NOW THAT THE DUST HAS SETTLED; NO NEED TO CELEBRATE MISIWE ARREST
...The Farce of Fighting Corruption in the Kingdom always targets the small fries.
The arrest of Misiwe Jele, a junior officer at the Ministry of Home Affairs and wife of a well-known pastor, sent eSwatini’s social media into a frenzy. If one had no context, they might have assumed she was a high-profile executive or a mastermind in some grand Multi million corruption scheme.
But let’s be honest—Misiwe is a small fry. A nobody in the grand scheme of eSwatini’s corruption crisis. While every effort to tackle corruption is commendable, we must not be fooled by the illusion that the state is serious about fighting graft.
The truth is, Misiwe Jele’s arrest is nothing more than a well-orchestrated performance—an act designed to give the impression that authorities are cracking down on corruption. This is not a fight against corruption; it is a distraction.
Where was this energy when Ecsponent stole millions from Swazis? When international investigative journalists unearthed names of the powerful figures who broke financial regulations and siphoned public funds, why was there no action? The answer is simple: real corruption in the country is protected. The looters of millions, the real criminals who bankrupt this country, are untouchable.
Instead, the law flexes its muscles on the weak—on people like Misiwe—because it is easier, safer, and convenient. This is not to exonerate Misiwe Jele—that is a matter for the courts to decide. But we must pour out our frustration that, time and again, we are expected to celebrate the arrests of small fries and those who steal a few thousand, while the ones who steal millions are left to enjoy their riches, knowing they are protected.
The people of this country must not be deceived into celebrating the arrest of insignificant figures while the true architects of corruption continue to enrich themselves at the country’s expense. We must demand accountability from those who have stolen millions, not just those who make for easy headlines.
Until the big fish are brought to book, this so-called fight against corruption remains a joke—a farce staged to pacify the masses while the looting continues behind closed doors. Misiwe Jele is not the victory we should be cheering.
She is a convenient pawn in a corrupt system that protects the real criminals. eSwatini deserves a true fight against corruption—not just theatrics that only target the helpless minnows while the sharks roam free.