Originally written on the Sunday, 28. September 2008.

So, I’ve been here in Swaziland now for a few weeks so I think it is about time I provided an update on my thoughts of this place.

My initial thoughts have not really changed, only enhanced really. Swaziland ISa beautiful country. Even in winter, which we are leaving and moving in to the spring, it is beautiful. But, I think the thing that makes it for me are the people.

The people here are just some of the friendliest people I have ever met, they are wonderful. They are polite, kind, courteous, and, as far as I can tell, pretty happy with the cards they have been dealt. The usual cynicism I have about people being fundamentally ‘un-trustworthy’ has all but vanished here in Swaziland. The Swazi’s will talk to anyone it seems about pretty much anything.

There have been a couple if incidents here recently though. There have been a couple of riots in the main city of Mbabane protesting about the Royal rule, and wanting a democracy. However, the people who organised it seemed to be, largely, non Swazis. They seemed to be, most, South Africans who feel that ‘now that have sorted out Zimbabwe, they’ll sort out Swaziland’.

No, I am no expert, not on this at least, but there are some problems with introducing Swaziland to the concept and high ideals of democracy. The principle problem being, as it seems to be to most new democracies, one of understanding that only half the people are ever happy. Sometimes, a lot less. A lot less. Look at the UK with it’s 40-45% turn out. 55-60% don’t actually vote. Labour won the last election with a smaller number of votes than the ten seat majority that John Major [remember him?] had before the Conservatives were so rudely swept aside on a tissue of lies….. sorry, I’ll get down from the soap box and put it away……

Back to Swaziland. In some ways, Swaziland is what South Africa would like to be, without the Royal Charter. South Africa, since the end of apartheid has had year after year of political unrest. It was only last week that Thabo Mbeki was pushed into stepping down and 14 cabinet minsters went with him. Swaziland has no such problems, clearly, but most people seem to be happy with what they have, which, if I am honest, is a country that functions pretty well.

The power system works, the ‘phones work, the mobile network works magnificently [smug look], the tap water is clean and drinkable, the roads are in excellent shape and, all in all, Swazi’s are pretty organised when it comes to building stuff. The road works on the main road into Mbabane from Manzini / Matsapha flow very well, despite the traffic volumes.

There is also, for me, a sense of de’ja vu whenever I see a Police woman here. I think Juliet Bravo, the early 1980’s Police programme. The uniforms are identical.

Sunday mornings are also quite interesting. Walking through the city of a sunny aand fine sunday morning is to walk through a city in song. Everybody here it seems goes to church, and sings. Big and bouncy songs proclaiming the immpressive creations of God.

I’m not really sure which particular branch of Christianity is prracticed here, but, there are billboards a plenty professing the utter joy of and the Godly delight of having chunks of ‘intimate bodily protrusions’ removed from the male half of the populus. Believing in God is alien enough to me as it is, but to be circumsied ‘for God’ is frankly, insane. Iyt simply is not going to happen.

Am I happy to be here ? Yes. Simple question, straightforward answer.

Cheerio.