Perspectives on Poverty in Swaziland
History and Contemporary Forms
Rapporteur : A.M Kanduza
On 7th and 8th December 2000, a national workshop which was sponsored by the Organization for Social Science Research in Eastern and Southern Africa (OSSREA) and organized by the Swaziland National Chapter was held at Mountain Inn, Mbabane. Participants came from the University of Swaziland, UNDP, UNESCO National Commission, and Non-governmental Organizations (NGOs). The NGOs which were represented were the Women's Resource Centre (Umtapo wa Bomake), Coordinating Assembly of NGOs (CANGO), Women and the Law in Southern Africa, World University Service - Swaziland (WUS-SD), Save the Children Fund, World Vision International and Red Cross Society. Thirty-four participants attended on the first day and twenty-nine participants were present on the second day and thirteen papers were presented at the workshop.
The theme of the workshop was: Perspectives on poverty in Swaziland: Historical and contemporary forms. The objectives of the workshop were the following:
(a) To provide an opportunity for sharing the results of the most recent research on the nature of poverty in Swaziland;
(b) To promote dialogue between various stakeholders as a contribution to the process of adopting appropriate remedies on poverty;
(c) To promote comparative insights into the nature of and strategies adopted to address poverty in Swaziland; and
(d) To advance academic activities which OSSREA sponsors and supports in Swaziland.
The following were sub-themes of the workshop:
(a) Definition and nature of poverty in the 20th century
(b) Women and poverty
(c) Children, youths and poverty
(d) Poverty and Politics in Swaziland
(e) Comparative perspectives on poverty in Swaziland
(f) Strategies to alleviate poverty in Swaziland.
The Acting Vice-Chancellor of the University of Swaziland, Prof. B. M. Dlamini, opened the workshop on 7 December through a speech, which was read on his behalf by Dr. B. A. B. Sikhondze, Dean, Faculty of Humanities. The Acting Vice-Chancellor expressed deep gratitude to OSSREA for supporting research in Swaziland, and also in Eastern and Southern Africa. In particular, he congratulated OSSREA on the workshop. In December 1989, OSSREA had sponsored a regional conference in Swaziland whose theme was Agricultural history in Eastern and Southern Africa. In April 1997, OSSREA had also sponsored the first national workshop in Swaziland whose theme was Issues in the economy and politics of Swaziland since 1968. The Acting Vice-Chancellor also commended OSSREA and the local organisers for choosing the theme of poverty for the current workshop because this demonstrated an awareness of serious problems facing, not only Swaziland, but also many countries in the region. He also appreciated the idea of encouraging a broad range of participants from the University of Swaziland and those who came from outside the University. It was important that there was a constant dialogue between academics, policy makers, implementers and those with the means to mobilise local and international resources for poverty reduction.
The papers presented at the workshop reflected diverse academic backgrounds. The theme of the workshop was so relevant and interesting that every participant was able to contribute to the discussions.
One fundamental aspect of the workshop was its drawing together people and institutions involved in reducing poverty. It was appreciated that an intellectual ritual which academics usually keep to themselves in university seminar rooms was brought out into the open and called for the participation of people and institutions directly involved in eliminating poverty. The workshop was found to be enlightening as representatives of the NGOs commented on the papers by drawing on the first-hand experiences they gained from working with various communities in Swaziland. In general, there was much appreciation that this workshop was organised because it provided for a debate of an important subject by people who normally do not share their experiences.
In the end it was resolved that such meetings should be organised frequently because other people's experiences are important lessons and the workshop was a useful way of channelling these experiences into a common pool.
