Blossom of Thought

Blossom of Thought

By Life NkamArts
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Blossom of Thought episodes

  • Dumsane Tembe: Liberalism or Liberation and Swaziland

    Mr. Dumsane Tembe comes to the platform to talk about confusing liberal democracy with liberation in Swaziland. Mr. Tembe has a master’s in political science. He is a governance specialist, and political analyst, has experience in public policy development in RSA, writer, columnist, and blogger (Kunjalo D.co.za). He is doing his Ph.D. on the relationship between political leadership and government performance.

    Some of Mr. Tembe’s views and talking points in this episode are Swaziland and political negotiation, and liberalism versus liberation. Tembe believes that “If you are fighting for liberation, you don’t fight for dialogue, you fight for freedom.” If there are proper revolutionaries in Swaziland, they should intensify the struggle and not prioritize the dialogue. A dialogue is a smooth way of sustaining the status quo – it doesn’t bring change – a good example is South Africa. If the struggle is not won in the bush, it will not be won on the table – a fact to be learned from the South African struggle – a fact that has repeated itself.

    His view on liberalism is that in liberal democracy there is more propaganda and make-belief than the actual substance of freedom. Liberalism creates phony equality. Liberal democracy is unsustainable in a society of abject poverty such as Swaziland. Liberal democracy is about the rules of the political game not improving the lives of the people.

    Swaziland lacks servant leadership and it only has a parasitic leadership and needs a system that centers a Swazi citizen as the primary beneficiary.

    48 min
  • Dr. Jabulane Matsebula: On Good Governance and Swaziland

    Dr. Jabulani Matsebula returns to the show to converse with me about Good Governance relative to Swaziland. Dr. Matsebula has a Ph.D. in political sociology. He has held various positions in academia and government in Australia, including international multilateral engagement in the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum (APEC), G20, and OECD. He is also a founding member of PUDEMO one of the largest liberation political formations in Swaziland.

    We begin the discussion on the broader and complex concept of democracy and how it should be understood in the Kingdom of Swaziland. After this highlight, we zeroed things down to the main subject of this episode – good governance – the cornerstone of democracy. On this subject, Dr. Matsebula expounds on the enablers of good governance in general. This set the tone for Dr. Matsebula to respond to the critical question: Is democracy possible under a constitutional monarchy system dominated by the Dlamini royal family dynasty? Our guest makes it clear that the institution of the Swazi monarchy is irrelevant in Swazi politics. Hence Swaziland has a debt of R 26.9 billion. If the monarchy is maintained post-liberation, it is likely that it will pollute the new political landscape, says Dr. Matsebula. The government of the monarch rates terribly against the principles of good governance, and this bad governance is founded on king Sobhuza II’s 1973 proclamation (royal coup). We also give an analysis of the African culture – Ubuntu –as having the wherewithal to found good governance. Hence good governance is based on universal principles, not a European concept. By way of concluding this episode, Dr. Matsebula gives an outline of key factors that would underpin post-liberation democracy namely:

    • Annual GDP growth of 6 percent or above. Infrastructure development and job creation as a high priority.
    • Reduced unemployment rate to a single digit and set a trend toward full employment
    • Improved healthcare service – investment in new healthcare infrastructure as a priority.
    • Significant progress on transitioning the economy to digital production and services through improved access to high speed internet.
    • Improved fiscal management through smart and targeted public investment
    • Transformation of the public sector into an ethical professional body committed to serving the government of the day and the public.
    • Improved quality of education and access.
    • Efficiency and honesty in government supported by a system of checks and balances, accountability, and transparency.
    • A functioning multi-party democracy evidenced by the separation of powers, collaboration between the three arms of government and active multi-party participation.
    • Reduced poverty and increased access to opportunities for all. No one left behind or held back in the true spirit of Ubuntu and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. therefore I am.’
      • 43 min
    • Sandile Bhembe: King Sobhuza II Cunning Traditionalism

      My guest in this episode is Sandile Bhembe - a Swazi historian, business analyst, political activist, and member of the Peoples United Democratic Party (one of the political parties in Swaziland). Our discussion is on King Sobhuza II and his cunning traditionalism/elite culture based on the controversial belief that the people of Swaziland are Swazis before they are Africans.

      The highlights of our talk are:

      • The famed and much promulgated King Sobhuza II as one who has single-handedly gotten the Swazi people independence from Britain.
      • After the loss of the case in the Privy Council, Sobhuza II “changed his tactic and altered his persona refashioning himself into an arch-traditionalist.” He used traditionalism/“Elite culture”  as a basis of his political legitimacy and as a spear against political opponents or Swazi dissent.
      • How fear of modem African nationalism and majority rule united the tribal authorities (Sobhuza II’s camp) and the white community/settlers - including the advent of political parties, leading to Sobhuza II’s coup of 1973, Dr. Ambrose Zwane case, and 60 days detention, etc.
      • How in the 1930s and 1940s Sobhuza II began to strengthen and consolidate his cultural hegemony. Bhembe gives the genesis, evolution, and historical background of Tinkhundla.
      • Sobhuza II, prior to the April 1973 Decree had begun developing an army to counter his “lifelong mistrust of police loyalty,” as a motivation to establish political control.
      • The monarch is an outdated backward and very expensive project.
      • The irrationality of the claim of section 80 of Swaziland’s Constitution (2005) on decentralization of power and authority.


        • 49 min
      • John Trimble: Imperialism Was Built on Settler-Colonialism

        I talk to Dr. John Trimble on Imperialism and Settler-Colonialism in this episode. John Trimble is an educator and organizer with the Azania chapter of the All African People's Revolutionary Party. John holds a Master's degree from Stanford University in computer science and from UC Berkeley in operations research as well as a Ph.D. in systems engineering from Georgia Tech. In 2015 John retired as an Associate professor in systems and computer science at Howard University. John has recently retired as Professor in Industrial Engineering at Tshwane University of Technology in Azania/South Africa.

        Points of Discussion:

        • European adventurism and land grabbing in Africa, Pacific, Americas etc., founded settler colonies/states. Capitalism was built on the theft of land and resources in the process of colonization.
        • The effects of settler colonialism on indigenous people.
        • The best approach to reversing the effects of settler colonialism in Africa.
        • Psychological warfare and tactics used by imperialist/colonizers to justify theft of land and the genocide against indigenous people.
        • Settler colonial efforts in Africa from the 1884 Berlin conference. Settler Colonialism in Algeria, Kenya, Zimbabwe, Namibia, and South Africa.
        •  Africa's transition from independence to neocolonialism. Disunity enables neocolonialism.
        • The crusade to reclaim land back to natives without compensation in Zimbabwe and Azania/South Africa.
        • Why the Pan-African project with political education and organizing are fundamental tools towards the total liberation and unification of Africa from imperialist.


        56 min
      • Pius Vilakati: Class Struggle in Swaziland: Pre-and-Post-Independence Swazi Socio-Economic Conditions

        Pius Vilakati is the guest for this episode. Pius is a political activist and International Secretary of the Communist Party of Swaziland. He is a political exile, resident in South Africa. He is a former president of the Student Representative Council (SRC), a student board, of the University of Swaziland. In this episode, we explore the subject of Class Struggle in Swaziland: Pre-and-Post-Independence Swazi Socio-Economic Conditions.

        We discuss:

        • Pre-colonial socio-economic conditions in Swaziland and Europeans’ integration with the native aristocracy for the exploitation of the masses.
        • The Swazi resistance to colonialism
        • The establishment of a capitalist state in Swaziland, class struggle, and the rise of trade unions in Swaziland - moving from feudalism and communalism to capitalism.
        • Post-independence and neo-colonialization of Swaziland
        • The Swazi royalty cooperated with colonizers to oppress the Swazi people.
        • How Sobhuza II’s sabotaged the workers' movement to benefit the royal family (Swazi aristocrats) and European settlers.
        • Monarchical absolutism.
        • How Sobhuza II undermined the Azanian/South African liberation struggle through.
        • Like all Africans, the people of Swaziland have always fought for the control of their land.
        • In neo-colonialism, the colonizers will give you “freedom”, the flag, elections, national anthem, parliament, etc., but they control your economy and policies.
        • Swaziland is still a source of raw materials for exploitation and a labour force for the exploitation of our people for the benefit of foreign capital – e.g., the textile industry.
        • In Swaziland we need a democracy where ownership of the country and means of production are at the hands of the people – that means a truly sovereign state independent of foreign influence.
          • 59 min
        • Onyesonwu Chatoyer: The Cuban Revolution and African Liberation Struggle

          Onyesonwu joins me for this episode on the Cuban story and socialism. Onyesonwu is A Cadre and organizer of AAPRP, editor with Hood Communist (an anti-imperialist online publication), on the national coordinating committee of the Venceremos brigade (an organization opposing the U.S. embargo and travel ban, supporting normalized relations and recognizing Cuba’s accomplishments).

