COMFORTING ITS ENEMY

Regular readers of the Swazi Observer won’t be the least surprised that the newspapers is against the proposed two day ‘stay away’ being organized by trade unionists for next week.

The Observer published a comment piece yesterday signed by the chief editor headlined ‘Avoid Stay Away at Any Cost’. In it the newspaper stated: 'If there is one thing that Swaziland does not need in the present economic circumstances - it is a mass stay away.’

It went on to say, ‘It is our considered view that if labour unions should continue with the intended strike, it is the poor and vulnerable that will bear the brunt.

‘It is not the leaders that will be faced with job loses and empty plates, but you and me lowly people.’

But the Observer might be upset to find that it has unwittingly given a great deal of comfort to its enemy. In a previously published article headlined ‘Stay away: Govt calls urgent meet’ (13 July 2007)’ it detailed how the government had called an urgent meeting with workers to avert the pending strike threat by the country’s unions on 25 and 26 July.

The Observer reported, 'Despite three letters directed to a Cabinet minister and the Prime Minister Themba Dlamini, Cabinet has claimed not to be aware of the issues that have forced workers to go on strike next week.’


This newspaper report has been used as a rallying cry by members of the Swaziland Solidarity Network (SSN).

SSN’s forum was told this week that the news report ‘even though filtered as it is through the establishment media, nevertheless announces a specific and historic confrontation.’ The forum claims the Observer article exposes the Swazi government and copies of the article have been widely circulated to sympathisers across the world, using the Internet.

The workers’ demands (as published by the Observer) are:

1. Taxation of terminal benefits and other benefits

Workers demand the changes per attached write up to be effected from the 1st July 2007. In this demand, they say government should desist from increasing its revenue base by taxing benefits, even where such would have adverse effect to some lowly paid workers.

2. Amendment of the SNPF Order

Workers propose the amendment, without further delay, to allow payment of SNPF benefits to all employees who have been retrenched, on production of such confirmation from the employer.

3. Application of part X111 of the Employment Act of 1980 of the tender board on public contracts

The Section calls for ensuring that contractors/service providers paid out of public funds adhere to basic minimum standards as provided for in the various Wages Orders.

4. Consultation with the public on privatisation

In the mediation by CMAC during the 2003 protest action notice, government was to discuss this issue with the unions. It promised to provide its privatisation policy, where after, it would then engage the unions. The policy was provided, but no meeting or workshop on this topic ever took place. All we have heard is that government is rolling out its privatisation process," the union says.

Government is proceeding with the privatisation policy without proper consultation even in line with the policy it adopted.

5. 2008 Parliamentary election to be held under a multi-party system.