The Swaziland Manufacturing and Allied Workers Union (SMAWU), the Swaziland Amalgated Trade Union of Swaziland (ATUSWA) and Trade Union Congress of Swaziland (TUCOSWA) had planned to deliver petitions at different government ministries on Friday (17 October 2014).
The police took the decision to ban without obtaining a
court order.
On 8 October 2014 the Swazi Government banned all trade
union and employers’ federations in the kingdom and said the government would
no longer listen to their views on any matters. New amendments to the existing Industrial
Relations Act will outline how the federations can apply to be registered.
The trade unions intended to deliver petitions to government
ministries to protest the ban.
Police Deputy National Commissioner - Operations Khisimusi
Ndlovu told
the Swazi Observer, a newspaper owned by King Mswati III, who rules
Swaziland as sub-Saharan Africa’s last absolute monarch, ‘As a law enforcement
and security agency, we have found the declared march not to be in the interest
of security, peace and public order, hence it cannot be allowed to take
place.
‘The organisers or others who may wish to join the march in
whatever capacity are warned against engaging in such actions.’
ATUSWA Secretary General Wonder Mkhonta and TUCOSWA Secretary
General Vincent Ncongwane said they would continue with their proposed march.
The ban also includes the Federation of Swaziland Employers and Chamber of
Commerce (FSE&CC) and the Federation of the Swazi Business Community.
See also
OFFICIAL: FEDERATIONS ARE ILLEGAL
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