Sometime back, I attended an event where the cause was indeed a good one. The programme director was also excellent and he got almost everyone in the room to make a pledge towards the organisation.
I also found myself raising my hand saying I would also contribute this and that.
Needless to say to date, I still have not fulfilled that pledge.
I would say what it is I pledged, but I risk reminding the organisation that I ‘owe’ them LOL. After the event, I got a lift from one of the attendees and he asked me ‘YeSky, are you aware of what that pledge you made costs’. Indeed, I had not thought that far ahead and had just gone with the flow as the MC had been able to coax all of us into making pledges.
As I calculated the costs of the pledge I realised that it was about E1 200.
That time, I have the ever persistent bill from Eswatini Water Services Corporation (EWSC), rent and rates etc…you get the picture.
I was reminded of my pledge, as I read last Friday’s headlines that about E37 billion worth of projects which were revealed at the inaugural Investment Conference 2025 held last week Thursday at the Sharma House.
Do not get me wrong I am not a negative person at all in fact I do my best to give out positive vibes wherever I am.
I always see the positive in a situation I’m presented with, but ayi when it comes to the pledges or proposed projects and to potential of them employing thousands of Emaswati, the sceptic hidden deep down in me emerged.
There is just too much money needed to see these projects through.
The question really is where will these thousands of jobs come from and what kind of jobs will these be? People on social media following the reports are also sceptical and are of the view that if the jobs do come, they will be ones where Emaswati are paid a meagre E1 500 or E3 000, if not less.
I do call these government plans very ambitious because I am sure we all mean well for the country, but the resources just are not there.
Ever since I started working as a serious Parliament reporter, each and every government has promised the rehabilitation of the Sidvokodvo- Ngwenya – Lothair Railway link.
I do not know how many feasibility studies have been made and pledges to relocate residents for the project, but this has been ongoing since 2010, I think.
Then there is the touchy issue of the International Convention Centre and Five Star Hotel which I am sure the Investment Conference would have taken place there had that structure been completed, but we still have nothing to date.
Years ago could have been 2005 or 2009 (I forget, it has been too long) I also covered the Job Summit where several pledges were made in particular by banks who said they would inject about E1.6 billion towards such.
Back then that was a lot of money and we were all excited on the prospect of jobs for Emaswati, but to date we still have many graduates who are unemployed and have resorted to making other means of making a living like working in the textile sector.
I am sure the companies that made pledges have a clear vision of what they wish to achieve sekutsi lo over E30 billion is a lot for all the challenges faced by this country.
In particular the health crisis which we are faced with. Where will the companies get a strong and healthy workforce if Emaswati are struggling to get affordable treatment at national hospitals and clinics?
We need to fix the challenges that are already on the ground first before sisike emacatsa lamakhulu.
Our government is still struggling with timely payment of OVC and free primary education grants including food deliveries in schools. We have so many basic problems before we reach these ambitious goals.
Take for example, the state of our roads in this country is appalling. One can hardly get anywhere in the rural areas because they are heavily damaged.
It is also a pity that we cannot really fight mother nature when it comes to the weather patterns that do as and when they please with storms ecetera.
However, the spirit that these companies have is commendable and they should always carry the positive mentality.
What government needs to do though is to give us constant updates on how far these projects have gone and what challenges the companies or government itself is faced with.
Otherwise we will meet again in three years time and make more pledges with nothing coming into fruition.
As a by the way though I was disappointed that on the prime minister’s picture with about 11 of the investors, there was not a single female representative.
Let us hope the women are pushing in the background because I believe they also have a lot they can bring to the party.
That said, let’s start delivering on those pledges, also please help me with that FAWESWA pledge.
Until next week, do not forget to be kind.
