USA Ambassaddor quit legal practice
MBABANE – The new United States of America Ambassador to Swaziland, Makila James looks forward to a good stay in the country as well as a good working relationship.
Speaking to Swazi News last Thursday, the ambassador said she believes the long standing diplomatic relations between the two countries will continue to be strengthened. She said she was determined to build on the work her predecessors began.
She is proud of her 24 years experience in foreign service. She served in a number of countries before coming to Swaziland. She said one of the highlights of her career was when she was posted to South Sudan.
As the Consul General, she led the American team in Juba to engage the government of South Sudan in post-conflict development and democracy strengthening progra-mmes before they became independent, as they prepared for their eventual elections that led to their current state as a new nation.
"First and foremost, I am interested in people. I am interested in getting to know what matters to them and how people order their societies and make life better.
"I hope to be a very visible presence throughout the country. I believe if you get to know the people, you will get to know the culture and what matters to them.
You will be a better friend and the partner. I am particularly interested in learning what young people think about their society and the world.
"I am looking forward to getting out there and learning and talking and finding out what the people of Swaziland think and feel is going well and what is not well in their own country. I want to be informed by the people here. That said, we have a number of programmes we are working on with the government of Swaziland, civil society and the people in Swaziland. We hope to continue, with what we think is helping to improve life here. We hope to continue our health engagement with all elements," said James.
She said she wanted to promote human rights and good governance. She said in almost all the countries she served in she took a keen interest in governance and promotion of human rights issues. James was quick to say that the US government believes it is up to the people of Swaziland to decide what kind of democratic system they want to have. She said the US democracy was founded on pillars of a multiparty democracy system.
She said they go to the polls every four years and that Americans believe it is important for people to vote and have their voices heard.
"What we think is important is that a country which has a constitution adheres to that constitution and that the people understand what is in the constitution and that government protects people’s rights based on the constitution."
‘I love being a diplomat’
MBABANE –Makila James is a qualified lawyer who practised as an attorney for only five years before ditching her robes and opted for a career in diplomacy.
"I love being a career diplomat. It gives me a chance to interact with people on many levels. It gives me a chance to impact policies in our government." Other than being a diplomat James likes music and she derives pleasure in African dance. She said while in the kingdom she would learn about traditional dancing.
Ambassador James’ husband Louis Wells is with her in the kingdom. When asked why she does not use his surname, she explained that she had a professional career as a lawyer and a diplomat before she got married. "I use it because it is my professional identity. We have been together for a very long time and it was simply a matter of professional choice."
James has one son named Mandela who is starting university in the United States this year. James said he is anxious to come next summer to spend time getting to know the country.
She said she was well-received by the people of Swaziland and she believes the warmth of the people of Swaziland has given her peace of mind. She said the US government believes in deepening the roots of good governance and it will go a long way in transforming the lives of all people in Swaziland.
　　　　　　　　
　In March this year she told the US Foreign Relations Committee that she was prepared to take her post in Swaziland.
"I am prepared for the challenges of leading our efforts to strive for an HIV-free generation, promote democracy and good governance, support respect for human rights and the rule of law, and foster sustainable development in Swaziland.
"I have spent a vast majority of my foreign service career working in or on Africa. I have served as Principal Officer in Juba, South Sudan; Political Officer in Harare, Zimbabwe; and Political /Economic Officer in Kaduna, northern Nigeria; as well as Desk Officer for Sierra Leone and The Gambia; International Relations Officer for Africa in the United Nations Security Council; and a Member of the Secretary of State’s Policy Planning Office responsible for Africa.
"I believe that my experiences in Zimbabwe, a country still in transition towards greater demo-cratisation, prepared me to serve as the US Ambassador to Swaziland as it confronts similar challenges in expanding democracy.
"My overall experience in each of these assignments have prepared me to serve in a difficult environment and afforded me broad knowledge of the region and its people. I have served in Africa and on African policy issues at the UN," said James.
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