Swazi Bridge News

10/09/2024

MTN PREMIER LEAGUE 2024 / 2025 SEASON STARTS THIS WEEKEND!

10/09/2024

XCHANGE LOUNGE & SHISANYAMA LAUNCHES WORLD-CLASS SWIMMING POOL

By Staff Reporter, The Bridge, 10 September 2024

Spring just got a whole lot more exciting for fun lovers, as Xchange Lounge & Shisanyama in Manzini proudly unveils its brand-new, world-class swimming pool. This latest addition promises to be the perfect spot for anyone looking to unwind with a refreshing dip, catch up with friends, or simply bask in the sun. Located at Ngwane Park in Manzini, this popular hangout has transformed into a complete oasis, just in time for the summer season.

In a rare and innovative approach, Xchange Lounge & Shisanyama has evolved into a one-stop leisure and entertainment centre, offering everything from braai meat, a coffee shop, bar, and restaurant, to a car wash, and now, the exciting new swimming pool. This multi-faceted venue is designed to cater to every need, making it the perfect destination for unforgettable summer moments. Picture yourself lounging poolside, sipping on refreshing drinks, surrounded by an upbeat atmosphere filled with laughter, relaxation, and good vibes.

Speaking to The Bridge, Xchange Director and well-known entrepreneur, Mxolisi "Waxola" Mabuza, expressed his gratitude for the overwhelming support from the people of Eswatini and beyond. "It has been truly encouraging to see the place improving, and the most recent addition—the swimming pool—has added some exciting flair, enhancing the aesthetics of our place. It now looks far more than just a lounge and shisanyama; it has become a multi-pronged lifestyle and entertainment centre that accommodates everyone," Mabuza shared with enthusiasm.

During our visit this past weekend, the pool was already bustling with people of all ages. Families, groups of friends, and even solo visitors were enjoying the water, with entry fees set at E50 for adults and E30 for kids. The vibrant, sun-soaked atmosphere made it clear that this swimming pool is the ideal spot to relax, entertain, and soak up the beauty of Manzini's sunny days.

Adding to the excitement, Mabuza announced that the poolside area is now available for hosting special events, encouraging people to make bookings for parties, celebrations, and more. Whether you are looking to swim, socialize, or celebrate, Xchange Lounge & Shisanyama's latest development offers an all-in-one experience that guarantees a summer like no other.

10/09/2024

UNFAIR ADVANTAGE CRIPPLING SWAZI FOOTBALL

By Sports Editor, The Bridge, 10 September 2024

On Sunday, 8 September 2024, the country’s army football club, Young Buffaloes FC, was crowned champions of the 8bet Trade Fair Cup after defeating fan favourites, Moneni Pirates, 2–0 in the final.

The army side walked away with E600,000 in prize money.

While such a victory would typically be a time for celebration and extending congratulations to the winners, it instead brings to light a deeper issue—one that requires serious reflection on the unfair competition between state-sponsored teams and those run by civilians. Civilians who, out of sheer passion for football, use their hard-earned family funds to support and sustain their clubs, only to be pitted against teams financed by taxpayers’ money.

Take Green Mamba FC, for example, a club backed by the Correctional Services Department, staffed by warders who are full-time state employees with regular salaries. Similarly, Royal Leopards, supported by the police, and Young Buffaloes, the army’s football club, benefit from state funds. These clubs enjoy a significant competitive advantage due to their dual contracts. Players are employed as security officers, earning salaries from their respective government departments, while also holding football contracts—mandatory for professional players under FIFA rules.

When these state-sponsored teams win prize money, the players receive bonuses on top of their government salaries. These players, although employed as military personnel or police officers, seldom perform their official duties. They spend their time training as full-time professional athletes, often both in the morning and afternoon, and competing on weekends. They are housed, fed, and enjoy all the benefits of being state employees.

During the 8bet Trade Fair Cup finals, Young Buffaloes arrived on a government bus in full view of the nation, as they always do. They faced Moneni Pirates, a civilian-run team whose owners and supporters must scrape together their personal resources just to keep the club afloat.

This contrast in resources raises a critical question: how is this allowed to continue in our football? It is fundamentally unfair and should not be permitted in any competitive arena. Why do we, as a nation, accept such inequities in our football league?

