SWAZILAND YOUTH NOT SO CHRISTIAN

Swaziland may not be quite the haven of Christianity that many people like to think.

A report just published shows that Swazi school students say they believe in Christ but don’t actually have a strong commitment and don’t regularly practice Christianity.

The report written by an evangelical Christian group found that although young people ‘believe the stories of the Bible, scripture reading is not a regular or formative practice’. It also found moral decisions ‘appear to be formed pragmatically and without religious formation. Forty percent regard the idea of sin as outdated.’

Many are not engaged in regular religious practice and religious study groups are small.

The report from One Hope / Spiritual State of the World’s Children is bound to shock leaders in Swaziland who constantly claim Swaziland as a Christian kingdom. It paints a bleak picture of life for young Swazis. Only half are ‘positive about their family experience’; many are ‘learning about sexuality primarily from media and pornographic magazines’ and a high number report contemplating or attempting suicide.

The report gives details of how school students see Christianity, but at times responses seem to me a bit contradictory. For example, 70 percent indicate that the Bible is accurate and provides moral truths yet 40 percent regard truth as relative; 28 percent feel that following the Bible for moral guidance is foolish. About 40 percent feel having morals as right ‘if it works,’ but they see ‘lying as a necessity’.

You figure it out.

One Hope describes itself as having ‘a mission to affect destiny by providing God’s eternal Word to all the children and youth of the world’. To read its full report click here.

SWAZILAND’S MANZINI DECLARATION

The full text of Swaziland’s Manzini Declaration has been released, following the kingdom’s first People’s Dialogue.

Leaders, members and representatives of Swazi civil society, the labour movement, political formations, the faith communities, women, youth, rural folk and the general public of Swaziland gathered in Manzini two weeks ago to deliberate, discuss and debate on a wide range of social, economic, cultural and political concerns affecting our people in Swaziland.

The Manzini Declaration is the result and it could become a crucial document in the fight for democracy in Swaziland as it was created and adopted by such a large number of people and organisations.

The Manzini Declaration states that ‘having affirmed our unity and solidarity in our diversity;

Cognizant of the many challenges confronting us as a nation; Desirous of entrenching democracy, peaceful conflict transformation, gender equality, sustainable development and national unity in Swaziland do make the following resolutions:

That we need to come together and struggle for sustainable development, decent work and end to abject poverty in Swaziland;

That all of our people have a right to health, education, housing, security and all the basic amenities of life;

That democracy, justice and freedom is the birthright of each and every Swazi, young or old, male or female, able bodied or living with a disability;

That freedom of expression, assembly, association and belief are constitutional guarantees that should not be violated by the state using any pretext;

That as a nation grappling with the AIDS pandemic, those living with HIV/AIDS or affected by it, directly or indirectly must have access to affordable health and medical services, be free from stigma and demonization in order to live productive lives full of dignity;

That Swazi women and girl children must be safeguarded from rape and other acts of gender specific violence and related outrages;

That our vibrant youth, being the future of the nation must be accorded all the support.

The Manzini Declaration sets out 13 demands around democracy and good governance; human rights; crime and the rule of law; gender and women’s issues; decent work; youth; education; plight of workers in the informal sector; land, environment, food security, agriculture; regional and international affairs; customs, tradition and culture.

To read the full Manzini Declaration click here.

Sikelela Dlamini writes about the People’s Dialogue on his blog. Click here.