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WE ARE SHORT-CHANGED!

06/01/2021 00:50:00 By Thabiso Dlamini

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THE COVID-19 pandemic has put Cabinet and the rest of government to the test and it safe to say government is failing dismally. It is clear to everyone that when it comes to things that matter, especially life and death situations, we cannot count on government to play its part to avert a national threat or crisis from becoming a disaster.

The sad part is that we are just one million people with a very large public sector that is failing to mobilise resources to secure the nation at least 20 000 beds and 1 000 ventilators to deal with the pandemic. A proactive government would take it a step further and accelerate prevention and preparedness measures by making sure that the vulnerable population segments get access to supplements such as Vitamin C, chronic medicines, etc, to help people fight off the virus. Deploying security forces all over our national roads because they have nothing better to do has done nothing, but harassed the nation and delayed people from getting to their jobs.

Why has it taken Eswatini so long to put in place drive-through and walk-in kiosks for COVID-19 mass testing and treatment in key strategic areas across the country? Government together with its public health analysts knew from the first wave that there was going to be a much deadly second wave and seemingly chose to do nothing to prepare the health system and the entire nation for this current health disaster. Cabinet is always happy to turn a blind eye on key critical issues that need to be fixed in Eswatini’s public sector, which starts with spending money of the G-wallet for the greater public good. For a long time now, money that was meant for delivery of key public services such as health has been short-changed for more frivolous capital projects that have bankrupted the kingdom.

Run out

Why should public hospitals run out of medical supplies when government is happy to spend billions down the valley propping up a Five Star Hotel and International Convention Centre? Even at the heart of the pandemic, government still allocated funds to that pink elephant down the valley only to find itself stuck in court with the contractors pulling all stunts to milk the public funds dry. To give you another example that government is always happy to put on a show out of its world class capital projects is the fact that it is still throwing millions of Emalangeni to the Royal Science and Technology Park (RSTP) even now during the pandemic. In short, money is always available when it comes to certain special projects, but when it comes to the number one investment that we all depend on, health, government has zero money for it.

It is also mind boggling that each year the minister of Finance announces billions of Emalangeni allocated to the health sector out of the national budget yet on the ground those billions never seem to get to the sector. The health sector is in ruins and government has not invested enough money to secure all emaSwati access to quality healthcare. Instead, it always turns to its development partners to help it take care of its deteriorating health system and this is not working at all.

Improvement

Government must stop short-changing the nation out of the money collected from taxpayers. We need to see more of our public funds being used for the improvement of key public sector investments that will ensure that the basic needs are taken care of for all emaSwati. Had government invested in health facilities, there would be absolutely no need to look to South African hospitals for emergency care.

Believe this: Eswatini is more than capable of running its own healthcare system; government should just allocate real money to the sector and not let it end with the pronouncement of the national budget each year. The other lesson is that the country needs to install competent people to run government. Much of the public sector has become a political game that is far detached from the actual job of delivering services to the nation and expanding the scope of the Eswatini economy. A majority of our politicians and bureaucrats are not worth the pay cheques they receive without fail every month, and thanks to them, we are in a dark hole that is costing us our parents, brothers and sisters. People within government need to be held accountable and shown the exit door to reset the economy and to start doing things better. Mediocracy has cost Eswatini billions in looted public funds and now it is costing us our precious lives! Government should get deep into the G-wallet and redirect all available funds to make things right with the Eswatini people.