Alex Lushaba

One of the biggest mistakes we can make as a nation is to think education is only important when a child is already inside a classroom.

Education starts long before school fees are paid. It starts with how we speak to children. It starts with whether they sleep with hope or fear. It starts with whether they grow up believing their dreams matter or believing they were born to survive only.

A teacher can explain Mathematics, Science, Accounting, Literature, and Geography. But a nation must still help a child believe that their future is possible.

The child sitting quietly in the back of a classroom today could become the doctor who saves your mother tomorrow. The girl struggling to buy sanitary pads today could become the Minister who changes this country one day. The boy walking 10 kilometres to school could become the engineer who builds industries and creates jobs for thousands of people.

Education is not just about passing exams. Education is nation-building. Education is poverty reduction. Education is crime prevention. Education is economic growth. Education is dignity.

And the painful thing is that many brilliant children are not failing because they are not intelligent. They are failing because life is heavier than their dreams. Hunger is louder than the classroom. Depression is stronger than concentration. Poverty steals confidence before a child even writes an exam.

That is why supporting education must never be left to teachers alone. Parents must care. Communities must care. Businesses must care. Government must care. Former students must care. We all have a role to play in protecting the future of children.

A country that invests in education is investing in safer streets, stronger families, better leadership, healthier communities, and a more stable economy.

The greatest buildings in the world were first built in somebody’s mind. The greatest companies were once ideas inside ordinary classrooms. The greatest leaders were once children who simply needed one person to believe in them.

May we never become a society that celebrates expensive lifestyles more than educated minds.
May we never normalise children losing hope.
May we never forget that classrooms still carry the future of this nation.

Education remains one of the greatest acts of love we can give to another human being.

Alex Lushaba
Consider It Done.

Last week Saturday, I travelled to Siteki with a few close friends to spend time with students at Good Shepherd High School. This year has honestly been one of the busiest and toughest years of my life, with very little time to spare, but deep inside me I had already decided that no matter how demanding life becomes, I would still dedicate one Saturday to this school. Good Shepherd has been requesting my visit for years, and I am grateful I finally honoured that commitment.

What a beautiful and powerful session we had. From the moment we arrived, the warmth from the teachers, the energy from the students, and the atmosphere within the school touched my heart. I met passionate and supportive teachers, grounded and positive headteachers, and people who genuinely care about changing young lives through education. One of the highlights for me was meeting what I can confidently call one of the best Literature teachers in the country. The passion she carries, the love she has for students, and the belief she has in education was deeply inspiring. You could immediately see that for her, teaching is not just a job, it is a calling.

For almost four hours, I had honest conversations with the students about life, academics, discipline, sacrifice, dreams, and purpose. We spoke deeply about having a vision for your life before the world decides one for you. We spoke about pursuing academic excellence with endurance and consistency, even when things become difficult. I challenged them to choose friends wisely because the people around you can either build your future or slowly destroy it. I reminded them that many of the struggles they face today are temporary sacrifices for a future they have not yet seen but must continue believing in. Most importantly, I encouraged them not to spend their entire lives blaming where they come from. Some of us come from painful environments, poverty, rejection, and difficult backgrounds, but our beginnings must never become prisons. The future is still waiting to be created by us.

Not every student in that room will remember every word I said, and not all of them will apply the lessons immediately. But over the years I have learnt that if even a few truly listen, believe, and act, entire generations can change. As I left Siteki that afternoon, I felt hopeful again because inside those classrooms are future leaders, doctors, teachers, entrepreneurs, and nation builders. Sometimes all a child needs is one conversation, one moment of belief, and one reminder that their life can become greater than their current circumstances. And for me, that will always be worth the journey.

I would like to sincerely thank the entire Good Shepherd High School family for the warm welcome, the love, and the opportunity to spend time with such brilliant young minds. My prayer is that the school continues to grow from strength to strength and produces excellent academic results and even greater human beings for our country. May God continue blessing the leadership, the teachers, and every staff member carrying the responsibility of shaping futures every single day.

