Times Of Swaziland: ESWATINI CULTURE, TRADITION IN POLITICS

ESWATINI CULTURE, TRADITION IN POLITICS
================================================================================
Sabelo Gabs Nxumalo on 05/07/2022 08:13:00


The Kingdom of Eswatini is basically known internationally for its strong
culture and traditions.
The Umhlanga reed dance and Incwala ceremony have managed to attract thousands
of tourists over the years. Their Majesties have revived other traditional
ceremonies, which include Buganu and Butimba (Hunting party) ceremonies. These
ceremonies have grown in attendance over the years and interesting innovations
and services have been provided to modernise and make life better for those in
attendance. This has set Eswatini apart as one of the few countries that have
been able to maintain their traditions and culture.
The traditional influence has over the years been part of the politics and
governance of the country. This traditional and political influence extends back
to the time of King Mswati II, the warrior King who rule over a vast empire,
extending to South Africa’s present-day Mpumalanga Province. The total
population recorded for Mpumalanga in 2016 was 4.4 million emaSwati who still
speak siSwati and identify and practice the Eswatini culture and traditions.
However, the cost to the monarchy to remain in the centre of politics has been
great in the face of progressive forces coming in the form of colonialism, in
the 1800s, revolutionary movements of the 50s and 60s to the present-day
political parties movements. Vast tracks of land and people were lost to South
Africa as alluded to earlier, but the monarchy remains with political power.
Youth more progressive
Allow me to suggest that most of the youth lean towards the more progressive
political message; taking note that not all progressives hate the monarchy and
the youth are the same. There has just not been enough invested in making the
youth understand and embrace the Tinkhundla political system in the face of
growing progressive sentiments. We are surrounded by republics on all fronts and
political parties are the order of the day but we have not actively politicised
our youth. The party system has youth meetings and congresses but we have at
tinkhundla only Umhlanga and Incwala.
Conservatives pushed to corner
It would almost seem like the monarchy has been retreating over the years. The
land was lost slowly to a progressive Republic of South Africa. This would mean
that it will be that much more difficult to concede anymore of the traditional
beliefs. The progressives must realise that Eswatini politics has been so
intertwined that it will be very difficult to unravel. The introduction of the
Constitution itself was a loss of conservative power. The direct appointment of
Members of Parliament was yet another loss of political power. One would have to
say maybe it’s time serious soul-searching took place within the loyalists’
camp.
Individualistic approach
The individualistic approach of the Tinkhundla system, which gives the
individuals an opportunity to speak for themselves and not as a collective, is
slowly running out of time. The employer used it for many years in keeping the
workers of the world weak but with time it slowly became impossible to make it
work. The people will inevitably demand bargaining power through some form of
groupings in the form of political parties. The loyalists in Eswatini have been
a step ahead through the years, creating a negative perception around political
parties and have succeeded.
Tinkhundla alternative
It is clear that traditional loyalists look negatively towards the idea of any
form of political representation, however, I wonder if they would feel the same
if civil society groupings came together such as the youth, women organisations,
churches, unions, professional groups such as lawyers, doctors etc. These
groupings would then present collectively at the dialogue when it eventually
comes.
Emergence of left-wing forces in Latin America
The left-wing progressives’ movement has grain a lot of ground throughout the
world. They have taken over all South American traditionally strong conservative
governments including Colombia where the opposition progressive parties were
considered rebels and terrorists even by the general population. Leftist Gustavo
Petro, a former member of the M-19 guerrilla movement, who has vowed profound
social and economic change, won Colombia’s presidency, the first progressive
to do so in the country’s history. The recent electoral triumphs of Luis Arce
in Bolivia, Pedro Castillo in Peru, Gabriel Boric in Chile and Xiomara Castro in
Honduras raise the question of whether Latin America is returning to the
democratic or progressive left.
Question
Are Eswatini’s traditionalists ready for the progressive agenda, which is upon
us we like it or we don’t? They need to move beyond just assuming they have
the youth’s support because of unemployment and actively discuss matters and
sell the Tinkhundla system more aggressively through branches and create a
visible leadership structure for the youth to aspire to.
Comment septembereswatini@gmail.com