Times Of Swaziland: THE PROBLEM WITH  OUR VISION 2022

THE PROBLEM WITH  OUR VISION 2022
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The Editor on 07/02/2018 00:37:00


Sir,
There is no doubt that a country as small as Swaziland can achieve First World
status.
It’s just a question of reducing poverty and unemployment to below 20 per
cent. However, many years have passed since the announcement of Vision 2022, and
yet, poverty and unemployment levels in the country remain sky high. In fact,
very little has changed in this regard.
Perhaps some people’s definition of First World status means having shiny new
structures like the ones which are being built in Ezulwini.
If that were the case, then countries like Kenya, South Africa or Mozambique
would have long achieved First World status with the amount of shiny new
structures being built in those countries.
Some commentators are of the view that Vision 2022 is not government’s
responsibility alone but that every citizen has a role to play in ensuring that
the vision becomes a reality by creating employment opportunities which would
lead to economic growth.
The problem with this view, however, is that the very same government is making
it increasingly difficult for locals to start and operate businesses in the
country.
Instead of levelling the playing field, government is creating more and more
hurdles.
The recently introduced Construction Industry Council is just one example of
this, which has seen a handful of big companies getting the lion’s share of
all construction projects in the country while many of the smaller ones face
closure over unpaid monies for work done.
Another hurdle which government has placed along the road to prosperity for
locals are the exorbitant taxes which companies are expected to pay, sometimes
even before they themselves have been paid for work done on behalf of
government.
It seems as though government’s fight is not against poverty but against the
poor and oppressed citizens of the country.
Swazi Citizen