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THE LAST MILE

03/02/2017 03:21:00 By Martin Dlamini

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AS the nation anticipates the new direction for the country from today’s State of the Nation address, we have to look back more than just the past 12 months in search for some significant progress if we are to be fair to those tasked with implementing directives.

The past year has nothing beyond the hosting of the SADC Summit to write home about. In 2015 His Majesty called on the country to find job creation solutions, more from within than to rely entirely on the outside world.

The country had just lost a large number of jobs following the loss of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), which granted the country tax free access to the American market, particularly textile. The job loss count was placed at 3 000. The iron ore mine at Ngwenya had also shutdown leaving a trail of debt and company shutdowns.

The King recognised these developments in his address and put forward possible alternative solutions while emphasising the need for independent power production for the country to reduce the 80 per cent dependency on neighbours South Africa; a country struggling to keep her own lights on.
Well we have only recently heard that the textile companies have found new markets within the region and have announced vacancies. However, the numbers needed are no more than 30 per cent of what was lost. The iron ore mine remains closed. The country did see the opening of a gold mine at Lufafa but this initiative is yet to yield the desired impact on the economy.

Thermal power was identified as a solution to the power challenges faced by the country and the Swaziland Electricity Company (SEC), which had applied for a prospecting licence towards this project, finally got the prospecting licence it had applied for four years prior. Hopefully execution will not drag unnecessarily because electricity gets more expensive by the day. In fact we are expected to endure a two-digit hike in a few days time. Not encouraging at all for job creation.

The King also called for action on the Phuzumoya fuel reserve project area where very little activity has been seen over the past 12 months. The ministry insists that the project is on track, but seeing is believing.
Hope was placed in Agriculture to play a bigger role in job creation. However, this sector was to suffer the worst drought in decades. Dams dried up, crops became scarce and food prices skyrocketed.

People rushed to South Africa to purchase cheap maize and government’s reaction was harsh in blocking them and limiting imports to 25kg per person. Parliament intervened and the import limit has been raised. Water rationing became the order of the day as the country was exposed to poor water harvesting infrastructure. This year, therefore, we anticipate direction in this regard, especially with prediction of above average rainfall this season.

The King also urged the country to move away from reliance on sugar cane because the sugar market no longer holds a ‘golden future’ for this country given the developments taking place in our external markets.
The only major development we have seen in the Agriculture sector is the dairy project which has started to command a dominant stake in the local market. It is said to be already exporting some of its dairy produce but this is not enough.

The King saw more jobs coming from infrastructure development, citing the the E1 billion national housing project and some major road projects such as the Mbadlana - Manzini and the Sicunusa - Nhlangano highways this year. Yes, they took off but progress is start-and-stop meaning costs could escalate.

He also spoke of the digital terrestrial migration which was set for full implementation by June 2015. This only occurred in December 2016. Nothing unusual here, as well as with the set top boxes that are sending mixed signals as it were.
He also reminded us of the vision of King Somhlolo who warned against choosing money over the Bible, saying we should learn to be content with what God has given each of us.

He wanted corruption to be listed as a high risk crime and further called for the lifestyle audits to get underway to ensure that people who live beyond their means don’t do so at the expense of the country. Have these begun? It doesn’t seem like it because we have seen no fat cats brought to book.

With 18 months to go for the current Parliament, what legacy does it seek to leave behind for which we can best remember it for, other than the 32 per cent pay rise it awarded itself much against the King’s 2016 directive to cut costs. Most importantly, will they listen to their last few directives?