The president of the Trade Union Congress of Swaziland (TUCOSWA) Comrade Bheki Mamba has called for the unity of all workers in Eswatini. President Mamba made these remarks while addressing the 79th/77th Annual Conference of the teachers union, the Swaziland National Association of Teachers (SNAT) that was held in Matsapha from 26th and 28th September 2025. The conference theme stated, "Strengthening workplace organisation through massive recruitment and deepening class consciousness"
The president addressed several issues in his slightly above 30 minute address at the conference including imploring SNAT to use their conference to discuss issues including the Employment Bill 2025 and its implications of the hiring of teachers, the quality of education in Eswatini , harassment and sexual abuse at the workplace ,Employment of teachers on precarious contracts, the role that can be played by SNAT in assisting schools support workers to unionise, unemployment, hardship allowance for teachers working in extremely hard conditions.
Transformation of society ,precarious employment conditions and salary review
President Mamba began his address by pointing out that the principal task facing SNAT constitutes being a transformation agent through building unity of the entire society in Eswatini, and not just for teachers. He said, "You are strategically positioned to shape the thinking of society. This conference must interact with that question and discuss what kind of education are we giving to society for the prosperity of society".
On precarious contracts President Mamba implored SNAT to pay attention to teachers who are employed through precarious contracts including fixed term contracts that are now increasingly being offered to professions like teachers even when the posts are permanent in nature. He said ,"It doesn't make sense to us for a teacher to be employed on a fixed term contract basis yet the job will remain there and is not temporary or short-term in nature".
On the salary review President Bheki advised that workers must not be pressured to accept the report without deeply analysing its contents as to whether there will be change in the lives of workers. He further implored SNAT to also pay attention to teachers working in areas that are inaccessible even by buses through ensuring that such teachers are afforded necessary allowances such as the hardship allowance.
Schools support workers
On the issue of organising schools support workers President Mamba reminded the conference that TUCOSWA resolved that that no worker must be left unorganised. He implored SNAT to find ways to support school support workers that include secretaries, bursars, guards, cooks and groudsmen and women, to name but a few. The president argued that these workers are located within the same work environment with teachers and therefore SNAT was well positioned to offer assistance to them as they seek to strengthen their workplace rights.
President Mbongwa against Eswatini Government
On the matter of the SNAT President Comrade Mbongwa Dlamini's case against the Eswatini government, President Mamba reported that TUCOSWA continued to be seized with the matter. He further reported that the matter was discussed at the ILO but unfortunately the government did not implement the recommendations of the Committee of the Application of Standards (CAS) made in year 2024. In the year 2025 TUCOSWA was expected to give a report as to whether the recommendations of the CAS have been implemented and the report was duly given. Given that it has been reported that the government has failed to implement the CAS recommendations it means that next year (the 2026 International Labour Conference (ILC), Geneva) the matter will be tabled again to the CAS. He further said, "Government must not be allowed to do as they please with trade union leaders".
The ENPF Bill (2025)
The president ended his address by discussing the Eswatini National Pensions Fund (ENPF) Bill 2025. He told the conference that TUCOSWA stood for workers unity in all aspects including around issues of pension in the country. He further said TUCOSWA remains steadfast in the stance that the government must not touch the Public Service Pension Fund (PSPF) but ought to make additional contributions of public service workers into the converted ENPF lie all employers in the other sectors are currently doing. "All we are saying is that the government must fork out extra money and contribute to the ENPF as the employer together with public service workers. We are engaging with government on that and we will not agree to the taking from public service workers contributions to contribute to the ENPF".
The president urged SNAT to approach the issue of the ENPF with a working class philosophical eye and further invited collaboration amongst workers during the presentations that will be made to Parliament on the bill.
End.
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