I am currently reading Your People Will be My People: The Ruth Khama story, and at some point the author notes that the Kgotla's were strictly attended by men, I am curious to find out at what point if at all did women start sitting at the decision making table. Representation must be inclusive, therefore we must ask the question whose voice is centerered and which one is marginalized.
This is of greater concern that institutions such as the courts are no longer independent. I never expected this would happen in Zambia . What a shame
Sound trenchant analysis. This paper illustrates clarion why 'election observation tourism' is a gross waste of scarce public resources. Instead of allocating resources/monies to international election tourism conducted by ex-political worthies resulting in 'post hoc' commentary regardless of descriptive/prescriptive 'bona fides’ advanced by these Election Tourists, I urge consideration of an alternative. Post election commentary by International Observers aka Tourists advances marginal the non-continuance of 'status quo' elite patrimonial governance. Dedicate resources to National Civil Society Organizations which when empowered logistically will prove better capable holding State controlled Election Management Board[s] to account. National Civil Society Organizations representing educators, students, health care providers, members of legal profession, public administrators which when empowered will prove more than able effecting descriptive/prescriptive civic civil election protocol modification designed to enhance likelihood voter choice made is voter choice respected.
Diverting Public Funds to the Royal Budget • The R 9,600 Million Allocation: The national budget directed roughly R9,600 million in public funds to "Statutory Expenditure" to finance the royal family's lavish lifestyle. • Extravagant Jubilee Spending: Over R300 million was spent directly out of public funds to celebrate King Mswati III's 40th year on the throne. Critics noted this triggered a serious national cash flow crisis, leaving domestic suppliers unpaid and delaying standard public salary reviews. • Acute Shortage of food, medicines and fuel: Public fund and foreign donations are syphoned out by Royal Family causing acute shortage of medicines and food. • Closure of private companies: Many business organization are closed because of extortion of money by Royal Family members resulting in large scale job-lose. • Unprecedented Personal Raises: Reports from The Nation Magazine detailed a personal R50 million salary increase awarded to the King, stoking public anger over crumbling health infrastructure and widespread youth unemployment. • Corporate Corruption and Natural Resources • Gold Smuggling and "Swazi Secrets": A massive cross-border leak via the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) exposed Eswatini as a major conduit for southern African gold smuggling. Millions of dollars are routinely funneled through royal-linked gold refiners to Dubai by exploiting systemic tax loopholes and royal immunity. • Extortion of Foreign Investors: The King's immediate children—known as the Emazinyane—and senior royal protocol officers face accusations of hijacking lucrative government supply chains and demanding millions in bribes from foreign mining firms. • Judiciary system misused: Royal family members are protected by the judiciary system and the judiciary system help the royal family members for extortion and stealing Private and public companies fund thereby bankrupting many companies. • The Pride Oasis Bankruptcy: Reports implicating King Mswati's son, Prince Majaha, allege that royal pressure was used to illegally manipulate local courts, seize control of the private firm Pride Oasis Pty Ltd, and drain E26 million from its corporate accounts, driving the foreign investment into bankruptcy. Suppression of Dissent and Impunity • The Chilling Effect: Activists, independent journalists, and labor leaders face continuous surveillance and sudden arrests under the guise of national security. • Media Co-optation: Institutional accountability has weakened after major domestic media outlets, such as The Times of Eswatini, were purchased by wealthy, government-contracted businessmen married into the political elite, leaving international citizen journalism as the primary line of critique. • Widespread Hunger: Approximately 222,000 people in Eswatini are facing high levels of acute food insecurity. • Extreme Poverty: Roughly 59% to 60% of the population lives below the national poverty line. Children are disproportionately affected due to poverty. • Youth Unemployment: With youth unemployment estimated at 56% to 58%, leaving the majority of young people without viable economic prospects. • Healthcare Collapse: Public hospitals and local clinics regularly run out of critical medications. This forces citizens to go untreated and many die because of shortage of medicines. • Fuel Volatility: Increased fuel price have strained domestic logistics and driven up the price of basic food imports. • The stark divide between the lifestyle of King Mswati III and the struggles of ordinary citizens has long driven international scrutiny and domestic protests. • Fiscal Drainage: Millions of dollars from the national budget are routinely allocated to support the royal family’s luxury global travel, fleets of premium vehicles, and expensive state celebrations. Civil society groups argue that these allocations directly drain resources that should otherwise fund public health, education subsidies, and food security infrastructure.