Written by Fundizwi Sikhondze
The President of the Trade Union Congress of Swaziland (TUOCOSWA) Bheki Mamba has called for the absolute unity in NAPSAWU in order that NAPSAWU ,as well as all TUCOSWA affiliate unions, can be strong campaigning unions. The President made the call while addressing the elective congress of the National Public Service and Allied Workers Union (NAPSAWU) in Matsapha on the 19th July 2023.
The President further informed delegates that the strength and unity of trade unions is now increasingly curtailed by union members battling one another in the courts to resolve disagreements within the unions. In Siswati the president added said, "Sizabalaza etinkantolo, umcashi ukhulekile silwa sodvwa" adding that the courts had already failed to resolve worker issues and they will never be able to resolve them but continued to bleed trade unions of finances that would be useful in conducting education programmes as well as campaigns. He reminded delegates that," solutions to workers issues need to be found in trade union structures such as congresses, conferences and general councils and nowhere else'.
These remarks were also an attempt to comment on delays that had plagued the NAPSAWU congress proceedings earlier as a result of the fact that some structures had lodged complaints in the credentials section of congress so that they could be allowed to participate. The structures had allegedly been left out because they had been unable to conduct elections during the course of the ending term of office, some of whom had taken the union to court.
Pictured above: NAPSAWU Congress delegates during their congress from 19th - 21st July 2023.
Political matters
In the political section of the address the president informed congress that TUCOSWA continued to align itself with other MDM organisations that had resolved not to partake in Tinkhundla elections. The president reminded congress that in 2012 in its inaugural congress TUCOSWA had taken such a resolution and was consequently banned by the Tinkhundla regime for that decision. In highlighting this period the was demonstrating that the struggle to stay away from elections had produced reaction from the regime because it recognised that the call not to participate was a threat to it. In juxtaposition, the president doubted whether participating in the elections had ever worked because draconian laws such as the Public Service Act had been passed while those advocating for participation were in parliament.
The president ended his address by imploring NAPSAWU to contribute to the unity of the MDM towards the end result of achieving the democratisation of Eswatini so that all citizens can live decent lives. He said, "The country has more than enough resources for all to live well, everyone working and everyone therefore living a decent life. The only challenge is that the country is governed through a system that misgoverns the country causing great suffering of the people".
The President finished by reporting to congress that TUCOSWA was going to do embark on a global tour to present to the world the aspirations of the workers as well as the MDM of the country. He explained that there were certain sections of the global community who wanted to hear the voice of workers as far as the attainment as they are legally operating in the country.
The congress completed its business on the 21st July 2023.
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