By Joy Ndwandwe | 2018-03-18
The Royal Swazi Convention Centre shook on March 8th Lutsango LwaboMake BakaNgwane, in their element, singing and dancing to relevant compositions.
Lutsango, asking for traditional skin loins (emajobo) from men so that they can work, as men are refusing to work. Indicating eagerness to follow on the theme of this day, that is, ‘leave no woman behind in Political and Decision Making positions.
The traditional skin loins, emajobo, symbols of masculinity seemingly respected, hence, appointed into political and decision-making positions as opposed to their traditional skin skirt, sidvaba.
They sang on readiness for 2018 elections, heeding to His Majesty’s call and willingness to stand for elections, elected in their own right. Singing in response to the theme, leave no woman behind, in my view rooted within the context of patriarchy, assuming women need positions to influence political and decision making. They sang in response to 50/50 double celebration, this golden year for King and Country, with its golden women ready to lead in a gender inclusive nation.
Gender Inclusive Leadership
Swaziland, blessed at the highest authority of the land with a model of gender inclusive leadership between the King and Queen Mother. This affirmed and articulated by His Royal Highness Prince Tshekedi, in his welcoming remarks ‘women cannot be left behind, this is evident in their visibility, in small and medium enterprises, dominated by women. Our forefathers balanced gender at the highest echelons of power, in the King and Queen, the dual leadership between mother and son. How can we then leave women behind? I wish all women who run during this elections come away victorious.’ The principle of dual leadership resonates with the indigenous gender inclusive leadership between King and Queen Mother, their symbols being the Lion (Ngwenyama) and She Elephant (Indlovukazi).
These symbols bring to the fore, plurality and complementarity between the King and Queen Mother, as the Lion is His Majesty, and the She Elephant is Queen Mother, Mother of the Nation. The lion leads nation and she elephant shields and protects nation, her traditional homestead spiritually sacred space for cultural customs and practices, and citizen’s refugee as highest appeal court for nation.
This is gender inclusive leadership rooted within democracy, best articulated by Professor Shiv, “cognitive justice is the right of different forms of knowledge to exist within a dialogue this plurality is an active form of democracy, as democracy is the place where the defeated have a place.’
This statement affirms how the two symbols, lion and she elephant, indicate different forms of knowledges, required to ensure plurality is an active form of democracy. The lion cannot be a she elephant, and she elephant cannot be a lion, hence I struggle with concept ‘Their Majesties’, the defeated seek refugee with Queen Mother not King.
King and Queen Mother, exemplify cognitive justice, thus, acknowledging women’s rights in leadership active participation, in Swaziland’s case the She Elephant.
Therefore, why brand She Elephant as Lion, as role of She Elephant exemplifies the rightful place of women in democracy, with insightful spiritual and emotional wisdom. This wisdom critical in ensuring the Lion, His Majesty, throughout his reign experiences the principle of complementarity. Best articulated by Professor Luutu ‘The placenta principle of complementarity, based on how in the womb we come forth and are fed through the placenta. This placenta is planted on the ground, back to mother earth symbolising the twin that has never spoken. This twin or complementarity within the context of knowledge requires the application of listen to the silent one who has never spoken.” King and Queen Mother in complementarity leadership, continuously humbling the Lion, His Majesty reminding him on his time in the womb. Hence, Queen Mother fondly refers to His Majesty, as uMtwana, the She Elephant that fed Him through the placenta whilst in the womb. The She Elephant continues feeding His Majesty with insightful spiritual and emotional wisdom, exemplifying gender inclusive leadership within the nation, emanating from mother of the nation. Shielding and protecting King and Nation during the rain making ceremonies of uMhlanga and Incwala, through prayer and fortification for bountiful harvest sustaining peace and stability.
Challenges with Regard to Women Leadership
During the International Women’s Day, panellists made presentations with regard to women leadership. From the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, Mr Manana, expressed how Swaziland laws, particularly the Constitution supports women and evidence within legal case law proves there is no discrimination against women. He affirmed this none discrimination even when asked specifically on the issue of kuzila, women’s rights protected within the constitution. Lutsango LwaboMake BakaNgwane, represented by Her Royal Highness Princess and Senator Phumelele, laid a foundation on how culturally women are not encouraged to express and participate in leadership. Thus, women are rooted within the expectation, to marry and be safe under the care and protection of their husband, hence, the prevailing inferiority complex holding women hostage.
Her Royal Highness, shared constituency experiences, she stood for election, won the primaries but did not succeed during secondary election, and the next election another woman had the same experience, now a man is their elected representative. Her experiences in Senate from other countries that have successfully elected women into political leadership, the Zebra list, male followed by women, in Rwanda can be imported into Tinkhundla. The traditional leadership represented by Chief Mawandla Gamedze, called for the need for transformation within cultural structures, as at the highest level gender inclusive leadership is evident. He used the term I shy away from ‘Emakhosi’ should be model to believe in and embrace women leadership; paradoxically, he strongly stated that there is no woman chief. As the mother of chief is appointed, and the son is installed at leader, similar in my view with the dual leadership of Lion and She Elephant.
The Young Women representative from the Youth Council, Ms Masilela, expressed the need for youth to take power into their hands during this forthcoming 2018 election. Instead of being used as campaigning foot soldiers, they must stand for elections and be elected officials’ to represent the interest of youth in Parliament. The Election Boundaries Commission, Mr. Bhembe, stated how there is 50 per cent women registration, which does not manifest in women elections, only two per cent women were elected. He expressed the need for extensive education and motivation for women to have confidence in themselves as leaders. However, Cango Advocacy Officer, Ms Lungile Msibi highlighted insightful issues and challenges limiting women such as elections expenditures are high. Moreover, women by nature are game changes but do not participate in the foul play required in resource mobilisation for successful elections, for the expenditure required.
Conclusion
In conclusion, am grateful for the elaborate and insightful presentation of Cango, the question remains, how do we monitor the expenditure patterns to ensure compliance with regulations? Moreover, how do we ensure elected officials declare their sources of funds and funders, so that their agendas are above board? Considering, the expensive elections, people will become stooges, leading to Parliament being captured (Mjike Joe) by numerous agendas and foreign elements. Particularly, as the country is vulnerable with regard to sex, greed and materialism being dominate culture, thus, high governance risk for state capture. Finally, my lesson learn from Indian women quota system is that women, elections financed by husbands, who ran the councils and Parliament from home.
The billion-Dollar question, who will control our Parliament, when paying for election expenditure what is their controllable interest.
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