This popular siSwati adage, which loosely means that a man whose stomach is full will be productive, came to the fore on Saturday during the joint commemoration of the world food and world poverty day at the Matsanjeni Inkhundla.
The joint commemoration was preceded by celebrations of the world poverty week characterised by a series of activities at different Tinkhundlla Centres throughout the whole of last week. Prime Minister Dr. Barnabas Sibusiso Dlamini, who was the guest of honour during the event, told a gathering of over 1 000 residents of the Inkhundla and others from neighbouring Tinkhundla Centres that observing the two days was not about glorifying poverty and the suffering of the affected population.
He said the main purpose of the commemoration was to increase awareness about the efforts made by government and other development partners to address the poverty situation and the standard of living of the Swazi people.
Dlamini said the day also aimed at highlighting the role that every Swazi has to play in reducing poverty. In this regard, the Prime Minister said government and development partners were doing their part in reducing poverty. The event was attended by, amongst others, Deputy Prime Minister Themba Masuku, Ambassadors, United Nation’s Neil Boyer, UNDP Resident Representative Timothy Bandora, cabinet ministers, Matsanjeni MP Qedusizi Ndlovu and other members of parliament. Dlamini observed that poverty in Swaziland, like in many sub-Saharan countries, continued to be an obstacle to development.
Statistics show that in the country, nearly 70% of the population lives below the internationally accepted poverty line. Nevertheless, the Prime Minister is optimistic about government’s goal of reducing poverty by at least 50% by 2015 and to achieve all the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
“Let us be under no illusion about this goal. It is a huge challenge. But it is one to be faced head-on, not only for humanitarian reasons but also because the economic and social stability of any society depends substantially on fair and widespread access to what are essentially basic human rights-food, shelter, education and security”.
Matsanjeni MP pleads for more earth dams
ABOUT 76% of the population in the Shiselweni region still lives way below the poverty line, rendering the region the poorest in Swaziland.
Matsanjeni Member of Parliament Qedusizi Ndlovu noted that poverty is characterised by scarcity of water resources, lack of food and other basic amenities to make life much better.
Making his remarks, Ndlovu said the situation in the region, especially in his constituency, could be greatly improved if government would make an undertaking to construct more earth dams.
“The poverty situation in our area is worsened by the unavailability of water resources.” In rhetoric, the Prime Minister promised to look into the matter and said he would engage the Minister of Natural Resources and Energy, Princess Tsandzile, to explore the possibilities of constructing more dams.
PM plants tree, witnesses construction of pit latrine
PRIME Minister Dr. Barnabas Sibusiso Dlamini planted a tree and witnessed the construction of a pit latrine at the Matsanjeni Inkhundla.
Trees of different fruit varieties were planted in Matsanjeni and in other constituencies as part of the activities of the world poverty week.
Other activities included distribution of food parcels and material for building pit latrines to improve food security, environmental sustainability, and health care of vulnerable children within communities thereby minimising poverty.