all has been said and done, our government should guard against allowing this unrest to con tinue, by resisting calls for dialogue.
The delay in holding talks will result in a leader ship vacuum, where anyone can record and publish a voice note, with citi]ens not knowing whom to obey and who to disregard.