Surely, the players and management of state-sponsored clubs like Young Buffaloes must feel some unease about celebrating victories that are not truly earned through fair competition. Yet, we witnessed the National Army Commander, Mashikilisane Fakudze, exuberantly celebrating Young Buffaloes' victory—as if it were the result of a level playing field.

Meanwhile, clubs like Manzini Wanderers are teetering on the brink of relegation, largely due to financial struggles. These clubs, run by ordinary citizens, are competing against teams supported by taxpayer funds, making their uphill battle even steeper. It is disheartening to see clubs like Wanderers struggle while state-sponsored teams thrive with the backing of public money.

The administrators of our football, those at Sigwaca House, seem to turn a blind eye to the numerous issues plaguing the sport. This glaring inequality, however, should not be overlooked. It is time to address this unfair system—shame on those who allow it to persist.

On Sunday, 8 September 2024, the country’s army football club, Young Buffaloes FC, was crowned champions of the 8bet Trade Fair Cup after defeating fan favourites, Moneni Pirates, 2–0 in the final.

09/09/2024

"...When considering that former Finance Minister Majozi Sithole previously revealed that the country loses E80 million a month due to corruption, the recent arrests seem minor in the grand scheme of things. They leave the nation questioning when the real culprits—those stealing millions and crippling Eswatini's healthcare, education, and economic development—will be brought to justice. Recent reports have implicated individuals in the theft of millions, contributing to drug shortages in public health facilities and causing deaths, yet no arrests have been made. During the COVID-19 pandemic, essential funds meant to protect lives were stolen, resulting in fatalities, but still, no one has been held accountable..."

Click the link below to read the full article.

Last week, media reports highlighted the arrest of Assistant Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) investigator Bonginkhosi Dlamini, who was taken into custody for allegedly soliciting E200,000 from the head teacher of Lusoti High School in exchange for not pursuing an investigation into the reported mis...

08/09/2024

FINALLY OUR LAWYERS SAY WE CAN PUBLISH!!
...RFM HOSPITAL LIVES UP TO ITS DEADLY REPUTATION

"This was not the first time that evening; it had happened several times before. This heighted her anxiety as she worried how her child was breathing if electricity was going off this frequent. She began to pace around worried and fearful that her boy child was in danger.

Each time, the incubators, essential for the survival of premature babies, fell silent. The hospital’s backup generator sputtered and failed to keep the equipment running consistently. Desperate, Dlamini rushed to the nurses' station, only to find it unmanned. Panicking, she frantically searched for help and found several nurses asleep in a nearby room, completely oblivious to the effects of the power outage and the critical situation in the ward.

When she finally managed to wake them, their response was lethargic, as if her cries for help were an inconvenience rather than an emergency. The negligence did not stop there; Dlamimi was horrified to find that one of the nurses had even brought her own child to work, dividing her already limited attention. The nurse's child would roam around the ward with no problems and this became a muted concern to the expectant mothers who were already concerned about her decided attention..."

The once-respected Raleigh Fitkin Memorial (RFM) Hospital in Manzinihas been plunged into controversy and grief following a tragic incident in the maternity ward where the alleged dereliction of duty by nurses resulted in the deaths of several newborn babies last week.

05/09/2024

MR POLICE COMMISSIONER SIR, HOW FAR ARE YOUR INVESTIGATIONS?

Editorial

It has been over 18 months since the shocking and cowardly assassination of human rights lawyer Thulani Maseko, a crime that left the nation reeling. And yet, despite the passage of time, no arrests have been made. While the state has made significant progress in other high-profile terrorism cases, many involving arson and murder, this case remains unresolved. How can the public trust that justice will be served when such a high-profile killing lingers in limbo?

This is just one example of a troubling trend. Across Eswatini, several high-stakes investigations remain open, with no updates or breakthroughs in sight. It’s time to question the state of these investigations.

●PUDEMO President Mlungisi Makhanya’s Homestead Bombing:

Over a year has passed since Makhanya’s homestead was bombed, yet no suspects have been identified. What is the current status of the investigation?

● The Torching of Former Senate President Ngomyayona Gamedze’s Mercedes:

Gamedze’s car was torched under suspicious circumstances. Like many others, this case has gone cold, with no word from authorities. What leads, if any, have been pursued?

●Attempted Assassination of Lawyer Maxwell Nkambule:

Lawyer Nkambule narrowly escaped an attack where his car was sprayed with bullets. Given his profession and the tense political climate, his survival was a stroke of luck. But where does the investigation stand in this life-threatening attack?

