Young, Talented, Patriotic and Wasted Peoples of Swaziland

(By Pius Vilakati, writing as Mr Pius Rinto)

Swaziland has seen many talented people throughout the years, notwithstanding that the people are still under a brutal tinkhundla system rule. Unfortunately, all those talents have been flushed down the drain, not necessarily because the talented ones gave up, but because the tinkhundla system, is, as it was, never intended to empower them, but to use them for its narrow selfish gains. Truly talented and patriotic citizens have been strategically rejected by the tinkhundla system whilst the exploited believed they would someday be empowered.

In many democratic states, once talented young persons have been spotted, the governments of those countries go out of their way to empower and encourage them on their talents so that they reach their full potential. In the long run this logically presents a good picture of those particular countries as they are seen as countries that empower people. Unfortunately, though not surprising, the same cannot be said for Swaziland where many exceptionally talented young people are used to defend the system instead. Out of ignorance, probably, they also fall into this trap. Names that spring to mind include Sgayoyo Magongo, Fanaza Tsabedze, Lindelwa Mafa, and Simanga Shiba, amongst many others.

Many people are aware of the originality that came with Fanaza Tsabedze’s music. He was a rising star which the government decided to throw into the army, instead of supporting his music. Today the only things that he will sing about are praises to leaders of the country and the tinkhundla system in general. What a waste! The same applies to top boxer, Simanga Shiba. I remember that even some of the Swaziland media personnel radically campaigned that he be sent to the army because he was poor. How tragic! Another talent gone to waste! There are so many boxing promoters outside Swaziland who would have been happy to have Simanga under them. All that was needed was a sound system of government in Simanga’s country, Swaziland. 

Most of us, especially artists, are aware of the undying patriotism of radio DJ, Lindelwa Mafa.  She is one of the few, if not the only, radio DJ that goes out of her way to ensure that Swazi music is exposed to the public. Unfortunately, her patriotism, like that of Simanga and Fanaza, will go to waste, that is if she doesn’t change now when there is still time. She will also be one of the greatest stories of Swaziland that never saw the light of day as long as the current system of government prevails. I guess we are all aware of the wasted talent of Sgayoyo Magongo, Swaziland’s greatest sports commentator and radio journalist. The government had a chance of helping him develop the country’s sports and issues related thereto, but lo and behold, he is now facing unlimited boredom in Johannesburg, South Africa, as a consul.

In conclusion, people can decide to throw these facts out the window and claim that the issues are “PUDEMO-inspired”, but, just like all things that were mentioned by PUDEMO in the past, this and more will also be proved correct, and most of it has indeed been proved. As things stand, Lindelwa Mafa and the others remain talented, patriotic and wasted. Unless and until they open their eyes to the fact that the system they praise everyday will never be a people-empowering system, no matter who gets appointed to Cabinet or parliament, their patriotism will go to waste. Unless and until a system that forces the leaders of the country to be accountable to the people, rather than this current system which forces people to account to the leaders, only the leaders and their ego will always enjoy empowerment. It will only be in a people-centred political system that we shall see young people like Lindelwa Mafa empowered.