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WHY NOT DIALOGUE?

02/10/2018 04:32:00 The Editor

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Sir,

The state of affairs in Eswatini is disturbing in many respects. As an AME Church, we are in no position to judge the wrong and the right. Let it be known that the AME Church is a social justice and liberating faith.

We are inspired by the Bible verse; “He has showed you, O man what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God, Micah 6:8. The events of police beating up unarmed people in the country are disturbing. We refer to the events of Monday, September 17, 2018.

It is our belief that there are instruments for solving conflicts between government and its people, between groups, between two people and intrapersonal conflict. These instruments are civil and do not reach the stage of beating people to an unconscious state or killing. Time has proved that guns are not a solution, but dialogue and mediation. We honestly believe that dialogue is the best tool for conflict resolution and not guns and other ammunition.

Eswatini is said to be a peaceful country and further it has been dubbed the pulpit of Africa. Its, foundations entrenched in the times of Somhlolo (Sobhuza I), are quite clear, and perhaps this is why it is a pulpit of Africa. Sobhuza I, on realising the might of the kings in the region, stated; “Seek out a teacher for my son,” his son being Mswati II.

Out of this was found Reverend James Allison, who was given land at Mahamba to start a Methodist mission in 1844. This church expanded and it has branches in the whole country today. Somhlolo’s dream has had a number of aspects such as missiological, educational and agricultural, among others.

The media today says a lot about the economy of this country. We are not sure what causes the country’s economy to fall so bad. Is it corruption, or is it lack of relationships between employer and employee? Is it greed or what? The poverty rate is quite high but very little protection of the poor and yet, in terms of the Bible, government must protect the poor.

The people who go on strike want a good living wage but police are beating them up for that. The resources of this world are God-given, everybody has a share and the workers are the ones who support the economy of any country through their labour and, therefore, negotiations are key, not sjamboks, teargas and live ammunition. As a church, we plead for patience, for love, for we are all God’s creatures. We plead for understanding between labour and government. As a church, like many other churches, we started educating children of the communities in which we are for the reading of the Bible and little did we know then that education was a very strong economic tool, and a strong vehicle for civilisation.

It is for this reason that we see the manner in which a teacher is treated by the very same teacher who taught a policeman. Imagine a teacher moving a child from ignorance to knowledge from a very difficult position to what he is today - being able to carry a gun and shoot and from being a liability to being an asset of this kingdom.

If this country’s economy falls on its belly, what then? If the crop of children who are at school now cannot continue because the teacher is in distress, what of the economic growth of the country? As an example, Kabhudla in not so many years ago was dark at night but today you see very bright stars at night, you could even pick up a needle.

We appreciate and understand that government has signed many UN Conventions, including the African Charter, which does not allow the beating of citizens by police. We understand that the work of the police is policing and protecting the citizenry. Police must protect the rights and securities of the citizens. The issue of teachers must be looked at thoroughly by government. It must look back from the time of Somhlolo’s statement. All of government employees are employed because teachers taught them.

A teacher is an indirect generator of a country’s economy, if not the engine. This says he is equally important, if not more important. Why should a teacher then be in distress? Government must think of the sharing of resources fairly; this is a way to peace and prosperity.

The events of Monday, September 17, 2018 do not present themselves as promoting peace. Note that there have been many more incidents like this before. This state of affairs is not warranted and cannot be justified, it is also not advised, and it is nowhere near justice. The police chief should know that when there is justice, there is peace, when there is peace, there is development. We ask that the element of love reigns in Eswatini, because we are created by a God of love who loves us even though we were not worth loving, We were created by a God of justice, and a God of peace. Let our police officers and police chief appreciate His loving kindness.

Bishop Stafford J N Wicker
Prelate of 18th Episcopal District AME Church