SWAZIS ARE CRUEL TO EACH OTHER

Sir,

It frustrates me very much as I look at the way our world is turning into a cruel place right in front of us. The world is being destroyed at the hands of the people we trusted to lead us. Honestly, why all the killings, the never-ending wars, the quarrels and the hostility in the world?

Why are innocent people being sacrificed at the expense of people settling personal scores? Why are we subjected to inhumane treatment every day?

Every human being was born with a conscience, humility, love and kindness. Nobody was born a monster. We are all given goodness within us but our paths have made some of us cruel. It is power that is making some lose their humanity. It is the fear of revenge that makes people cling to power even when they are not effective anymore. Conflict is part of the human journey, it is natural, it shows life and thinking.

There is a Swazi saying which says, “Bantfu abayi ndzawonye njengemfula” (people do not go in one direction like a river). Our minds and opinions cannot always be alike, at some point we will clash. That is where forgiveness comes in. The ability to pardon those who have crossed our paths is in all of us. The ability to treat each other well is in us but we have allowed it to be shadowed by our interests. Love is inside of us, we just have to stir it up. We are all human.

My main argument is in Swaziland and what is happening towards the poor people. We are being treated like trash, like we are not people worth anything. Recently in Nokwane, people were cruelly evicted from their homes in the name of development. Some of them have lived there for over 30 years and it is the only place they called home.

The Government of Swaziland, together with people from Taiwan who claim to be friends of the nation, took away the most important asset a human can have; Land. One woman even attempted suicide during the eviction due to pain and hopelessness of the situation. What pains me most is that government evicted a 77-year-old lady and now she is facing difficulty. All the people live in tents and have little hope for the future. Where is humanity in this nation? Where is the spirit of Ubuntu? How can you say you are leading people when you are not concerned about their well-being and security?

One of the things that define us as Africans is the spirit of brotherhood. Africans are known to have a spirit of family and oneness but right now we ask ourselves if that can be said in the case of these eviction victims. The so called development coming in the area should not leave people stranded and bitter about it. When development comes, it should bring development to the people first. We know that personal interests are at play here that is why people are treated with such hostility and brutality.

However, those who still have it in them should continue advocating for social justice and equality. We should not sit and do nothing as our parents, brothers and sisters are treated so inhumanely. We call for the spirit of Africanism, we call for love, for conscience and reason. We call for the end of this cruel behaviour.

Vuyo Fakudze

Post your comment

Your name:

Your e-mail address:

Add your comments:

Please enter the code you see in the image:

Image:

Code: