MPS A DISAPPOINTMENT

Sir,

It is quite shocking and equally disappointing that our Members of Parliament (MPs)are more concerned about the dropping of masks than the more serious issues affecting the country. Instead of telling government to drop the made-up charges against our pro-democracy MPs, they are more worried about the wearing of masks. Siyekeleni siwafake as sivikela umkhuhlane because kusebusika nyalo. If the MPs want to emulate South Africa (SA), they should not stop at the dropping of masks issue only. They should be working on telling government to emulate SA in the issue of grants for the elderly.

SA’s Social Development Minister, Lindiwe Zulu, has forwarded proposal amendments that would see deserving people receiving the social relief of distress grant of R624, up from R350. This is what they should be calling on government to emulate. The country is engulfed by serious issues and all they can think about are face masks. For crying out loud, the wearing of face masks should be an individual’s choice.

Environment

The prime minister recently told the nation that the current environment in the country was not conducive for the dialogue to be held. If my memory serves me right, almost all dialogues are held in volatile environments so as to make the situation better. They should be drumming sense into government and make it realise that the longer it takes for the dialogue to happen, unscrupulous individuals are most definitely going to hijack the situation in the name of democracy.

Intervention

The media has been reporting on the continuous shortage of drugs, and the nurses union is now seeking the intervention of Cabinet as there are no drugs in hospitals. MPs should be seen working with this union in compelling government to deal with this matter once and for all. We can’t go on like this as many emaSwati are losing their loved ones because of this issue. As people of this country, we are tired of the hollow explanations forwarded by the Ministry of Health’s officials pertaining this issue. It is time for full accountability and the ministry’s officials must be forced to resign because they have clearly failed us as a nation. The country is in a dire condition and this is not the time to talk about face masks, and it is also not the time for protecting civil servants who are failing to deliver on their mandate.

Indifference

Also, morally speaking, the country has shown evidence of decay. Feelings of cynicism and indifference that have engulfed the Eswatini public have been demonstrated by the absence of widespread debates on the social ills that continue to burden the country. The moral repugnance that the kingdom is experiencing is perhaps best captured by the continued spate of gender-based violence (GBV) against women. GBV in the country is still increasing at an alarming rate; and these are the issues that MPs should be compelling government to tackle, not the dropping of face masks.

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