In my honest opinion, some civil servants are just cry-babies.
For the past week they have made a hullabaloo following utterances made by the principal secretary (PS) in the Ministry of Public Service that government employees should look presentable when they go to work and follow a formal dress code.
I am sure when all these civil servants were hired and signed their letters of appointment at the Civil Service Commission (CSC), there was a clause that they must look presentable. I am not sure which clause it is under the General Orders, but we all know that if you have an office job, you must dress the part.
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Since they were too happy to be finally employed, I guess they did not read the fine print.
I remember many years ago, I used to have boncane who worked at the Ministry of Finance and Ministry of Education and Training and they always looked like a million bucks. They each had three black skirts of different makes, which they would wear on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays with various coloured shirts. These were long-sleeved because, back then (not sure if it still applies), female civil servants were barred from showing their arms.
It goes the same with men: visit dobha phansi, buy dark pants and shirts, and you are good to go.
However, some civil servants are now moaning that they earn too little to afford to look decent at work. Kanjani? Some earn, for example, E8 000. From that amount, they pay E400 in rent because government rent is fair. Compare that to a journalist earning the same E8 000 but paying E1 000 in rent in Mbabane.
We have tried for many years in the journalism industry to professionalise our dress code. Instead of constantly wearing branded T-shirts from sponsors like MTN, we try to dress to suit our line of work. There is nothing wrong with branded T-shirts, but they must fit your professional setting.
I’ve seen civil servants wearing branded gold T-shirts carrying the names of their ministries—and that still looks formal and decent.
I also read in our sister publication, the Saturday Observer, that SNAT Secretary General Lot Vilakati said as long as there was no money to buy clothes, teachers would find it hard to comply with the dress code directive. But honestly, in my life as a pupil at Mqolo Primary School through St Michael’s High, I’ve never seen a teacher shabbily dressed. Most teachers bayatitsandza, hence the respect they command as “Mam,” “Miss” and “Sir.” Even Mr Lot Vilakati himself always looks sharp at formal meetings, except when he wears camouflage outfits, which shows he can afford decent clothes.
I would sympathise more with the police, fire personnel and army, who constantly wear uniforms that can quickly wear out. However, if pupils survive on two or three uniforms per term, surely civil servants can also make a plan.
I doubt the PS said civil servants must buy Dolce & Gabbana, Gucci or Louis Vuitton. He simply asked that they look presentable.
Lately, both schools and ministries sometimes hold culture days, and I see nothing wrong with imvunulo in workplaces—it is formal attire in our context.
Uniforms? I don’t think that would work. Everyone would want to choose their own design, and we’d likely face corruption in tenders. Plus, what about those who refuse to wear them?
Civil servants honestly have bigger problems than what the PS said. Like all of us, they need to deal with mental health, exercise, stay healthy, and raise children in a good environment.
Imagine your peace of mind being clouded by a PS saying you must look presentable. Personally, I enjoy being complimented on how I look. And the truth is, I can’t afford high-end fashion either, but the basics are important: a black skirt, a white shirt, and a blazer.
Till next week, don’t forget to be kind.
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