PROMOTING, TAKING PART IN TRANSPORT SHUTDOWN ILLEGAL - MASUKU

MBABANE – Government warns that anyone who promotes the public transport shutdown shall be held liable for defying an interim court order halting the action.

Addressing a press conference at Cabinet yesterday, Acting Prime Minister (PM) Themba Masuku said courts had listened and heard government’s application, granting an interim order against the action. Masuku said the interim court order was against a certain Sticks Nkambule, Swaziland Transport Communication and Allied Workers Union (SWATCAWU), Eswatini Kombi and Buses’ Allied Workers Union (EKABAWU) and the Swaziland Commercial Amadoda Transport Association.

He said the aforementioned respondents were interdicted and restrained with their members from embarking on the strike action. The acting PM said they were also ordered not to promote the action. “Therefore, government has an interim ruling from the courts to the effect that there should be no strike action. We will resolutely back this up,” said Masuku. He holds the position of PM on an acting basis because the substantive premier is currently out of the country. He is the substantive deputy prime minister (DPM).

Threat

“Government is disturbed by this threat and therefore as an entity that is responsible for law and order, as well as observing the rule of law, we have taken a step to approach the courts of law to stop this illegal action to interrupt transportation activities,” he said. “The courts have listened and heard our application and granted an interim order against the action.”

He pointed out that the continued threat of disruption from the transport sector had compelled government to weigh its options to deal with the threat going forward. He said government would continue to engage all stakeholders to ensure the availability of transport and all services in the country. He stated that transport as the sector remained the foundation of the country’s economy - big and small. “That is why government will continue to give it priority,” he said.

Masuku mentioned that the government had been observing and following the disagreeable developments of this illegal call by some individuals and irresponsible entities. He said these individuals and irresponsible entities wanted to disrupt the transport system of the country. Masuku said they wanted to make transport unavailable to service the people who depended on it for their daily needs including health, work, school, services and securing food.

He said government noted that this ‘disastrous plan’ was slated for December 13-14, 2022. As a result, he reaffirmed and reassured the nation that government would not allow this illegal act to happen. “We will continue to use every asset and resource to protect the people of this country and to ensure that their lives are not disrupted in any manner,” he said.  He described the planned action as an irresponsible act that was disruptive of the economy, detrimental and counterproductive to the owners of transport or vehicles in this country.

Detrimental

The acting PM said the action was also detrimental to cross-border transport. Masuku advised transport owners to note this observation and kind advice from the government. The former Minister of Finance and now substantive DPM said government trusted the transport sector and continued to believe in the relationship that happily existed between this crucial industry and the State. He said government had issued transport permits whenever necessary and had not withheld same.

“We want to stand with this industry and protect it from those who want to permanently harm it,” he said.“We want to protect the industry for the good of all.” He said government wanted the industry to survive and be sustainable. He noted that the transport owners would be the biggest losers in this action, since the other stakeholders in this shameful act did not own any vehicles or anything at all. “They have no investments here, except disruption,” he said.

He said government was committed to serving the people of this land and would not relinquish its responsibilities to govern. He urged emaSwati to continue to be united against disruption. He also urged them to report on any suspicious activities in their communities. Masuku advised the nation to form communities’ crime prevention groups for any suspicious activities.

“This way we will win together,” he said. He said emaSwati are the fortress – siyinqaba. In his court application, the Minister of Labour and Social Security, Phila Buthelezi, said the strike action was likely to cause imminent loss of life. The court directed the police to enforce the order.

Disruption

The respondents were not in court when the order was issued. On Friday, Business Eswatini (BE) said the economy was already shaky and disruption might reverse the even small gains. It must be said that the case has been postponed to tomorrow. It is the day that the respondents are expected to show cause why the order must not be made final.

The public transport workers resolved to park the vehicles and stay away for two days on safety grounds. This is because people would be travelling to Mbabane for the case of incarcerated MPs, Mduduzi Bacede Mabuza and Mthandeni Dube. The police assured that the nation would be protected from any harm. The court empowered the police to ensure enforcement of the order stopping the action from taking place on Tuesday and Wednesday.

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