To the parents, thank you for continuing to fight for your children, even during difficult times. Parenting is not easy, but your sacrifices, prayers, guidance, and support matter more than you may ever realise. I wish you strength, wisdom, and peace as you continue raising the next generation of leaders, professionals, and nation builders.

And to the students, keep believing, keep pushing, and keep dreaming. Your current situation is not your final destination. The future is still waiting for you.

As winter settles in, I always think deeply about our students across the country. Some of you wake up before sunrise every morning just to be at school by 7am, some 745am. Some leave home in the cold darkness and walk long distances to get to class. Others stay at school until 4:30pm, only to return again later for evening study sessions. Many of you spend weekends at school while others are resting or enjoying themselves. I know it is not easy, and sometimes it feels unfair and exhausting.

However, I want you to understand something very important. The struggle you are experiencing now is temporary. It has a purpose. Education demands sacrifice, discipline, consistency and discomfort for a few years so that your future can become better and more stable. The cold mornings, the long walks, the late-night studying and the pressure you feel today are all investments into a life that can open opportunities for you and your family tomorrow.

The truth is that life will still require hard work even after school. Many adults wake up early every day, work under pressure, travel long distances and face difficult situations just to survive. The difference is that education gives you a better chance to choose a more dignified life and avoid permanent struggle. It gives you options, confidence and the ability to change your circumstances. Temporary sacrifice at school is far better than lifelong hardship caused by missed opportunities.

So even during this cold season, keep pushing. Stay focused. Attend those study sessions. Respect your teachers and believe in the process. One day, when life becomes better for you, you will look back at these winter mornings and realise that they were shaping your strength, your character and your future. Your hard work today will eventually speak for itself.

I sometimes watch animal documentaries and quietly admire the confidence that lions and leopards have. What always amazes me is how they are willing to attack animals much bigger than themselves : buffaloes, hippos, even elephants. The bigger animal is stronger, heavier, and more feared, yet the lion still moves forward. Over time, I realised that one of the greatest secrets behind that courage is simple: deep inside itself, the lion believes it is possible.

That lesson speaks deeply to me when I think about life and especially academics. Many students see certain subjects as “too big” or “too difficult.” Mathematics looks big. Science looks big. Accounting looks big. Sometimes even life itself looks bigger than us. But the students who often surprise everyone are those who carry a different spirit within them. Even when afraid, they still believe: “I can do this. I can still get an A here.”

The truth is, positive spirit changes everything. When you believe, you prepare differently. You focus differently. You fight differently. Confidence does not mean you are guaranteed success immediately, but it gives you the strength to keep trying even when things are difficult. The battle is often won in the heart before it is seen in the results.

The Bible says in Philippians 4:13, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Sometimes all God needs from us is the courage to believe that what looks impossible today can still become possible tomorrow. Never let the size of the challenge make you forget the power that is inside you.

SECOND TERM: WHERE THE YEAR IS DECIDED

Second term has begun, and this is the moment where everything changes. The excitement of opening is behind us, and now it is time for focus, discipline, and consistency. This term quietly determines how the year will end.

To the students, this is your time to rise. Not through big promises, but through small daily actions. Attend every class, stay committed, study even when you don’t feel like it, and push yourself beyond comfort. Your future is built daily, in the choices you make when no one is watching.

To the parents, your support matters more than you may realise. Check on your children, encourage them, guide them, and stand with them even when results are not perfect. A child who feels supported at home walks into school with confidence and strength.

Let this term be about focus over excuses, effort over comfort, and progress over perfection. If we stand together, there is nothing we cannot achieve.

Second term is where the year is won or lost. Let us choose to win.

Life does not always begin on equal ground. Some students wake up in homes filled with peace, support, and comfort, while others wake up carrying burdens far heavier than their school bags. Some walk into classrooms with confidence, while others walk in fighting silent battles no one can see. Yet, despite these differences, one truth remains: your future is still possible.

To every student reading this, do not let your current situation define your final destination. Difficult circumstances are not a life sentence; they are often the training ground for greatness. Many of the strongest people in the world were built in seasons of struggle. Your pain, your pressure, and your challenges can either break you or build you. Choose to let them build you. Keep showing up. Keep studying. Keep believing. Even when results are slow, progress is happening.

