On paper, our pursuit of economic growth, self-reliance, and social justice in Swaziland is very much in line with the Busan principles. In practice, there is another story.

In 1988, the Swazi government embarked on a comprehensive planning system designed to meet emerging and serious challenges such as poverty and economic instability. Now complete, the Swaziland National Development Strategy (NDS) articulates the country’s…

Without sounding ungrateful one wonders if aid agencies or development partners are as effective in helping Third World countries in their course towards sustainable development. In Swaziland it began as an emergency response where food aid is concerned, but it later became an annual event. Some communities have become perpetual beneficiaries of food aid despite having received good rains, farm inputs, etc. They simply will not apply any effort towards producing their own food. This has…