Thursday, May 31, 2007

The cancer of Corruption in Swaziland

At some point in time one needs to concede that the so-called royal family is very much part of corruption in Swaziland if not its root cause. If not then why is it that everytime there is a function that directly involves royalty there is always a case of public funds misappropriated? Early this year it was the 50 million fund. Then early last week we heared that 5 cattle bought for an individual that has more money and cattle than the entire country combined cost the tax-payer E100 000. This might seem like a small amount of money if you live on the buttered side of life but for ordinary Swazis, most of whom live well below the bread-line, this is a lot of money.

If the Royal family is not involved in corruption then let it do the honorable thing and arrest those involved in it. The only person with all the power to do that in Swaziland is the king, even the consitution confirms that. It was a king's appointee to the senate that apparently claimed money from government for absolutely nothing. We expect her to go through a thoroughly tranparent inquiry that will either clear her of the charges or prove her guilt.If she is found guilty then she should be fired from her job.

Without focusing on only a few examples, one should also question why royal expenditure is not debated in parliament and not even publicised. Exactly how much tax-payer's money goes towards maintaining this lavish spender who really brings little or no value to the country? After Roy Fanaroukis was fired from his job, rumours circulated that he almost exposed the millions that were being stolen out of the country.
If Swazis are to be free of Monarcho-colonial rule, the first thing that they have to do is wake up to the reality that there is no such thing as "umlomo longacali manga". Makhosetive is a liar. Any man that changes his name in later-life for whatever reason and assumes a pseudo-presonality is a faker- an impostor- whose real role in life is living off the fat of the land while blinding the people to accept that. The mere act of living off peole's taxes lavishly while they live in poverty is an act devoid of honesty.