MBABANE- A local man, who grows cannabis (dagga) is wondering why other countries, where the plant is legal, are assisting Swaziland to eradicate it.
The man, who will not be named, says the fact that the United States aids the Swazi police force in their eradication of local crops is ludicrous.
"In fact, in the US State of California, the legalisation of possession and the sale of marijuana have qualified for the November ballot. If accepted, this law will make it legal to posses 28.5 grams of marijuana and to grow limited amounts of it for personal use. In Canada, the British Columbia Marijuana party’s platform calls for the law on marijuana prohibition to be repealed, and in Amsterdam, it is legal to purchase marijuana from a coffee shop," he explained.
"People in Swaziland do not realise how much money can be made," said the grower, who acknowledged that high quality dagga could be sold for over E2000 a kilogramme.
"Europe and the US grow it, why not here? I do not really care if they legalise it because my money comes in regardless, but what are they afraid of?" he wondered.
"It is illegal to grow dagga in Swaziland, yet a lot of people are doing it," said Sigwe Member of Parliament, Sivumelwano Nxumalo.
"Some people have talked about legalising it, but it has never been seriously taken up. I think we need to have a real discussion on its benefits and side effects."
According to another government official, who did not want to be identified, the legalisation of dagga should be seriously considered, as its taxation could provide an alternative source of revenue for the government.
"Right now, government revenue is seriously declining," he said. "And we all know that marijuana is being grown here, so why not tax it to create an alternative source of revenue? It was discussed at a meeting last year, though it was initially laughed at. It just won’t happen under the current leadership."
According to Superintendent Albert N. Mkhatshwa, international liaison in charge of drugs, there is no possibility of dagga being legalised in the near future. "It is not possible, especially since we are fighting this crime with other African countries where it is illegal," he said. "I do not think it should be debated, it would really complicate our jobs, as dagga leads people to commit many crimes."
Swaziland’s dagga is world renowned for its quality, yet the possibility of its legalisation has yet to be explored in the Kingdom.
Known locally as ‘dagga’, marijuana is a widely grown cash crop in Swaziland. Its product is consumed locally and exported to countries such as South Africa as well as Europe, which makes the Kingdom one of the largest marijuana-growing areas in the Southern African region. This year, the Royal Swaziland Police eradicated between 80 and 165 hectares of dagga per month.
"But we can benefit from these natural seeds," says an individual who has grown dagga for years, who refuses to be named due to the nature of his business. "Governments around the world allow the growing of marijuana, yet Swaziland continues to destroy the crops of rural people who are only trying to send their children to school."
The man, who will not be named, says the fact that the United States aids the Swazi police force in their eradication of local crops is ludicrous."Why is it that they can come here and destroy peoples’ livelihoods when you can buy marijuana from a vending machine in California?" he asked.
"In fact, in the US State of California, the legalisation of possession and the sale of marijuana have qualified for the November ballot. If accepted, this law will make it legal to posses 28.5 grams of marijuana and to grow limited amounts of it for personal use. In Canada, the British Columbia Marijuana party’s platform calls for the law on marijuana prohibition to be repealed, and in Amsterdam, it is legal to purchase marijuana from a coffee shop," he explained.
"People in Swaziland do not realise how much money can be made," said the grower, who acknowledged that high quality dagga could be sold for over E2000 a kilogramme.
"Europe and the US grow it, why not here? I do not really care if they legalise it because my money comes in regardless, but what are they afraid of?" he wondered.
"It is illegal to grow dagga in Swaziland, yet a lot of people are doing it," said Sigwe Member of Parliament, Sivumelwano Nxumalo.
"Some people have talked about legalising it, but it has never been seriously taken up. I think we need to have a real discussion on its benefits and side effects."
According to another government official, who did not want to be identified, the legalisation of dagga should be seriously considered, as its taxation could provide an alternative source of revenue for the government.
"Right now, government revenue is seriously declining," he said. "And we all know that marijuana is being grown here, so why not tax it to create an alternative source of revenue? It was discussed at a meeting last year, though it was initially laughed at. It just won’t happen under the current leadership."
According to Superintendent Albert N. Mkhatshwa, international liaison in charge of drugs, there is no possibility of dagga being legalised in the near future. "It is not possible, especially since we are fighting this crime with other African countries where it is illegal," he said. "I do not think it should be debated, it would really complicate our jobs, as dagga leads people to commit many crimes."
Swaziland’s dagga is world renowned for its quality, yet the possibility of its legalisation has yet to be explored in the Kingdom.
Known locally as ‘dagga’, marijuana is a widely grown cash crop in Swaziland. Its product is consumed locally and exported to countries such as South Africa as well as Europe, which makes the Kingdom one of the largest marijuana-growing areas in the Southern African region. This year, the Royal Swaziland Police eradicated between 80 and 165 hectares of dagga per month.
"But we can benefit from these natural seeds," says an individual who has grown dagga for years, who refuses to be named due to the nature of his business. "Governments around the world allow the growing of marijuana, yet Swaziland continues to destroy the crops of rural people who are only trying to send their children to school."
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