OP-ED: Collective trauma: Dialogue is essential after suppressed discontent in Eswatini finally boils over

Kunga Tisho, the author of this article, written on 6 July 2021, is a longtime resident of Eswatini.

The signs of discontent have been hidden in plain sight for some years, yet there has been perhaps a collective head-in-the-sand attitude that all the elements of disquiet and discontent will somehow be sorted out in the future; but it appears that these pockets of dissatisfaction can no longer be kicked down the road. Dialogue is now being demanded.

Against this scenario, what has happened in this essentially acquiescent and peaceful society to suddenly bring these structural ills to such a violent apogee? The debate about having an elected prime minister rather than one appointed by the king is an issue that has simply not been addressed, and has been arguably exacerbated by the fact that the current incumbent is only acting and not fully appointed after the tragic demise of his predecessor.

Supermarkets in Mbabane felt safe enough to open. Long queues of shoppers formed to stock up on groceries. Most supplies were obtainable, except for bread, and, bizarrely, dog food. Petrol was subject to panic buying, with long queues at all petrol stations, until supplies ran out. The pronouncements by the acting prime minister have been flaccid and woolly. Astonishingly, he announced a dedicated email address to where “petitions” could be sent. Aside from the fact that rural folk have neither the means nor frankly the willingness to engage in disembodied electronic dialogue, the internet service was, by government order, anyway, curtailed. But more importantly, this utterly ignored the protesters’ pleas for dialogue.

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