TRIBUTE TO LATE OBED DLAMINI

Sir,
 
The passing on of Obed Dlamini is a loss to the whole nation, his service to the nation is well known. He was a man of integrity, conviction and courage. 

In one of his previous incarnations he served as a unionist fighting for the rights of his fellow workers representing their interests.
This was during a time when the labour laws, which are in place now, were non-existent, or if they were, barely protected the workers and unionists.

Serving as a union leader during those days was a big risk, however, his love for and commitment to justice and fair labour practice gave him courage to go on.

During his term as prime minister he worked hard to minimise hostility between civil society, ie political groups and the trade union movement, and the police.  The march by SWAYOCO from Mbabane to Manzini is one typical example of his prodemocracy inclination and courage.
If he appeared to be acting out of character in some cases it was because of laws in place which were not made by him, and which he had no power to get rid of.

In his quiet but eloquent way Dlamini spoke truth to power. He was a humble man who stood for what he believed in.
Dlamini’s political beliefs were informed by his Christianity; he believed that our God is a democratic God.
He knew that human rights emanate from God. We are created in God’s own image. This means that we were endowed with dignity.  Further, God gave us the right to be rational and to be able to make choices.

This is a right which even God himself respects and cannot withdraw from us because of his faithfulness. In the exercise of that right God allows us to choose or reject Him.

In the end we will be judged according to the choices we made. He will not turn us into automatons to make us do His will. 
This is the democratic God of whom King Somhlolo had a vision. The King taught the nation to embrace Christianity and to shun the love of material possessions.

How nice it would be if Somhlolo’s revelation was understood for what it meant.    How nice it would be if Somhlolo’s teachings would be followed by the whole nation. Let the vision of King Somhlolo live and be the guiding light of the nation.
 This is the democratic God of Obed Dlamini.

This is the living God who gave us rational and creative minds to make decisions about our economic, social and political conditions and to shape our destiny.
This is the democratic God who takes sides in favour of the oppressed as seen in the Exodus experience.
We are celebrating the life of a man who made sacrifices for the political liberation of the Swazi nation. Long live Obed’s spirit of hunger for political liberation.

Long live the struggle for political liberation for which Obed worked all his life. May his dream for a democratic Swaziland come to fruition sooner.

Dr Alvit Dlamini
President of NNLC

 

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