Times Of Swaziland: WHAT ARE GOV’S PRIORITIES?

WHAT ARE GOV’S PRIORITIES?
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The Editor on 19/06/2017 04:12:00


Sir,
Allow me Mr Editor to air my views regarding how our government does not live up
to expectations especially when it comes to some of the things that it says are
priorities for example the health sector.
Judging from recent events it is clear that providing health for all seems like
a dream especially if we are going to go for weeks without drugs in most, if not
all, hospitals because suppliers have not been paid.
What kind of government does that?
I’m not saying our government does not respond to pleas directly but history
has taught some of us that our government does not listen to the people.
The government is not and has never been people driven nor is it chosen by the
people.
Instead government is obsessed with spurious vanity projects as evidenced by our
numerous white elephants found in all corners of the country.
Comparisons
It would also be unwise for us to use comparisons in advancing our concerns, but
it’s an uncontroverted fact that government’s priorities are skewd, from
funding international trips, luxury motorcades, being father christmas, before
Christmas to the powerful and wealthy to masquerading as a rich, prosperous
kingdom even when plagued with extreme poverty and skull-cracking levels of
youth unemployment.
Government’s favourite response has always been one of these or a combination
of the following, “we have no money,” “we are engaged in
belt-tightening,” “the budget has been exhausted,” “this is not the
right ministry,” “those are plans for next year’s budget,” “there are
other areas that need such interventions,” “people from that area go to Piet
Retief for treatment,” “you people have Magubheleni Clinic as well,”
‘‘that area is spoilt, we are working on the road and now you want a health
centre,” “there is a staff and housing shortage, “we are working on that
issue,” “the relevant people are on leave,” etc.
SB Gamedze
Shiselweni