12 MONTHS OF LIVING A DREAM

One day you are just a boy from Sihhoye chasing dreams and the next you are an advisor to a whole Minister of the Crown. How did we get here?

The past 12 months or so have been properly surreal. I want to reflect on this incredible year.

So, I left the Swazi Observer in August 2018 after a memorable 10 months there. Nothing, though, could have prepared me for the subsequent 12 months which have felt like 12 years. It's been a year of constantly reminding myself that this is actually a real life story.

Anyway, let me take you back to the beginning and offer some sort of context. The journey to this job itself was a very long one. It took almost a year but when it did eventually arrive, it was absolutely worth it.

So, His Majesty's Government had not had a fully fledged communication cadre since independence in 1968. And so our posts were created with the two main objectives of ensuring that Government speaks in one voice and also for the overall betterment of Government communication, particularly with the public.

In summary, our positions are, first and foremost, advisory roles.

Learning from the Govt. Spokespersons
Knowing the magnitude of the task ahead of us, our boss, the Government Spokesperson, Mr. Percy Simelane, used the phrase "Never say die" countless times during our first meeting in September 2018. He was preparing us for the challenges that we would face as the first ever Communicators in our various Ministries. That phrase has now become our mantra- rarely does a week pass by without one of my colleagues posting "Never say die" in our always lively WhatsApp group.

The support and guidance of our bosses at the Press Office (Mr. Simelane & the Assistant Government Spokesperson Mr. Sabelo Dlamini) is undoubtedly the biggest reason why we still stand today. I experienced it before I had even assumed my duties at the Ministry of Sports, Culture & Youth Affairs and again a few weeks into the role. On the latter situation, I, together with another colleague, were on the brink of not getting paid in one of our first few months on the job. The story goes that Mr. Simelane went to department responsible for that and had a ‘word' with them. Long story short, we got paid.

When Mr. Simelane (or ‘Percy' as many like to call him) speaks, people listen. I witnessed this during our Christmas party in Pigg's Peak last year December. We (Government Communication Cadre) are a small group, so it was just us, Ministerial Communication Officers and our three bosses at the Press Office. Mr. Simelane's birthday had only been a few days earlier and we sang him the happy birthday song. He hadn't expected it. He was moved, he was properly moved. He also performed the ‘idibala' for us, but that's a story for another day.

We then gathered around the table as he prepared to address us. Just a few metres from our table, there was another Government department having their lunch, about 20 of them. When Mr. Simelane started speaking, all eyes turned to our table. They just stopped all they were doing and turned their attention to us. It was crazy. But they had to listen, that legendary Government Spokesperson was speaking.

I have learnt an awful lot from our leaders there at the Press Office. Working in Government communication is not easy but their experience & wisdom have been incredibly helpful. As a cadre we meet every month at Cabinet offices on Hospital Hill. Pulling up there every month, a place with so much history, the seat of Government, still, to this day, feels surreal.

Working with the Hon. Minister
My first interaction with Hon. Bulunga as my Minister was after the Cabinet swearing-in ceremony in November last year. The swearing in ceremony was held on the morning of 6 November and from there, Hon. Ministers went to their respective Ministries for the very first time. So, on that afternoon, Ministry of Sports HODs gathered to meet the Hon. Minister in his office. When the Principal Secretary Prince Mlayeto introduced me as the Ministry's Communication Officer, the Hon. Minister said he thought I was still a journalist when I was busy photographing him at the swearing in. "Hawu, mine bengitsi useyintsatseli nawungishuta letulu," he said. Indeed, just a few months earlier, while still at the Observer, I had written a piece about him as he took over as Moneni Pirates head coach. And now we were to work together.

From that moment on, the wheels were set in motion for an amazing relationship with the Hon. Minister. I still pinch myself, when, at an event, he asks, “Zondi, can I do this?” or “Zondi, is it okay if I do something like this?” It is some feeling knowing that a whole Minister of the Crown completely trusts you. Rarely do two days go by without us talking. Most of this happens on WhatsApp. I have a funny rule for that. Whatever he says or whatever we talk about, I have to send the last message. I cannot blue-tick a Minister of the Crown!

Our amazing relationship aside, Hon. Bulunga is a leader par excellence. His greatest traits? There are many but perhaps his time keeping skills have truly set him apart. He is absolutely flawless when it comes to keeping time. He also seeks and listens to advice. More than anything, he is a true people's person. What a man!

Meeting the Rt. Hon. Prime Minister
His Excellency the Right Honourable Prime Minister Ambrose Mandvulo Dlamini first met our small cadre in December at Cabinet offices but I was bereaved and therefore wasn't part of that meeting. My colleagues told me though that the Premier said a lot of motivational things that day.

On the 29th March 2019, the Rt. Hon. PM came to visit the Ministry of Sports and after meeting staff members, HODs remained behind for a much more detailed meeting with the Premier. I also got a chance to present about the Comms. Office to the PM and I still remember his exact words after that presentation. “Thank you for that concise presentation.” It was incredibly amazing getting that reaction from the PM.

And then one day in May earlier this year, just after 9 am, we got a message from the Press Office that Premier was calling us (Comms. Officers) to a meeting where he would be unpacking the Strategic Roadmap to local Editors. I remember I had to rush back to the house to get a blazer and a tie. The stuff of dreams man.

That first radio interview
A couple of weeks back I had to do something that was well and truly out of my comfort zone. For all the love that I have for writing, talking is not something that comes naturally to me. So, when I had to go live on SBIS' Current Affairs Show Letishisako to talk about the Ministry's relocation, I was a bit shaken. But as always, my colleagues stepped in. On the morning of the interview, my ‘partner' Nompilo Mncina, the Comms. at the Ministry of Labour, texted, “Good luck partner. Remember, it's just a normal telephone conversation.”  I needed that.

Dreams do come true
All of this has been made possible by the grace of the living God. To Him, the glory belongs. Dreams really do come true. He makes them come true.

I don't know what will happens in the next 12 months but this past year has been an incredible ride. I am looking forward to learning and unlearning more.

I pray for everyone reading this, may all your dreams come true.

By Sibongiseni Zondi