Monday, 29 August 2016

Swaziland's Independence Day Means Nothing For Women - Nomsa Lusanda Mbuli


As we approach September 6th, I know everyone in Swaziland is looking forward to taking a break from their everyday life to celebrate being free since 1968, I just can't buy it. But who am I to argue with a paid holiday? The 6th of September might commemorate the independence of our country — but it also serves as a bitter reminder that in 1968 Swaziland gained an independence that as a woman, I'm yet to experience.

This independence day commemoration, just like every other year, comes at a time when the nation is facing challenges, brought about by a failed economy, pervasive corruption, increasing poverty and hunger, high unemployment, poor public service delivery, a ravaging drought, and the on-going civil war on women. That is why I do not think this independence is for me, and if you're a woman, it isn't for you either. Our 'independence' won't be until the day we are treated like citizens of this country, instead of guests that get chopped off anytime. 

Independence, or 'emancipation' is about fighting back against all forms of oppression and sexist norms so that women and men can be equal and can be who they are without fear of discrimination. However, I do not feel this is the foundation of our constitution. While I celebrate the fact that our forefathers negotiated for our liberation, I am not currently happy with the current state of this country. But most of all, I am completely and utterly ashamed and embarrassed by the fact that women have to constantly fight for a place in all kinds of spaces, that the emancipation of women is still an everyday struggle, despite 48 years of independence. I don't know about men, but women still have a long way to fight for equality. And even though the Swazi nation escaped colonization from the Whites, women's emancipation has always been fought against. So whose independence are we celebrating, really?

Women still hold a second class status in society; we still lack representation in decision making and therefore cannot equally contribute to the political, social and economic advancement of the country. The sexual reproductive health and rights for women is constantly under threat. Sexism is still present in all structures, and the media does all it can to perpetuate it. Women still get blamed for rape; they are told that they should try not to get raped instead of teaching men not to rape. They get assaulted, they can't walk at night, and their freedom is basically restricted, while the rights of men are unlimited and without responsibility.

Independence Day needs to be celebrated for what it is; for the break away from Britain and oppression, for men. Women still need to fight for their own independence. We still need to fight for the right to walk freely without fear of being attacked in our own land. We need to fight for the right to protection; we need the law to protect us from rapists despite our sexual history. We need to know that domestic violence, murder, rape and assault are all atrocities. The war on women is a national emergency, but until our leaders treat it as such, we have nothing to celebrate. As women, we need not wait for our leaders to start treating us as equals. We owe it to ourselves, and to our country, to make the contribution we were born to make. Our future daughters deserve to hear from us, and through our efforts we can ensure that THEY get to celebrate real independence on Independence Day.


2 comments:

  1. I live in America and its not that safe for anyone to walk alone at night. And it probably isn't safe for men or anyone else to walk at night in your country. Although women were created for men it isn't clear to me how women have been a good thing.

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  2. But Bob, you were obviously carried by a woman in her womb. Not so? How then do you not see the importance of women?
    And, the claim that women were created for men obviously finds inspiration in the unproven Adam and Eve story, together with their talking snake, who were allegedly using what their ‘creator’ gave them; a brain!

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