By Zweli Martin Dlamini

The ongoing so called touring of schools or fact-finding mission by Cabinet Ministers is just a political comedy meant to entertain the unsuspecting children and teachers, some of them, who are living below the poverty line.

Seeing and taking pictures with a Cabinet Minister does not change one’s poverty situation,these Cabinet Ministers could have at least allocated a budget from our taxes to help the Orphans and Vulnerable Children(OVCs) or alternatively,the money must come from their pockets because the truth is;they are campaigning for themselves and the Tinkhundla system of Governance.

Children are literally struggling in the various schools and for a Cabinet Minister to visit these children with a nice smelling perfume and take pictures without offering any assistance at personal level,amounts to political bragging.

A single plate of food that they eat in expensive restaurants could buy shoes for one(1)needy child, these Cabinet Ministers could have sacrificed one plate for lunch and donate shoes to at least one(1)child.

The ongoing fact finding mission is just a political comedy meant to pool the wool in the eyes of the unsuspecting children and teachers, Government is aware of the challenges in schools and is using that plight to promote Tinkhundla system.

I was once a supporter of the Tinkhundla system of Governance, my grandfather Prince Mgungu was Mswati’s loyalists, in fact he respected King Sobhuza II more than Prince Makhosetive and Mswati benefited from the legacy of his father King Sobhuza II.

But as I grew-up, the struggle of life in this country taught me that Tinkhundla system represents nothing except for poverty, persecution of dissents and corruption.

Any Liswati who attempts to earn a living is persecuted by the State, there’s a Government Gazetted standard of living, emaSwati must survive with one thousand five hundred Rands(R1,500) monthly salaries, once you live above that,State institutions will be unleashed to persecute and question how you survive.

Some of the children who are cheering Ministers today,are future textile workers,security guards and construction workers who will earn low wages,they are cheering their oppressors.

But we can’t blame them,they will grow-up and understand that Tinkhundla system represents oppression,dreaming to become a teacher,nurse and other once reputable professions means you will work on contract.

The children who were cheering-up Cabinet Ministers will grow-up and face the police teargas during protests while demanding scholarships and after graduating, some who aspire to become teachers, will be forced to either pay a bribe or sleep with officials at the Teaching Service Commission(TSC) just to secure employment as contract teachers.

After sleeping with the TSC officials and get employed, they will wait for atleast four(4) months to receive their salaries,that’s the sad reality under the oppressive Tinkhundla system of governance.

Affording an iPhone worth twenty-five thousand Rands(R25,000.00),your dream car worth R1million and a house worth R3million is not for teachers, nurses,police officers,soldiers and warders, Tinkhundla Gazetted that ordinary citizens cannot and should not afford a good life. 

Anyone who supports Tinkhundla system is supporting his/her own oppression,we cannot blame the children,they will grow-up one day and take their own decisions.