Challenges addressing negative attitudes in sd

I concur with the business and farming article of June 30, 2011, quoting The Swaziland Investment Promotion Authority (SIPA) Chief Executive Officer, Mr Ginindza: "The country’s bad publicity has been cited as one of the impediments in attracting foreign direct investment into the country." The other quotation, according to the same article was that: "Bad governance coupled with government’s negative attitude towards investors has been pointed out as one of the factors that deter foreign direct investments in the country.’

SD Image Makeover Project

Let me begin by stating that, over the past two years, I have been working on a documentary project that will have a positive impact on the image of this country; as an independent thinker/researcher and author of the late King Sobhuza II Legacy book. This documentary project will enable the world to reflect on the core strengths of Swaziland, as a source of indigenous knowledge systems; preserved through the King Sobhuza II legacy, anchored by a Swazi woman and independent thinker.

Over the past seven years, I have committed to starving myself in the interest of enhancing the image of Swaziland; by presenting the case of the late King Sobhuza II with its lessons learnt from indigenous leadership which transformed this country from domestication to economic development.

World Bank reports always refer to conservative or modern leaders like Sir Seretse Khama; Radical or Socialist Leaders such as Kwame Nkrumah; tyrants and predatory leaders such as Mabutu Sese Seko; when narrating African leadership. The case of King Sobhuza II is never cited as there has been no reference material that articulates his indigenous leadership; hence my unfunded attempt in the book ‘Akusiko Kwami Kwebantfu; unearthing King Sobhuza II’s Philosophy.’

This book, when read by scholars and critical thinkers, presents a unique leadership driven by the ontology of others as opposed to the self; which positively brands Swaziland and Africa as opposed to our image as a continent dominated by predatory leaderships.

On August 5, 2009, at Lozitha Palace, His Majesty King Mswati III endorsed my embarking on the King Sobhuza II Leadership Legacy Documentary, taking the book to the next level of discourse involving former SADC presidents; the Royal Family; Swazi elders and SADC knowledge workers in Swaziland and South Africa who grew up in Swaziland during the reign of King Sobhuza II. Therefore, developing a knowledge product that would enhance the image of Swaziland through the eyes of the SADC community; sharing their affiliations with Swaziland during the reign of King Sobhuza II and most significantly how it shaped their world views.

Bad Governance and

Negative Attitude

I attest to the fact that bad governance and negative attitude has temporarily stalled the African Leadership Legacy Documentary project. On June 30, 2011, I was supposed to have submitted a project proposal to European Union-African Caribbean Pacific (EU-ACP) countries for Films Grant; and I could not make the deadline - due to bad governance and negative attitudes. Since March, I have been negotiating with possible partners to jointly submit the proposal to Brussels; and, due to bad governance and negative attitude, I had to look outside Swaziland.

I managed to convince Africa Forum to partner with me as the author and creative genius who conceptualised this documentary project.

They agreed in principle, subject to my arranging an audience with His Majesty King Mswati III; for them to be officially blessed as my implementing partners and to fund 20 per cent of costs as the Films Grant only covers 80 per cent of the total costs. For the past two months, I have been religiously camping at the Royal Residence as part of the Wednesday Emabandla without success; and when the deadline of June 30, 2011 drew close, I requested a letter blessing the partnership to be requested on my behalf from His Majesty, but this was unsuccessful. Africa Forum is chaired by former President of Mozambique Joachim Chissano, who has an impeccable good governance record; hence he won the Mo Ibrahim award and founded this organisation of all former Heads of State and Governments in Africa. The members of the Africa Forum include former Presidents, Nelson Mandela, Kenneth Kaunda; Sir Masire, Thabo Mbeki, Kufour, UN Secretary General Dr Boutros Boutros-Ghali and Kofi Atta Annan. These members would have increased the chances of anchoring this documentary on National Geographic and History Channel; two international channels required for enhancing Swaziland’s image.

The partnership with Africa Forum would also minimise the bad governance risk; while capitalising on the fact that Swaziland has never benefitted from the ACP Films Grant. The African Leadership Legacy Documentary will happen because I am a hard nut to crack and it is for the greater good of Swaziland. I might not have made this deadline but there are other Films Grants.

In hindsight, Swaziland has serious challenges in addressing negative attitudes towards positive projects and this documentary is a victim of negative attitudes.

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