Education remains one of the most powerful tools for changing your life. It may not solve everything overnight, but it opens doors that would otherwise remain closed. Respect your books, respect your teachers, and most importantly, respect your own potential. You are capable of far more than your fears tell you. Success is not always for the smartest person in the room; often, it belongs to the one who refuses to give up.

To every parent , your role is greater than school fees and uniforms. Your words matter. Your presence matters. Your encouragement matters. Sometimes a child does not need money first; they need belief. They need to hear someone say, “I see you. I believe in you. Keep going.” A child who feels supported can survive storms that would otherwise destroy them. Let us be careful not to break the very spirits we are trying to raise.

Parents, let us also remember that pressure without love creates fear, but discipline with support creates champions. Let us guide, not crush. Correct, not condemn. Build confidence, not fear. Some children are carrying enough pressure from the world already, they need home to be a place of strength, not another battlefield.

To teachers , your work is sacred. Sometimes the world may not celebrate you enough, but never underestimate your impact. A single sentence from a teacher can change a child’s life forever. In your hands sit future doctors, leaders, engineers, presidents, and dreamers. Even in difficult conditions, with limited resources and personal struggles, your influence remains powerful. Thank you for standing in the gap.

Let us all choose positive energy. Let us choose kindness over cruelty, hope over hopelessness, and faith over fear. This season may be hard, but hard seasons do not last forever. The storm will pass. The exams will come and go. The pressure will ease. But the character built during this season will remain for life.

Students : keep pushing.
Parents : keep supporting.
Teachers : keep believing.

Your story is still being written, and the best chapters may still be ahead.

Stay strong. Stay focused. Stay hopeful.
Consider it Done

Education must never be taken lightly in any country, especially the content of its syllabus, its depth, its coverage, and above all, its quality. Compare a Grade 6 learner in Cuba to a Grade 6 learner in eSwatini and place them on the same platform for a conversation. Who would appear more mature, more exposed, and more prepared for the future? It is rarely about intelligence by birth, it is about the quality of education they are exposed to. The environment of learning shapes the mind before the world ever gets a chance to test it.

A nation may not have gold, oil, planes, or factories to export, but one resource every country can deliberately build is quality education. If we cannot export fish, cars, or machinery, then let us export excellence through our people. Let eSwatini become known for producing minds that can compete anywhere in the world. From high school to university level, academic investment must be treated as a national priority, not a side issue.

Imagine a parent sitting in Lesotho, Botswana, Zambia, or anywhere in SADC saying, “Yes, South Africa is strong, but for Law, Economics, Commerce, and leadership development, my child MUST go to that small Kingdom called eSwatini.” Imagine parents within eSwatini smiling with confidence the moment an acceptance letter arrives from one of our universities, knowing it represents quality, dignity, and a secure future.

Education should never be treated as a by-the-way matter. It must sit at the centre of national strategy, policy, and economic planning. Europe and America did not arrive where they are by accident, they invested for generations in education, research, and knowledge systems. That confidence and global influence we admire today was first built inside classrooms. If we want a stronger future, then education must not be an option. It must be the foundation.

Education is the greatest equaliser when a nation chooses to take it seriously. I have always believed that behind every child sitting in a classroom, there is a family praying for a better tomorrow, a parent sacrificing in silence, and a dream waiting for one opportunity to breathe. Some students walk into class with full support, while others walk in carrying hunger, pressure, and battles no one sees. Yet they all deserve the same chance to rise.

A strong university is not just about buildings and qualifications, it is about creating hope for the less privileged, opening doors for those who thought life had already closed them, and producing graduates who can transform families, communities, and the country itself. We must protect education, improve it, and fight for systems that make excellence accessible to everyone, not only to the fortunate few.

Real change begins when we stop seeing education as just a personal achievement and start seeing it as a national responsibility. Every policy, every decision, and every opportunity we create today shapes the kind of leaders, professionals, and citizens we will have tomorrow. If we truly care about the future of this country, then we must care deeply about the quality, accessibility, and dignity of education for every child.

Consider it done. – Alex Lushaba