EMASWATI RELUCTANT TO LEAVE WILLS

MBABANE – While government dreams to make life easier for spouses after the death of their partners, some of emaSwati are reluctant to draw up wills.
A will is a document that details one’s wish with regard to the distribution of his/her estate after death.

Government, under the Ministry of Tinkhundla Administration and Development, has set up Master of the High Court offices in the various constituencies in order for the nation to draw up their wills without travelling long distances.
The Master of the High Court offices are housed in the new tinkhundla centres across the country.

In an interview last Friday, Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Tinkhundla Administration and Development Nonhlanhla Dlamini confirmed the new development. However, Dlamini said it was premature to talk about the new development as it was still a dream for the country.

“When you talk about decentralisation, it has to be a collaboration of ministries, which require a budget. It is true that government has set up new structures, which include the office of the Master of the High Court and other offices like the Revenue and Immigration but I cannot talk much about it until the dream becomes real,” Dlamini said.

Dlamini was interviewed after residents of Ezulwini under Lobamba Constituency were informed about this initiative during a meeting. The constituents were informed about the new development by the Headman of the area, Bhekisisa Bhembe.

“If you want to protect the interest of your spouses, government has made it easier for you. An office of the Master of the High Court has been set up in the new structure at Lobamba. You will get counselling and advice before you draw up a will,” he said.

In random interviews, it appeared that some of emaSwati have no idea about the drawing up of a will. When it was explained to them, they viewed it as a western culture that was appropriate for people who owned property. “What you are talking about is good for those who own properties. I have never seen it even with my forefathers and, therefore, I am not dreaming about it. EmaSwati do not rely on wills as it is not their culture,” said an elderly man of Maphalaleni.

Nisisa Maphalala said her spouse, family and children would decide what to do with her estate when she died. Maphalala viewed a will as discriminatory to children. “A will is bound to cause division and hatred among children after the death of their parents. The beneficiary will always be in danger if the estate is not distributed equally. I would not like to cause hatred among my relatives after I die,” said Maphalala.
Jabu Ngobe felt that she had no need to draw up a will because she did not own any property.
However, some members of the public felt that government should prioritise the Master of the High Court offices due to the predicament that was faced by the spouses and their children after the death of their partners.
“Hulumende kumele acale avule lihhovisi laka Master of the High Court uma simo semnotfo sisimama. Bafa kuhlukubeteka bafelokati netintsandzane uma kufa banumzane bemakhaya,” said one of the widowed women, who preferred anonymity, meaning “Government should open the office of the Master of the High Court as soon as the economy recovers.”
It also appeared that some people already have wills, while others were eager to draw them up.

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