By Zakithi Sibandze
The posture of violence adopted by some governments in the region post elections is in sharp contrast to Africa’s Agenda 2063 of the Africa We Want, which is surely the Africa We Want. The Africa We Want is surely, “An Africa of good governance, democracy, respect for human rights, justice and the rule of law.” Not only that, the Africa Agenda 2063, has committed to “Silence the guns by 2020, through enhanced dialogue-centred conflict prevention and resolution.” That the King and government have chosen to peddle the way of violence and not the path to peace through dialogue is a serious indictment on their regional and international obligations. It is a serious failure of leadership.
WHY THE CONTINUED VIOLENCE
This is the burning question in most people of exactly why the continued violence even at this time and age. Factors differ and internal country political dynamics has made this issue complex from country to country. This is where you see the crucial role from Southern Africa Rural Women’s Assembly country chapters, timely sharing on political developments to keep each other abreast on issues. Nevertheless women in particular rural women are the most affected with children in all these developments. Political polarization and its significance must be understood and appreciated. Failure to understand its importance in a democratic state leads to it being toxic which subsequently produces the ills of intolerance, abuse of power and all other associated crimes as well as disregard of peoples rights.
THE EFFECTS IT DOES TO THE CIVIC SPACE
The civil society tends to become immediate enemies in such situations, as governments label any efforts to accountability as foreign sponsored and thus excessive force by state security forces is unleashed to destroy any efforts to challenge the status quo. This then led to arbitrary detentions of activists, freedom of association and assembly then got under pressure as a result. This creates a plethora of problems and thus activities like peaceful protest become hard and risky. A civil space without the constitutional rights and privileges to practice what they believe in is automatically a compromised and ineffective society. This further corrodes trust to the government institutions breeding further problems where people take law to their hands in quench for finding justice and retribution. Our space continues to lose potential leaders due to heavy hand of police, and those in collaboration to mutual values find it extremely difficult to cooperate with organizations under an unstable environment. We still need to further interrogate this state of affairs to arm ourselves with adequate skills because without it, our organizations risk losing identities in attempts of conforming to the status quo merely for survival than making an impact.
HOW SOLIDARITY CAN BE A PILLAR ACROSS SISTERS IN RWA
In many waves of political instabilities or crisis, the bonds of sisterhood must be the basis to base our approach as solidarity is the only thing deep in her. Our daily lives in communities are made easier by such acts of solidarity as when we lack, or in problems we look upon each other for protection so that we keep ourselves and families alive. We need this spirit to assume a nationally and international character and become a general norm to such an extent that it begins inside the country and extend externally so that we can at least count on sisters across the region. We need to deepen solidarity and interwove it to our daily praxis.
Rural Women Swaziland in a form to build solidarity in the country have strengthened the women groups which are intentionally formed so that women and children become each other’s support in terms of mental health and even protection. SRWA has further joined RWA Southern Africa to extend solidarity across the region but also to attract international allies.
CONCLUSION
Women must continue to take charge of correcting and leading our society so that our communities can be safe in the face of such difficulties. We have to put an end to the wars as women are at the receiving end of all this squabbles for power.
