Dr. Jabulani Matsebula returns to the show to converse with me about Good Governance relative to Swaziland. Dr. Matsebula has a Ph.D. in political sociology. He has held various positions in academia and government in Australia, including international multilateral engagement in the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum (APEC), G20, and OECD. He is also a founding member of PUDEMO one of the largest liberation political formations in Swaziland.
We begin the discussion on the broader and complex concept of democracy and how it should be understood in the Kingdom of Swaziland. After this highlight, we zeroed things down to the main subject of this episode – good governance – the cornerstone of democracy. On this subject, Dr. Matsebula expounds on the enablers of good governance in general. This set the tone for Dr. Matsebula to respond to the critical question: Is democracy possible under a constitutional monarchy system dominated by the Dlamini royal family dynasty? Our guest makes it clear that the institution of the Swazi monarchy is irrelevant in Swazi politics. Hence Swaziland has a debt of R 26.9 billion. If the monarchy is maintained post-liberation, it is likely that it will pollute the new political landscape, says Dr. Matsebula. The government of the monarch rates terribly against the principles of good governance, and this bad governance is founded on king Sobhuza II’s 1973 proclamation (royal coup). We also give an analysis of the African culture – Ubuntu –as having the wherewithal to found good governance. Hence good governance is based on universal principles, not a European concept. By way of concluding this episode, Dr. Matsebula gives an outline of key factors that would underpin post-liberation democracy namely:
