BY MBONO MDLULI
MBABANE – Chiefs in the Lubombo Region are still hopeful that the decentralisation policy is still going to be implemented so that the people in their respective chiefdoms get the services provided by Government.
The decentralisation is expected to be implemented through the Tinkhundla Local Government Bill. Yesterday (Tuesday, October 22, 2024), the chiefs had a meeting with the Ministry of Tinkhundla Administration and Development to unpack the policy. The meeting took place at Simunye Country Club.
Maphungwane Chief Maliwa Maziya thanked Government for involving chiefs in this initiative. Maziya highlighted that in the past, chiefs were left behind whenever developmental projects were being undertaken. Now that they were involved, Maziya expressed hope that they would be able to support Government and the whole country because they were now clear on what the administration wanted.
The chief also praised the approach taken by Government when it came to decentralisation, stating that it seemed to be different. He said previously, implementation of the decentralisation happened at a snail’s pace, but lately, it was clear that Government wanted to remove services from Mbabane, where they were centrally held, straight to places where people were situated.
Section 58 (2) of the Constitution states that, “In the conduct of public affairs the State shall be guided by the principle of decentralisation and devolution of governmental functions and powers to the people at appropriate levels where the people can best manage and direct their own affairs.”