MINISTER: BLOCKADES TERRORISM AGAINST ECONOMY, JOBS

MBABANE – “Blocking of trade is terrorism against the economy and jobs.”

This was a statement made by the Minister of Commerce, Industry and Trade Manqoba Khumalo, as the Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) confirmed that it was going ahead with the intended border blockade today in three ports of entry linking SA and Eswatini. Khumalo was asked on whether his ministry had put in place a contingency plan to avoid frustration by the business community, following the planned border blockades to take place at Oshoek, Matsamo and Lavumisa. COSATU is expected to lead the blockades which will run concurrently, starting at 10am to noon. Activities expected to take place include mini picketing, rallies and motorcades. Blockades form part of the campaigns for the intensification and to advocate for the emancipation of emaSwati.

Terrorism

Minister Khumalo stated that they viewed the blockades as terrorism against the economy and jobs which had been started by different groups running a campaign against the economy in different ways. Khumalo said the country would focus on this going forward, adding that they were rejecting it and would make sure they defended such from happening. He said what was scheduled to be done by COSATU was unlawful and would affect jobs and their members who would also be disadvantaged by their actions. According to Khumalo, His Majesty King Mswati III made it clear during his speech delivered on Independence Day, when the Reconstruction Fund was launched, that there would be dialogue. “We do not understand what is happening now. They must allow us to conduct the process of dialogue,” he said in an interview.

Khumalo stated that there was no specific contingency plan that had been put in place except for the fact that when anything against the law including protest actions took place, they made sure that the law prevailed. He added that all the local ports of entry would be operational. However, he said they had no control over the South African side as they were not in charge. The minister stated that he also had a slot on the SA news channel, Newzroom Africa, where he appealed that COSATU should respect that Eswatini was a country which was governed according to its laws and could resolve issues in its own way, following the Constitution. He said it would be much against the law to conduct the blockades without having followed the Public Order Act. When reached for comment on the same issue, the Government Spokesperson, Sabelo Dlamini, said they expected an unhindered flow of trade between neighbouring countries and across the region. Dlamini had been questioned on whether government had engaged its South African counterparts to call COSATU to order regarding the planned blockades and whether there was any contingency plan on same.

Chief Police Information and Communications Officer, Superintendent Phindile Vilakati, who was asked whether they would ensure security today, stated that it was against their principles to discuss State security measures. Meanwhile, COSATU Deputy International Secretary Zanele Mathebula said the blockades would continue as planned in all the borders. Mathebula stated that the blockades would not be the end in activities marking the Eswatini Global Week of Action.  The COSATU deputy international secretary stated that next week they would be holding a consolidation meeting with the outcomes of all the liberation movements they had engaged with during dialogues held this week.

She stated that they would do all in their power to force Eswatini authorities to facilitate dialogue. Mathebula stated that considering the speech of the Monarch on September 6, where he stated that emaSwati should think and behave like a First World country, this showed them that the regime was not in touch with the reality of the situation in his country. She stated that the Monarch talked about raising funds to deal with infrastructure and development in Eswatini, yet he had been doing that for the longest time and allegedly receiving money from SACU which was also allegedly topped up by SA, yet he was not even contributing towards improvement of the health system including providing quality health for his nation. Mathebula said the country’s government had not been contributing adequately to the education system as well as overall socio- economic situation.

Reaction

Further, she noted that with all these challenges, it called for a stronger reaction from the people locally and outside the borders. Mathebula said they were awaiting a mandate from the people of Eswatini on how they could move forward in assisting in every way they could in terms of seeking international assistance in order that emaSwati were granted all the demands they wanted.  “If it means that we conduct a boycott, we will do it and if it means that we continue with border blockades, we will do just that and if it means we call our government and others including the continent through the African Union in terms of a sanction, it will be done,” she said. Mathebula said COSATU was not dictating what emaSwati should do but it was the Eswatini people who were supporting the uprising and pushing for political change, unbanning of political parties, human rights and justice, while they were behind them. She said they were supporting emaSwati because all the things they demanded were standards that were set up by international laws.

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