● Attempted Petrol Bombing of MP Marwick Khumalo’s Homestead:

The attempted bombing of Khumalo’s homestead was a brazen attack, yet silence reigns on the investigation. What is being done to ensure the perpetrators are brought to justice?

●PUDEMO Deputy President Wandile Dludlu’s Car Bombing:

Dludlu’s car was petrol-bombed in an act of targeted violence. How long must the public wait for the Eswatini police to apprehend those responsible?

●Repeated Attempts on PUDEMO Secretary General Penuel Malinga’s Life:

Malinga has survived two petrol bomb attacks on his life and an assasination attempt at his hideout in Mobeni. These attacks are clear acts of intimidation, yet no arrests have been made. What is delaying the investigation?

● MP Bacede Mabuza shop arson

To this day we have still not heard any updates who set alight jailed MP Bacede Mabuza's shop. While progress and breakthroughs have been made on those who engaged in violence against the state we have not seen the same level of efficiency on arresting those who burnt MP Mabuza's shop.

● MP Gawuzela homestead arson

Former Siphofaneni Member of Parliament Mduduzi Gawuzela Simelane has not only recently lost a daughter and couldn't bury her but has his son in jail while his wife struggles to keep his family together alone and isolated. To compound MP Simelane's problems no one has been arrested for the arson on his homestead. The burning at Simelane's homestead happened at the height of the tumultuous year shortly after the 2021 uprising.

Mr. Commissioner, Eswatini demands answers. The people deserve transparency and accountability. These cases are not isolated incidents; they reflect a pattern of targeted violence, often politically motivated, which remains unresolved. What assurances can you provide that these cases are being given the attention they deserve? The public’s trust in law enforcement is eroding, and each day that passes without an arrest raises further concerns.

The time for silence is over. We need answers.

03/09/2024

Due to unforeseen technical and legal challenges, we've had to temporarily pause the publication of the story titled "RFM Lives Up to Its Deadly Reputation". Our legal team has advised us to hold off on publishing until we've addressed some minor legal technicalities. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause and assure you that we're working diligently to resolve these issues as quickly as possible. We will resume publication as soon as the legal matters are finalized. Thank you for your understanding.

Catch us tomorrow as we tell the experiences of women who gave birth at the RFM hospital and how they lost their babies. It's a tear jerking account of dereliction of duty by some nurses and a painful reminder of the cost of neglecting health care in the country. Catch it all tomorrow at www.swazibridge.com

31/08/2024

Catch us tomorrow as we tell the experiences of women who gave birth at the RFM hospital and how they lost their babies. It's a tear jerking account of dereliction of duty by some nurses and a painful reminder of the cost of neglecting health care in the country. Catch it all tomorrow at www.swazibridge.com

29/08/2024

TRIBUTE TO NOMBULELO MOTSA, THE GENERATIONAL LEADER UNEARTHED BY THE JUNE 2021 UPRISING

By Thabile Dlamini (EFFSWA)

Nombulelo Motsa, a name now etched in the annals of eSwatini’s struggle for democracy, was a beacon of hope, resilience, and unyielding courage. A feminist, revolutionary, and human rights activist, Motsa embodied the spirit of defiance against tyranny, leading her people with a fierce determination that ignited the hearts of many.

Rising to prominence during the June 2021 Swazi uprising, a pivotal moment in eSwatini’s history, Motsa emerged as one of the most formidable voices calling for justice, equality, and freedom. Her leadership was not just born out of the chaos of the uprising; it was cultivated through years of unwavering dedication to the cause of the oppressed. Motsa’s activism was a powerful force that challenged the status quo, refusing to be silenced even in the face of grave danger.

As the President of the Economic Freedom Fighters of eSwatini, Motsa was more than just a leader; she was a symbol of the people's aspirations, their dreams for a better, more just society. Her speeches, laced with passion and conviction, resonated deeply with the masses. She championed the cause of women, the marginalized, and the downtrodden, insisting that no one should be left behind in the fight for a democratic eSwatini.

Motsa’s sudden and untimely death has left a void in the democratic movement that cannot easily be filled. The movement is poorer without her, for she was not only a strategist and visionary but also a mother to the revolution, nurturing it with her love, her wisdom, and her unbreakable spirit. Her loss is not just the loss of a leader but of a guiding light that led many out of the shadows of oppression.

