By Nozipho Sibiya | 2018-09-18
What will the strike, protests and demonstrations achieve without a fully-fledged government in place?
This was a question posed by National Commissioner of Police Isaac Magagula, ahead of the nationwide strike action set to start today organised by the Trade Union Congress of Swaziland (TUCOSWA).
Magagula was addressing a press conference yesterday at the police headquarters in Mbabane.
He openly declared that he prayed that the intended industrial strike by the unions does not continue as planned.
The public sector and mainstream unions, in particular SNAT, NAPSAWU and TUCOSWA, have given notice and declared their intention to engage in industrial action manifesting in strike action, protests and demonstrations to cover three days running.
“It has been declared and argued that the industrial action to be engaged and undertaken is as a consequence of a deadlock between the unions and government structures on a range of grievances, which in the case of public sector associations, are mainly centred on the Cost of Living Adjustment (CoLA),” he explained.
In the case of the private sector labour force structures under TUCOSWA, their grievances have been articulated by the responsible government agency, namely the ministry of labour and social security and responses to the issues raised were proffered, such as the one relating to the minimum wage and the increase of valued added tax (VAT) as well as increase in funding of free primary education, among others.
He said ironically, the CoLA grievance has also been included by TUCOSWA in the list of demands.
“Whilst from a peace and order perspective we may not necessarily have doubts about the intended action, we however, must and hereby express our concern and reservations on the timing, sincerity and bona fide intent of such action,” he said.
He said an individual does not need to be an expert to realise that there was an agenda behind the strike action.
“What is really at stake for the unions, is it general bread and butter issues or political motives?” he asked.
He said they were greatly concerned that the strike action and concomitant protests and demonstrations have been made to coincide or compete with national elections scheduled for this coming Friday.
He said these posed serious consequences for security and general tranquil atmosphere that they always aspire for and pride themselves with as a country which the authorities have consistently pleaded with the nation to preserve.
“Suffice to state if experience is anything to go by, little if any is ever achieved except to have anarchy and public disorder prevailing supreme and thereby putting the already fragile economy under severe strain and pressure. The security agencies, the public sector associations and unions should reconsider and call-off their intended strike,” he added.
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