Respect for Who?

The topic I delved into last week was never going to be exhausted in just 900 words as prescribed by the space available for this column. So I will continue to address issues of identity - the Swazi identity - even today, and likely over a series of articles to come.

Firstly, thank you to those who shared their insights with me after reading the article, your input is valued and appreciated. 

One of the things that stayed with me, raised by those who interacted with me on the subject matter, was that one of the values that we have as Swazis is respect and that is a huge part of our national identity.

Okay, I’m moving a bit too fast – first a gist of last week’s article titled ‘National Identity Crisis?’ In this article, I asked what it is that defines us as Swazis and what values this definition is based on? I probed the meaning of the widely-held perception/belief that we are a united nation, asking what is it exactly that makes us believe that we are united. 

I further mentioned that we seem to hear (read: told) what it is to be un-Swazi more often than we hear what it is to be Swazi. I concluded by asking if we had a national identity question or national identity crisis and if I was mad for even questioning this.

Turns out I’m not mad – many who interacted with me on the subject said it is a valid debate in contemporary Swaziland, some sharing what they themselves have published with regards this topic including two subjects that inspired today’s article; 1) Respect 2) Curiosity.

Respect

One reader pointed out that as a Swazi nation we value respect. I agree with this but only partially. And I think the said contributing reader too, because he was quick to add that ‘we are losing it’. 

Partially because respect, like most things in life, is a two-way street - it is offered and earned. My gripe is that if we say we value respect, it should not translate to only the manner in which we greet, treat and accommodate strangers and tourists (which we do really well) but it should reflect in governance structures and processes too. 

Importantly, in my view, respect is in instances of governance based on trust, responsibility and accountability.

It’s important to note that governance issues do not only relate to the national government  that sits in parliament and cabinet – governance issues at national level would be the culmination of collective and shared systems, processes, rules, functions etc. at several levels of society – our homes, communities, schools etc. 

The most important thing is that at this level, concerned citizens and citizens concerned (read: all of us) need to participate in ensuring that the end product is relatable to all and can be easily classified under good governance. After all, a national government’s primary role is to IMPLEMENT the aspirations of its citizens.

My first direct lesson in governance came from my dear friend Farai many years ago and the subject matter we were discussing was far from policy issues. Okay, to be blunt, we were talking about relationships, boyfriend and girlfriend relationships and how they leave us in a mess sometimes. 

He pointed out that in the end, we get hurt by our lovers because somewhere along the way, we forget that we should relate to ourselves as though we are each a government, a well-run government – with its own ministry of defense, ministry of health, ministry of finance etc. 

Because once you keep this in mind always, you will know when [and when not] to get your soldiers out to war in your capacity as the minister of defense for instance.

The underlying lesson about respect and governance in this illustration is just that - awareness of self means you are alert to the needs of others and will respect that their day-to-day activities mean that they are only trying to ensure that their governments are functioning. 

And if we can all ensure we do this with the required awareness, then we will be in harmony and easily get to identify the things we value as a collective and ultimately as a nation.

If a chief for example, tells a community that he will only engage them as a collective on Sundays only because Saturdays HE has to go to church, is it respectful and fair – that one can decide for so many who themselves worship on Sundays?

Curiosity

Unfortunately I don’t see how respect for others is reflected for those who are curios for knowledge in understanding process and law like Editor Bheki Makhubu and Human Rights Lawyer Thulani Maseko for instance. 

I won’t delve into their case because even the White House in Washington D.C. knows their calamity. Erykah Badu too. It’s a common story for many a black man in a lifetime. 

Last week was the celebration of the birthday of one of the most influential people in world history, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr – a man whose curiosity about the state of affairs for the black minority in the USA transcended to a demand for respect for the black people of that country and of the world.

I’m of the view that if we reward curiosity with jail time or murder in the case of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., then it means we do not value conversation, and therefore can never have a national dialogue, and therefore can never have a participatory nation in molding decisions on matters of national importance. 

If we do not value a participatory citizenry, then we probably do not value democratic process even though we take so much pride in our unique democracy. Can I even probe the definition of our monarchical democracy without fear of reprimand?

Again, what do we value? And how is it reflected in our day-to-day lives? Define Swazi.