Yet, in mourning Motsa, we must also find strength. Her life was a testament to the power of unity and the importance of standing firm in the face of adversity. The greatest tribute we can pay to Nombulelo Motsa is to continue her fight, to push forward with renewed vigor, and to ensure that her dreams for a free and democratic eSwatini become a reality.

Let her name be the rallying cry for all who seek justice. Let her memory inspire us to unite, to overcome our differences, and to fight as one for the rights and dignity of every Swazi citizen. In Nombulelo Motsa’s honor, we must vow to never rest until eSwatini is free, until the human rights of every individual are respected, and until democracy prevails.

Her spirit will continue to guide us, her voice echoing in our hearts, as we carry on the struggle she so passionately led. Rest in power, Nombulelo Motsa. Your legacy will forever be the foundation upon which a new eSwatini will be built.

Lala ngekuthula Mvulane!! We shall pick your spear!!

24/08/2024

COLLAPSE OF ECSPONENT: DAVE HITS BACK AT MANYERE:

"... Manyere's tenure at Ecsponent Limited included roles as Director from March2017, Non-Executive Director until January 2019, and Executive Vice Chairman until March 2020. During his leadership, MHMK Group, which controlsentities including GetBucks, held the majority of Ecsponent Limited's shares.

The scandal revealed a loss of E340 million, with approximately half of thisamount loaned to Manyere's companies. This acquisition was only disclosed in financial statements and not communicated directly to shareholders..."

Click the link below to read the full article.

George Manyere, who served as CEO of Ecsponent Limited from March 2017 to March 2020 and is now a non-Executive Director of ESW InvestmentLimited, acquired Ecsponent Eswatini for E1 through his company MHMK.

23/08/2024

MULA SPORT AND BETWAY: A NEW ADDICTION PANDEMIC FOR HOPELESS YOUTH

By Manqoba Nxumalo

A new sports gambling epidemic is holding eSwatini youth and adults alike by the scruff of the neck and it is not a pretty sight.

Faced with rising unemployment and deepening level of poverty, eSwatini youth are opting for sports gambling as a temporary reprieve to the scourge of poverty.

However, lurking behind the lure of easy cash is the problem of addiction and depression caused by excessive gambling.
Like the urban myth of a pot filled with pleasantly tepid water and gradually heated, the frog remains in the water until it boils to death. This is true of gambling addiction too; it attacks slowly until you are deep in the abyss of shame and self-destruction.

Gambling is legal and controlled in the country. The Bookmakers’ and Taxation Act of 1970 makes land-based wagering lawful and regulated.

A license is available for land-based betting establishments in the country. In 2021, the first of its kind online game betting company was launched trading as MulaSport Company.

The company was launched as eSwatini’s first-ever premier online sports betting platform and licensed by the Ministry of Tourism and Environmental Affairs.

MulaSport betting license was issued in terms of section 3 of the Licensing of Bookmakers and Taxation Act (1970). The company's offices are located in Manzini and sold itself as offering Swazis above the age of 18 a platform to bet from as little as E10 in order to stand a chance to win up to E5 000.

Two years later, the company is making a killing as more Swazis have taken gambling as an easy escape out of poverty. The average age for a sports betting gambler in eSwatini is 27 years.

Speaking to the Sports Desk of News on Africa Eswatini Edition, Desiree Scott, MulaSports Social Media and Marketing Manager, said the company was impressed with the number of people participating on its platform.

“We are currently on 4 166 users and hoping for 10 000 by the end of the first quarter which is in April,” Scott was quoted saying. She added that more and more people are learning about MulaSport and the company intended on increasing the jackpot soon.

MulaSport allows customers to bet on soccer matches for most international leagues and cup matches including English Premier League, Spanish LaLiga, Italy Seria A.

Ayanda Dlamini, a resident of Sicelwini in Manzini, says he does not gamble on Mula Sport but uses Betway. Dlamini regularly flaunts his wins on social media, something that has proven to be a trap for financial pifflers quick on instant cash.

“I know of addiction, but I think I can still manage my gambling,” Dlamini says of his relationship with online sports betting. Dlamini is a student at the University of eSwatini and says he regularly plays Betway to augment the meagre allowance he gets from the government.

“What can we do my brother? We are poor and we have no way of making money,” Dlamini says of his “addiction" to sports gambling. According to a report by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), sports betting in Nigeria, the largest economy in Africa, was expected to generate a revenue of $2 billion by 2020. Other African countries experiencing significant growth in the betting industry include Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Ghana, and South Africa.

