DAGGA KILLINGS’ SPILL-OVER

Ever since Nkilongo MP Hans Steffan triggered a nation-wide debate on the legalisation of dagga for medicinal purposes, there has been an increase in dagga-related violence.

Some of these incidents have led to murders.
Illegal dagga dealers appear to have become more brazen by openly assaulting those who they suspect to have helped themselves to their harvest.

Each week, the media is almost inundated with reports of arrests for assault after attacking suspected dagga thieves or community leaders how dagga dealing has caused communities several challenges.

The latest in the spate of killings include that of a man who had dressed up as a police officer.
He is said to have died at the hands of dagga dealers for allegedly stealing their harvest. While his actions cannot be condoned, so is his killing.

His death has added to an ever-swelling list of people killed from the dagga wars.
There have been more than four dagga related murders since the beginning of the year but the number could increase. Another suspected murder was that of Nhlanhla Masilela at Nkomanzi in March.

In 2016 at a place called Mganwini next to Ekutsimuleni, two young men were assaulted by suspected dealers.
The attacks, whether they were guilty or not of stealing the prohibited drug, has created a very bad culture among Emaswati.
Sometimes you would be forgiven for thinking that dagga farming had been legalised in Eswatini, looking at how openly the illegal dealers are taking the law into their hands.

While the intention here is not to condone the action of the dagga thieves, but for the farmers to resort to violence is unacceptable.
It would not be far-fetched to assert that the whole violence culture stemmed from the parliamentary debate. 
It is the power and influence that those in decision-making especially politicians have over the reaction of the ordinary people on the street.

The debate has subconsciously triggered a belief that dagga growing should be legalised especially to its growers.
This has given birth to the tenacity that these dealers are now demonstrating to whoever is invading their territory.

If nothing is done, soon they will attack the police as they go about destroying dagga fields.
We have said it time and again that as the elections draw close most politicians are becoming more vocal than before.
Covering Parliament debates has become so interesting these days.
Every legislator wants to be heard on any issue.
Cabinet ministers are also in the same boat as they also want to appear to be still relevant as the elections draw close.
We have reached a stage in the country, where whatever politicians say should be taken with a pinch of salt.
As I put this article together, I’m still in the dark on whether government has paid for free primary education. Minister Phineas Magagula, a one-time strong critic of the government during his days as SNAT president, has turned villain overnight.
He is fighting his former constituency without shame.
I have said my piece about him, on how he has betrayed the trust of the people who had hoped he would be the difference when he was appointed minister.
 In all honesty and with due respect the incumbent and or his predecessor, Makhalemphi Ntshangase, one has found himself missing the days of Constance Simelane.
The ministry has had more challenges than before.
Free primary education is becoming a curse than a blessing to schools and Swazis alike. The delay in paying the fees has not only crippled operations in most schools, but it has negatively impacted on the entire education system. Then you have politicians opting to play mind games on such sensitive issues.
The FPE programme, it should be noted is not a favour as it is a privilege for Emaswati. It is an exercise that is directly financed by our taxes.
And we are not going to applaud government for continuing with it, but we have every right to fire missiles if its implementation is affecting the future of our children.
The rhetoric talk by politicians should stop because it is outdated and annoying in equal measure.
The situation is so dire for the leadership to exchange contrasting statements through the media on such a sensitive issue.
This has been the culture with most ministers of the outgoing Cabinet team. And it should stop now before it triggers another State of anarchy, the same way the dagga debate in Parliament appeared to have done. Swazis have become intolerant of each other.
People are killing one another in broad day light without fear. Police are working overtime dealing with murder cases, some of them are done against prominent people in the country. The gruesome killings in the dagga wars are scary to say the least.
And it would take a rethink of the ‘legalise dagga talk’ to remind illegal farmers that their practice remains a crime in the country.
And they have no power even to punish those stealing from them. This should start with the politicians who are at the forefront.


  




 

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