SNAT CAN’T BE SEPARATED FROM POLITICS – MBONGWA

PIGG’S PEAK – SNAT President Mbongwa Dlamini is of the view that it is impossible to separate the union from politics.

Responding to allegations that the union was deviating from its mandate, Dlamini said SNAT operated within the confines of the law. “When laws related to education are made, SNAT is invited to make submissions in Parliament,” he said. Dlamini made an example of the Examinations Council Bill and the Employment Bill, saying SNAT must have an input in such Bills before they are enacted. He said the process of law-making, in its nature, was a political activity. “Are these members then implying that we should not take part in these political activities?” he asked rhetorically.

He added that the problem was that most emaSwati thought politics had to do with power struggle, which was a wrong notion. He said they only engaged on issues that had to do with SNAT members’ well-being. “There is no way we can divorce politics from SNAT because all that affects teachers’ welfare is as a result of a political decision. When you deal with government, which is a political structure, only political issues will be discussed. Teachers’ salary adjustment is a political issue as it is handled by a political structure. Politics is life,” he said. On his dismissal issue, the president asked not to respond, but said they welcomed the opinion of members who felt his dismissal was justified.  He said they must explain their position and convince members during their mass meeting on Friday so they could decide on what they wanted. 

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