There are a few factors contributing to the growth of the Betting Industry in eSwatini and by extension Africa:

1. Mobile technology: The majority of Swazis have access to mobile phones, which has made it easier for them to access betting sites and mobile applications.

2. Youthful population: Over 60% of Africa’s population is below 25 years old, and this demographic is attracted to the excitement and thrills associated with betting. This is true of eSwatini too.

3. High unemployment rates: With job opportunities being scarce, many Swazis have turned to betting to make a living. However, betting has its downsides, with addiction and the possibility of losing investments being significant risks.

Oftentimes people addicted to gambling suffer in silence, at times not even realizing they have crossed the normal threshold. It is not unusual to find young people on Twitter routinely sharing their personal gambling experiences. Many of these young people bet continually on football games abroad.

They talk openly about this, to the point of sharing screenshots of winnings. What has been distinctly amiss, however, are the converse narratives.

What about everyone else who is gambling online but losing? Addiction, and gambling addiction in particular, is still a phenomenon that one can argue suffers a sort of biased perception, depending on the addiction.

In 2020, author and media personality, Khaya Dlanga, took to Instagram and opened up about his younger brother’s su***de. He talked about his struggle with online gambling and how it led to a “spiral of an addiction he could not get himself out [of]”

People tend to be a lot more accepting of substance or alcohol addictions, but not those to do with food or s*x. Those are taboo. While gambling addictions are now being recognised for what they legitimately are — addictions — it can still be difficult for people to accept that an individual would spend most, if not all, of their income on something that is purely dependent on chance.

Keitumetse Disemelo, a clinical psychologist based in Pretoria, describes addiction as a condition with many moving parts to it. “It impacts one’s daily functioning, and there is a lack of control in staying away from the specific behaviour,” she says.

“Individuals become dependent on this behaviour and make spontaneous decisions despite negative consequences that they themselves are aware of. Denialism is also key to addiction.”

A gambling disorder, which the American Psychiatric Association defines as repeated problem-gambling behaviour, is also linked with depression, anxiety, and su***de.

In fact, suicidality among those who gamble at problematic levels is higher than among the general population.

NB: This is a throw back article

23/08/2024

GETBUCKS ESWATINI'S OFFICIAL RESPONSE TO THE FORENSIC REPORT ON ECSPONENT ESWATINI LIMITED

By Advetorial


"Getbucks Eswatini acknowledges the publication of the forensic report commissioned by the Central Bank of Eswatini (CBE) and prepared by Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr Inc (CDH) on the collapse of Ecsponent Eswatini Limited. While we recognize the importance of such investigations, we firmly contest the inaccuracies and omissions in the report, specifically regarding the involvement of Getbucks Eswatini and the associated financial transactions. The report, as currently presented, is a complete cover-up as it attempts to localize a primarily South African issue. It is also trying to wrongfully implicate local officers who were deceived by an intricate South African based Ponzi operating as a money laundering scheme.

Overview of Getbucks and the MyBucks Group

Getbucks Eswatini, established as a microfinance institution, aimed to provide small short-term loans to underserving markets. As part of the MyBucks Group, founded by Dave Van Niekerk in 2011, the company sought to lead in financial technology by utilizing AI and other technologies to offer diverse financial products across Africa and other developing regions. Dave Van Niekerk, as the founder and primary force behind Getbucks and MyBucks, held substantial control over their operations.

Despite its rapid growth, MyBucks and its subsidiaries, including Getbucks, faced significant financial controversies, including allegations of mismanagement and fraud, culminating in the collapse of several operations. Getbucks Eswatini was since inception a subsidiary of Getbucks Limited (South Africa), where Dave Van Niekerk was the Executive Chairman/Chief Executive Officer and in control of all the various subsidiaries in numerous countries including Eswatini. Any transactions executed by Getbucks Eswatini were not made without Dave Van Niekerk’s knowledge, consent and approval.

Read full statement by clicking link

Getbucks Eswatini acknowledges the publication of the forensic report commissioned by the Central Bank of Eswatini (CBE) and prepared by Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr Inc.

22/08/2024

A MODERN, POWERFUL CHINA AND THE LEGACY OF XIAPING, BORN 120 YEARS AGO

By South China Morning Post

It is no exaggeration to say that China would scarcely exist in its current form had not Deng Xiaoping launched the country on its path to reform and opening up at the third plenum of the Communist Party in 1978. Long credited as the architect of China’s market reforms, Deng started the country on a path to modernisation that helped transform it from one of the world’s least developed economies into the powerhouse it is today.

