CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEAR STATEMENT 2015

BY THE RT HON PRIME MINISTER

DR B.SIBUSISO DLAMINI

AT THE CABINET OFFICES, CAPITAL HILL

WEDNESDAY 23 DECEMBER 2015

On behalf of His Majesty and Her Majesty we wish the Swazi Nation a merry Christmas and a happy new year.

On behalf of His Majesty's Government we wish Their Majesties and the Swazi Nation a successful celebration of the iNcwala Ceremony, a merry Christmas and a happy new year.

Christmas is traditionally a truly happy time. While life invariably presents challenge, whoever and wherever you are, that is for the rest of the year. At Christmas we celebrate. We spend time with our family and friends, sharing food, exchanging gifts, enjoying and strengthening our respective relationships.

For Christians across the world it is also the time to sing and worship in joy and thankfulness, celebrating the birth of a man God called Jesus Christ who was born at this time more than two thousand years ago. On the evening of that day, there was no room in the inn for Mary his mother, and Joseph her husband. So Jesus was born in a place that represented the ultimate in humility - a manger, which was a feeding trough used for animals. He retained that humility throughout his extraordinary life, teaching, healing and leaving an everlasting legacy of spirituality and morality.

For non-Christians, Christmas is still a time for celebration and goodwill to mankind. I say this, remembering that remarkable incident on Christmas Day 1914, at the Western Front of the First World War. A million men of the two armies - bitter enemies in the midst of truly horrific trench warfare - dropped their weapons in a temporary truce, and joined together for celebrations, which even included games of football. It remains one of the most enduring images of the peace and generosity that can be found in the Christmas spirit.

This festive season will be a time when not only will Swazis and long-term residents in our country be uniting in joy and merriment, but there will also many visitors from outside Swaziland. We will ensure that they feel welcome in the Kingdom and that they leave with powerfully happy memories of their stay here.

Some will already be in the country, many of them having attended our iNcwala ceremony. Being an internationally-renowned traditional event, it attracts many visitors as well as the large number of Swazis. We wish Their Majesties a continuing joyous celebration of iNcwala .

No time of large scale festivity is without what we might call - the balloon poppers - those people who spoil the party. In our society arguably the largest example is the members who choose to consume alcohol, then decide to take to the roads in their vehicles, aware that in doing so they are endangering the lives of innocent people. That is such a serious form of dysfunctional and selfish human behaviour that it does of course attract heavy official penalties under the law. Yet we continue to see evidence of this behaviour despite the increased vigilance of our Police and the strong arm of the law. And, of course, such behaviour tends to be even worse at Christmas time.

So I ask every driver in this country to think very carefully about these words. Do not drink and drive. Avoid at all costs the risk of death or serious injury to innocent victims, and for a drunken driver a criminal record, shame and disgrace. It is no good being remorseful after the tragedy. Think carefully about it and resolve to abstain completely from driving with alcohol, or any other substance with a similar effect, in your bloodstream. I give the Government warning that drink-driving will attract very heavy penalties together with the usual public disclosure.

And while we celebrate Christmas 2015, let us all remember that within our own society there are fellow Swazis who are suffering. Thousands of our people are experiencing the severe deprivation imposed by the ongoing drought. They cannot celebrate Christmas in any normal manner. I take this opportunity to assure all those experiencing hardship, and indeed the entire Nation, that the newly formed National Disaster Management Agency has drawn up a mitigation plan, for which Government will now set about securing the necessary finance. The water and food shortages are not going to disappear overnight. A proper plan has now been drawn up and will be implemented as a matter of the highest urgency.

There will be others in our society who are also challenged in one way or another, whether it be physical or mental sickness, or some form of personal disaster or insoluble problem.

I would like those of our people who can expect a normal Christmas to think carefully about how they can do something to help those individuals or communities who are seriously challenged this Christmas. I ask you to visit a hospital, taking gifts for in-patients or just a word of comfort. You can also look energetically for agencies that are helping drought victims and will appreciate donations or other forms of assistance. Look to your nearest Neighbourhood Care Point and see how you can be of assistance over this Christmas period to vulnerable children who will not be able to experience a loving family gathering.

As we approach the end of 2015 we should, each of us, reflect on what we have seen and achieved over the past year. We have enjoyed peace and stability in our country and can look forward to collectively, and with a moral and emotional strength, facing the challenges that may lie ahead. For this serenity we thank Their Majesties for what they represent and for what they have contributed to their country over the past year. We can also be grateful for how Swazi culture and tradition has shaped our character, individually and collectively as a Nation, favouring consultation over conflict, collaboration over polarity. Peaceful coexistence is a key identifier in our national personality. Let us be so grateful, thanking God, our King and Queen Mother, and our fellow citizens for the part each continues to play in sustaining the culture of peaceful co-existence and loyalty to our Monarchy.

We also extend our deep appreciation to the essential services that will be working over Christmas. These include the Police, Army and Correctional Services, as well as those who will be in place to ensure that we have vital public services such as well-staffed health services, functioning water and electricity supplies, fire and emergency services. I also take this opportunity to thank the religious leaders of our country who will play an important part in the inspiration and guidance of those celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ. At the same time we shall all continue to pray for rain and the alleviation of hardship among the many people currently affected.

As I conclude, it is my honour once again, on behalf of His Majesty's Government, to wish Their Majesties and the Swazi Nation a successful celebration of the iNcwala Ceremony, a merry Christmas and a happy new year.

Thank you.