          We Discussion:

          • The history of Cuba before the 1959 revolution, the Spanish-US war, and the story of the African people in Cuba's resistance to Spanish colonization.
          • The armed uprising in Cuba overthrew the government of Fulgencio Batista on January 1, 1959, and how the revolution changed Cuba and what it meant for imperialism.
          • The establishment Cuban blockade under J F Kennedy’s administration and its effects on Cubans and Africans at large.
          • Cuba’s contribution to the African liberation struggle.
          • The misplaced barrage of attacks against Cuba in particular Ernesto “Che” Guevara and his involvement in the African struggle and the success and failures of that episode.
          • Socialism in Cuba and Cubans still work in progress despite the US blockade.
          • Obama, Trump, and Biden administrations’ relations with Cuba.
          • Demystifying claims of Castro and dictatorship, Cuba and racism, Cuba as imperialist/colonizer in its aid to the African liberation struggle.
          • The issue of “revolutionary theory” versus “lived experience” on Cuban and socialism.

            • “JOIN AN ORGANIZATION THAT WORKS FOR JUSTICE” – Onyesonwu Chatoya

            Read Onyesonwu writings on Cuba and other Pan-African articles in the Hood Communist (https://hoodcommunist.org/?fbclid=IwAR3gnINVcNy2wJW_bUbNA9vmlv8G36JvjECuASVVV7V_jZp62p1UpSz5f0) and the All African People’s Revolutionary Party (https://aaprp-intl.org/) website online.

            50 min
          • Dr. Jabulane Matsebula 2.0: Political and Economic Crisis in Swaziland

            On his return to our platform, distinguished Dr. Jabulane Matsebula speaks economic crisis in Swaziland and provides solutions. Dr. Matsebula has a Ph.D. in political sociology and has held various positions in academia and government in Australia, including international multilateral engagement in the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum (APEC), G20, and OECD.  He is also a founding member of PUDEMO one of the largest liberation political formations in Swaziland.

            He talks about:

            • The pillars or indicators of economic growth – namely – population, participation, productivity and production of goods and services, etc.
            • Leading economies are now operating on a digital platform economy and Swaziland should take the same trajectory.
            • Swaziland runs two economies: the general economy and the royal family economy.
            • King Mswati’s use of first-world status as a concept of economic analysis is an outdated post-cold war concept not used anymore in contemporary economic analysis. The Dr. thinks unemployment amongst young people in Swaziland is a national crisis and must be treated as such. The government has been unable to control unemployment for over 20 years.
            • What Swaziland needs is a government that works for the people and the general well-being of the people living in Swaziland. The government is preparing the youth for jobs that will not be there in the future.
            • The money given to the royal family by the government doesn’t go back to circulate in the economy because they shop overseas
            • The political system in Swaziland is rotten to the core and it can’t support economic growth. Swaziland needs a new system to rescue the economy. As things stand, there is more economic pain ahead for Swaziland.
            • If there are massive people without jobs, wages go down or they don’t grow.
              • 1 hr 21 min
            • Mduduzi G. Simelane 2.0: eSwatini Politics - Dialogue or No Dialogue?

              Legislator, Mduduzi G. Simelane returns to our show to give an update on the current political conundrum in the kingdom of Swaziland/eSwatini. More arrest and brutalizing of protestors and pro-democracy movement leaders by the king's armed forces continues.  

