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CIVIL SERVICE BOARD HELP THE PUBLIC

01/06/2017 08:19:00 The Editor

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I have not delivered this letter to the Civil Service Board offices for fear that it may go astray.

It would assist the public if you placed notices with the working hours for the various government offices at the doors for all to note. I arrived at the Master of the High Court’s office in Manzini at 3.30pm and upon arrival I noted two women boarding a vehicle which was parked at the entrance to the Master’s office. On entering the office I noted that there was not a soul in any of the offices; I tried all the doors as I walked through the passage and they were all locked; only the passage and main door were accessible. I immediately went to the vehicle where the ladies were getting ready to leave.

I enquired on what time the office closed and was informed that it closes at 3.30pm.
After obtaining this answer I immediately received; “Ufunani?” My response was; “Not what do I want, but what would I like,” to which I was informed that I should return the following day. Do you not train the staff in the various government departments on how they should handle the public? Are inspections not carried out on their attitude? Why does it appear to be the norm these days that the public is subjected to rude and angry civil servants? Why is it that upon seeing someone of fairer skin they instantly become rude and inconsiderate?

I would like to remind you of King Sobhuza II’s speech during the 1968 Independence celebrations; “A garden can only be beautiful with all types and colours of flowers.” It appears this attitude has changed. Some of us have done more for this country than any of those civil servants ever will and we were not paid for it, for we believed and continue to believe in the well-being of all its citizens.
Members of the public accept this behaviour and in my humble opinion anyone who just remains silent consents and thus the reason I am bringing this to your notice. I can no longer remain silent. I have often observed how members of the public are answered in a flippant manner perhaps for those civil servants to reassure themselves of the positions they hold.

This behaviour is not restricted to the Master’s Office but to numerous government departments. It appears civil servants use the public to vent their frustrations on. This practice has to stop and I beg you to ‘educate all civil servants’ by teaching them manners, etiquette and respect. People should not be placed in positions for which they are not qualified or trained.
There are numerous people who seek employment who would serve the public with respect and who would be good representatives of government.
I know I am not the only member of the public complaining about this treatment by certain civil servants; it is just that others are too scared to vocalise their discontentment or perhaps they do not even know where to go to lodge a complaint. Please intervene, it is time for change! We must bring back respect and service to most government offices. We are tired of having to beg to receive assistance.