Swazi Observer

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CONSPICUOUS LEADERSHIP VOID IN GOVERNMENT

By Joy Ndwandwe | 2019-10-06

The cost of living adjustment failed negotiations has exposed leadership void in government.

This theory is rooted within the indigenous idiom, leaders eat last, and when leaders eat first their leadership and governance systems develops greed materialism and corruption. Within the context of Eswatini, if it is true that the findings of the Royal Commission known as Circular 3 2019, have been rejected by the executive arm of government, then it stands to reason that Circular 2 remains operative, contested during Sibaya.

During my research I learnt insightful lessons on how the introduction of the money economy transformed Africans’ consciousness. This explicated in UNESCO General History on Capitalism in Africa, the economic revolution led to an increase in purchasing power of some Africans…growing of cash crops by Africans enabled individuals of whatever social status…to acquire wealth…the money economy…an imminent economist pointed out, ‘tribal differences might disappear easily in the modern world if all tribes were equally economically, where they are vastly unequal, tribal difference is called in to add protection to economic interest.’

Strong Leadership Syndrome

This kingdom has been under strong leadership syndrome, manifesting from the Makhundu era, evidently national issues and challenges being resolved through police force. Strong leadership driven by a strong leader who marginalises the voice of people, ignoring elections and parliament and the highest policy making body Sibaya.

This scenario reflects the experience of this country since Makhundu, indicating that requesting people to lead is a contributing factor creating strong leadership syndrome. Thus, bringing none-leaders into leadership with no interest of being of service to humanity, such that their strong leadership manifests into leaders eat first.

Strong leadership syndrome believes the money economy created opportunity for their wealth accumulation, manifesting an inability to fairly negotiate with civil servants. This is a contemporary history trend prevailing within the country, indicative of the glaring leadership void.

When leadership creates circulars to protect their interests and negotiate in bad faith with the civil service then we have a leadership void. As long as government does not implement performance management systems within the civil services, they cannot sit on revolving chairs, ask employees why they believe they deserve cost of living adjustments.

When the strong leadership has introduced tax hikes minimising the purchasing power of civil servants, turn around and become stumbling blocks of inflation adjustment for its workers.

Instead of negotiating they dangle zero to below inflation cost of living adjustment when they are enjoying salaries and benefits from Circular 2. Evidently, manifesting leadership void within the executive arm of government, with privilege of commanding the police to carry out their strong leadership syndrome.

This kingdom has been a police state for far too long, manifesting the glaring government leadership void that silences negotiations through security forces.

How can we claim to be a peaceful state when since Makhundu we have been a police state that manages its issues and challenges through violence and brutality?

May I remind the executive arm of government that police are beneficiaries of the cost of living adjustment that all members of public service are negotiating for, please do not take them for granted.

Tribal Politics

Public Sector Associations, I personally support in their negotiation for cost of living adjustment, however I am disappointed in how this ongoing strike manifests tribal politics. Thus, am reminded of the words of the eminent economics above ‘tribal differences might disappear easily in the modern world if all tribes were equally economically, where they are vastly unequal, tribal difference is called in to add protection to economic interest.’

The rhetoric that emerged during the strike actions reflects how these negotiations for cost of living adjustment have been negated by tribal politics.

Manifesting in negative utterances that are commonly used to anchor tribalism emerging anti-monarchists sentiments internationally labelled as ‘progressive movement.’

Tribal politics is when supporting leadership that breaks the laws in their tribes’ personal interests, this reflects leadership void within public service associations and anti-monarchist associates.

Thus, reducing a genuine cost of living adjustment into the tribal politics, which in my view degenerates into the resistance of the historical capture. As emakhandzambili negate the ruling monarchy that captured and incorporated them into the Kingdom now Eswatini, and this tribal politics permeated into cost of living adjustment. This indicates leadership void as over the years the tribal politics have been justified through the 1973 decree, Tinkhundla System of Governance, the 2005 Constitution now the monarchy.

Conspicuous leadership void evident in rhetoric manifesting in anti-cultural sentiments such as negating Umhlanga, Butimba and Incwala, as costly and government could save by stopping these events.

This is tribal politics as historically these national events are critical components of indigenous governance systems, introduced by Monarchy.

The Public Sector Associations has leadership void as this strike action has been drawn into the lots of voices that I have been hearing over the years in the name of politics, which as a researcher have contextualised as tribal politics that manifest glaring leadership void embedded within political opportunistic behaviour.

Public Sector Associations have a strategic role and responsibility in this country but they need strategic leadership instead of using the cost of living adjustment negotiation time to foster the anti-monarchist agenda, as this indicates glaring leadership void. This strike action was an opportunity to deal with the lack of commitment in service to humanity within their membership as service delivery is pipedream within government. This was an opportunity to deal with the prevalent corruption within its membership than to suggest that only one external trip manifests the lack of money, as corruption has created wealthy business people and civil servants have been beneficiaries of 10 per cent on tenders, including the money that greases hands within offices.

Conclusion

In conclusion, I am an independent thinker and scholar even though many times I have been labelled a traditionalist or pro-monarchist, Gogo Webantfu. Hence today I contextualise this as tribal politics as my country has leadership void, and any voice that is opposed to their ‘progressive’ thinking it is pro-monarchy. I continue to stand firmly as a researcher of indigenous knowledge and respect the position of the king, evidently the head of indigenous knowledge in this country is His Majesty King Mswati III.

Fortunately, over the years I have proven, I am not in the king’s back pocket nor government nor any person, this is liberation I enjoy as an independent thinker.

Painful when this journey began, which I have endured with Confidence, Dignity and Contentment, when walking or taking a kombi declaring am not anybody’s prized possession. Next year will start working, enhancing my research skills, and learning how to supervise Masters and doctorate students.

I respect His Majesty for respecting my role as he has never compromised my work as an independent thinker and researcher. Thus, over the years His Majesty has proven to appreciate my independent thinking.

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