              The legislator talks about:

              • The main objective of Swaziland Liberation Movement (Swalimo) in the struggle.
              • What can be done to force the king to take the dialogue as an urgent matter?
              • Is it still relevant to anticipate dialogue with the king or Swazis have an alternative?
              • The king ritualistic seclusion using derogatory words against the citizens.
              • An invitational message to SADC, Chairman of SADC and president of South Africa, President Ramaphosa, and the rest of international community.
                • 31 min
              • Dr. Jabulani Matsebula: The Question of Dialogue or Negotiation in Swaziland

                Dr. Jabulane Matsebula is the guest for this episode. Dr. Matsebula completed a Ph.D. in political sociology in 2005 focusing on political developments in South Africa during the apartheid period and the transition to inclusive democracy. Dr. Matsebula has held various positions in academia and government in Australia, including international multilateral engagement in the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum (APEC), G20, and OECD. He is an experienced researcher, political analyst, negotiator, project manager, and stakeholder engagement. In academia, Dr. Matsebula has taught various political science subjects including international human rights law, governance, social movements, political transitions, public policy research, and the social influence on educational and employment outcomes.

                From 2016 to 2020, Dr. Matsebula represented the Australian Government in APEC forums in Peru, Viet Nam (ministerial-level dialogue), Papua New Guinea, Chile, and Malaysia. He led negotiations on the development of a regional framework for labour mobility management to allow a coordinated flow of human resources across the 21 APEC member states. During this time, Dr. Matsebula worked closely with senior government officials and subject matter experts from the World Bank, OECD, International Organization for Migration, International Labour Organization, APEC Secretariat, and universities across the region. In 2021, Dr. Matsebula founded a not-for-profit organization, People Against Poverty and Corruption, to alleviate poverty and fight corruption in Southern Africa. Dr. Mastebula is also one of the founding members of the Peoples United Democratic Party, one of the political parties in Swaziland.

                We talk about:

                • Lesson on the SADC response on the anticipated national dialogue.
                • Differences between "national dialogue," "political dialogue," and "political negotiation."
                • Are the conditions conducive for a dialogue that will produce a worthy outcome that will benefit the Swazi people?
                • How possible is a sound dialogue under the current constitution?
                • What can be done to make sure that the dialogue is democratic, and all concerned people have their voice not only heard but considered.
                • SADC has an agreement with King Mswati on the model of the dialogue without consulting "We the People."
                • Misgivings on the alliances such as the Political Party Assembly, Multi-Stakeholder Forum, and Swaziland United democratic Front representing Swazis in the dialogue.
                • Trust has been eroded in public or government institutions and what can be done to restore it.


                  • 59 min
                • Jacqueline Luqman: Five Things Characterising African Americans' Endless Struggle in the US

                  Jacqueline Luqman is the guest for this episode. She co-hosts “By Any Means Necessary” on Radio Sputnik, a daily show that analyzes current political and social events through an anti-imperialist, anti-capitalist, radical Black internationalist tradition and lens. She is also a contributor to The Real News Network, Editor-In-Chief of the social media program Coffee, Current Events & Politics in Luqman Nation, and a contributor to Black Power Media. She has more than 20 years of activism in Washington, DC focusing on participating in and supporting community-level issues as well as regional and national that impact working-class, poor, and oppressed people in the US and abroad. She is a member of the Black Alliance for Peace, Pan-African Community Action, is a supporter of several other grassroots radical Black-focused and led organizations, and is an active member of the Board of Social Action in Plymouth Congregational United Church of Christ, a progressive church in Washington, DC. https://sputniknews.com/author_luqman_jacqueline/

                  Jacqueline talks to us on:

                  • Five issues affecting, as she puts it, Africans in America (African Americans) – a) gentrification, b) miseducation, c) police assassination, d) mass incarceration and e) access to wealth.
                  • The struggle of African people all over the world is not covered in mainstream media in the U.S and that’s intentional.
                  • The struggle is the same for all Africans around the world – it's almost cultural.
                  • Miseducation - African Americans were told they didn’t have a history before enslavement.
                  • African Americans are conditioned to think that capitalism is the only economic system that makes sense.
                  • Police assassination- Barack Obama did nothing when African Americans were killed vigilant style. Police in the US are not legally required to report police brutality to anyone.
                  • Mass incarceration – African Americans were considered surplus people once enslavement was illegal. Mass incarceration is nothing more than the extension of the slave codes, black codes during the Jim Craw.
                  • The capitalist system, right along with white supremacy and militarism, is at the root of all the problems of African people.

                    • Find Jacqueline Luqman on

                    YouTube: Black Power Media & Luqman Nation

                    Twitter: Luqmannation1

                    Radio: Sputniknews.com listen live from 2:00 to 4:00 PM EST M-F and watch on YouTube from 3:00-4:00 at By Any Means Necessary.

                    56 min

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