BHEKI MAMBA TO SWADNU,' CLOSE HEALTH FACILITES IF GOVERNEMNT DOES NOT BUY MEDICINE STOCK NOR HIRE HEALTH WORKERS'

Pictured above: TUCOSWA President Bheki Mamba (File picture)

Written by Fundizwi Sikhondze

The Trade Union Congress of Swaziland (TUCOSWA) President Bheki Mamba called for the for Swaziland Democratic Nurses Union (SWADNU) members to ensure that they close all health facilities if the government shows no commitment towards hiring health workers and filling vacant posts and purchasing medical drugs in public health facilities. President Bheki made these remarks while addressing a protest action to protest the lack of medicine and health workers led by SWADNU on Wednesday 30th August 2023.

President Bheki also condemned health and general government officials of doing the bidding for private health practitioners when they refer patients to purchase medicine that is not available in the government hospital to private facilities such as Mbabane Clinic. He added that the non hiring of health workers is another ploy to drive patients to the private healthcare providers that are known to be owned by the powerful at the helm of the state, who according to the president have completely taken over all canals of economy in the country even the death and burial services.

The President explained that the shortages in the health sector infringe upon the rights of access to free health services that citizens.

Collapse of public service collective bargaining

In his address President Bheki also condemned the Eswatini government for killing public service bargaining which he characterised as a wage taking mechanism. He added that these challenges would not be solved by going to parliament because inherently parliament creates an elite and elites would not fight for the majority of workers and their interests. He argued that the challenges faced by workers and the poor would only be solved through defying the laws of the regime.

The protest was addressed by representatives of organisations such as the Swaziland National Association of Teachers (SNAT) ,the National Public Services and Allied Workers Union (NAPSAWU) ,Swaziland National Union of Students (SNUS),the Swaziland National Government Accountants Personnel (SNAGAP).the Multi Stakeholders Forum (MSF),the Swaziland United Democratic Front (SUDF).

The gathering then witnessed the reading and delivery of the petition by SWADNU Secretary General Mayibongwe Masangane to the Acting Principal Secretary to the Ministry of Public Service Richard Phungwayo.

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