All the more reason to mark Thursday, the 120th anniversary of Deng’s birth. Standing on a street in China today, it is hard to imagine just how alien a market economy would sound to the average Chinese in the late 1970s. The country had just emerged from a decade of chaos under Mao Zedong’s Cultural Revolution.

The economy was still centrally planned and the state controlled everything from workers’ wages to factory output and the price of products. Genuine private entrepreneurship had not existed since before the 1949 revolution

Rice, wheat, eggs and even bicycles were rationed, obtainable only with coupons issued by one’s local work unit, which provided lifetime jobs known as the “iron rice bowl”. The population was near 1 billion, hundreds of millions lived in poverty, just as many were illiterate and the education system was fractured by years of turmoil and neglect.

China now is the world’s second largest economy, its private sector a powerful engine for growth. The population is 1.4 billion. Hundreds of millions were lifted out of poverty; the literacy rate is among the world’s highest – achievements that have no historical precedent.

Challenges and transformation

Having suffered political purges and witnessed the excesses and inefficiencies of the command economy, Deng championed reforms with a dogged pragmatism punctuated by a stubborn streak and a willingness to be flexible that amazed many, including in the West. Born in Sichuan province, Deng went to France to work and study, learned about Marxism and joined the Chinese Communist Party.

Deng had a knack for plain-spokenness and an ability to explain the country’s ongoing challenges and transformation with enduring colloquialisms. Having set a clear direction at the plenum, Deng ushered in reforms to allow a private entrepreneurial class, shrugging off concerns about creeping capitalism by declaring “it doesn’t matter if the cat is black or white, as long as it catches mice”.

For Deng, it was fine to “let some people get rich first” as it would eventually help the country and lead to more Chinese becoming prosperous. And so a private business was registered in 1980 to mark the birth of China’s private sector.

Special economic zones were established to kick-start growth in southern and coastal areas, the first one in Shenzhen. Joint ventures allowed foreign businesses to invest in China. At the time few in China had any experience with free enterprise or knew what a joint venture was.

Ever the pragmatist, Deng declared that they would “cross the river by feeling the stones”, or figure it out as they went along. Stock markets followed in the 1990s in Shanghai and Shenzhen.

Deng again shrugged off concerns, gave the markets a green light and said: “If they don’t work, we’ll shut them down.” After the 1989 Tiananmen crackdown there was heated debate in the party over whether to continue with the reforms. Some argued opening up had also allowed in unwanted Western influence.

Deng ended the debate once and for all with his 1992 “Southern Tour” of Shenzhen, throwing his weight behind its success and setting the country firmly on the reform and opening path.

‘One country, two systems’

A strong supporter of science and technology, Deng sent Chinese students abroad to learn the subjects. He helped build a modern education system, bringing back compulsory education and reintroducing the national college entrance examinations, or gaokao. Deng’s influence on Hong Kong was no less significant. He was the architect of “one country, two systems”, originally with Taiwan in mind.

He was paramount leader during the talks with Britain on the Hong Kong handover. Applied to the city, the unprecedented policy firmly kept Hong Kong an integral part of China while allowing it to enjoy a high degree of autonomy under its capitalist system as a special administrative region.

This included retaining a common law system found nowhere on the mainland and helped bolster Hong Kong’s status as an international financial centre. Its integration with nine mainland cities in Guangdong province and Macau to make up the Greater Bay Area is a logical extension of Deng’s policies.

Facing a much changed economic and geopolitical landscape, President Xi Jinping is essentially deepening the reforms set in motion by Deng more than 45 years ago. Xi aims to shift the economy from its focus on traditional manufacturing to “high-quality” sectors, leveraging technology and efficiency.

He also has emphasised Hong Kong’s need to play a leading role in hi-tech and quality development, praised its common law system and stressed the importance of one country, two systems for the city’s development.

While Mao coined the phrase “seek truth from facts”, it was Deng who actually drove the pragmatic policies inherent in that maxim. China still has far to go to achieve the transformation that will help it break out of the middle-income trap and join the club of rich nations, but at this juncture it is worth reflecting on how far it has come, thanks to the foundation built by its diminutive leader from Sichuan.

NB: Article sourced from South China Morning post