Mfomfo on Monday 26 July 2010
Smart Partnership dialogue projects the Swazi people as a disorganized lot.
First and foremost I would like to thank the fellow who invited me to be a participant in the recently held Smart Partnership National Dialogue. Had this opportunity passed me by, I would not have discovered so many disturbing things about the Swazi people (including me). Without such opportunities/initiatives it becomes difficult, if not impossible, to know where we ought to polish our skills in helping ourselves as a nation. It is my sincere hope and belief that the Smart Partnership Secretariat will go back to the drawing board to strategise on improvements to these national dialogues if they are to benefit the Swazi nation.
The theme of the National dialogue was “Socio-economic Transformation” and “Moving towards a 1st World Country”. I personally believe it was a well thought of theme but the participants (being Swazis) were not ready for it. The Swazi people are a people who are deeply rooted to their cultural background as well as their tradition. This should be taken into consideration whenever they are asked to come together for some discussion. This implies they are a people who take into consideration other factors that may be considered trivial to those that have been brought up under a strong western influence. Unfortunately for the Secretariat, it may be a little bit ahead of some of the people it is trying very hard to help. I am of the view that the calling together of the people of Swaziland to map a way forward for this country will always be a greatest challenge to the facilitators (Secretariat) if there is no method of striking a balance between Modernity and Tradition.
I think this nation is at cross-roads in as far as modernity and tradition are concerned. One sector of the population is guided by tradition whilst the other sector (mostly the youth) is guided by modernity. It is a well known fact that the youth is in the majority. There cannot be any moving forward unless someone facilitates some trade-offs between the two groups. In the event the Traditional group refuses to give in to reality and experience, it might find itself being marginalized which will be to the detriment of certain cultural/traditional values that have defined the Swazi nation.
Although the discussions were guided by the topics given, the topics were too many for a start. We all know what Swazis tend to do when they are given a buffet instead of a set menu with waiters standing by to fill each plate accordingly. In the case of a buffet we have the tendency to take more than we can bite resulting in lot of food remaining in our plates when we are long full.
There is no denying that we are still a developing country trying very hard to come to terms with the challenges that are associated with most developing countries. In light of this position, I am of the view that Secretariat should have given us time to look at three topics over the two days’ period being Food, Shelter and Education (FSE). The Queen Mother tried to allude to these basic needs but we had already missed the boat. Let us not forget that we have over 70% Swazis that are still facing these challenges, therefore, they cannot be participants in the real sense when it comes to finding solutions to the country’s problems (FSE). Can we then make the right assumption that it is logical for us to move forward to a 1st World country when the majority of the Swazi people are still locked up in the battle against FSE?
Let me make a suggestion to the Secretariat that will benefit this country to a large extent. Where are the retired Civil servants who held senior positions? Where are the former politicians who were ministers of the crown? Why don’t they come forward to shed some light on what is stopping this nation from addressing FSE? I strongly believe these former ministers and former top civil servants would give very good reasons why we are not making any head ways in addressing the things that matter to many Swazi people. If we keep on relying on those that have never been at decision making positions we will always be running in circles. In my group of participants we were not too sure why this country is not addressing the things that matter to many Swazis, when Swazis have been calling for actions on these basic needs.
Let us not forget that before a child can count up to 10 he has to learn to count from 0 to 5. What do you think? It is not all that easy is it?
