SWAZI DISSIDENT ON CHILD POVERTY

Swazi dissident Mfomfo Nkhambule, who says he is expecting to be arrested any day because of his pro-democracy views, is still alive and writing.

Nkhambule writes today (11 June 2009) on his blog about an encounter he had with a young woman at Matsapha who was carrying a baby on her back.

He writes, ‘She volunteered to take me to her place of residence. When I got there my heart was devastated because the three of them were sharing this room of stick and mud with old corrugated iron, that had no window, and an old make shift door that hardly had hinges. It was clear to me that on rainy days the situation was unbearable. There were two small aluminium pots and an old paraffin stove next to the door. I then enquired if they were paying any rent for the room and she said no. A few dresses were hanging on an improvised 1m stick, suspended by some strings onto the rafters.’

Nkhambule goes on to conclude that this young woman is not the only one in Swaziland suffering poverty under the present regime.

‘It is my belief that changing the current political set-up will give rise to changed attitudes that will encourage a new breed of leaders that will put the priorities of the majority of the people of Swaziland first,’ he writes.

To read the full report click here.