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GOVT SHOULD ACT ON AGOA BY OCTOBER - GUMEDZE

18/08/2014 05:41:00 BY LINDA JELE AND SEKELILE DLAMINI

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MBABANE – Government needs to act on the African Growth Opportunity Act (AGOA) by October.

Sipho Gumedze, human rights lawyer and activist, said the government had limited time to salvage the situation and help the country save AGOA eligibility. Speaking in an interview with this publication, Gumedze said government had to note that His Majesty King Mswati III would around October or early November go into seclusion in preparation of the annual incwala Ceremony.

“Our trip to Washington DC was successful as we now know what government needs to do to retain the country’s AGOA eligibility. We can also now give accurate information on AGOA and we are aware that for any progress to take place, government will have to act fast. They have to remember that the King goes into seclusion in October,” he said.

He said the monarch would have to assent to the amendments made on the five benchmarks. “Remember, the King blesses every law before it is passed in parliament, hence, the urgency in dealing with the benchmarks,” Gumedze said.
However, Percy Simelane, Government Spokesperson said the country was still in talks with the American government.

“We have not started following Gumedze’s orders. We are still in talks with the American’s,” Simelane said.
Winnie Magagula, Minister of Labour and Social Security, could not be reached for comment as her phone rang unanswered when this report was compiled.
Recently, the country was dismissed from beneficiaries of AGOA starting on January 1, 2015 by Barack Obama, United States of America President.
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Comments (5 posted):

Mkhulu on 18/08/2014 08:12:55

Looks like one have to wipe out the dirt in my newspaper every time I read about this chap and Ncongwane. This guy has the nerve to now issue out a statement what government needs to do after the mess that came out from their trip. This guy needs to go explain to his father back home what he went to do in the US- He seems not to understand the strongest point of the system. Go manage your Chief my man. It is now only not about you but you have dragged into this your Father your brothers etc. Go manage your Chief my man.

Tsembekile on 18/08/2014 13:33:17

Hhayi bo!wecan not tolerate that attitude if at all the swazi society is democratic at all, unless is is otherwise. Gumedze and Ncongwane if they are part of tripartite, and are invited, they excercised their rights. I also need to have my own basic rights to be free to speak and not be intimidate , "mkhulu"by war mongering people like you , gone are the days of human suppression and bullying.

Mkhulu on 18/08/2014 18:32:22

Tsembekile. The issue here is not the basic right of movement nor speech. We as Swazie are free to move to and from any point we want. We are also free to voice out our opinions but need not abuse this right as whatever we say can have a positive or negative result. Ncongwane and this chap rightfully so the PM observed that they sneaked out to the US. As this AGOA is a very sensitive issue, these guys should have declared to the government this invitation so when they reach US and the King's delegation, they are on the same page. But no this was not done and then lembili kwaphambana. We all have rights bekunene but not at the expense of Swaziland.

Lobhoncela on 18/08/2014 18:51:39

Let's stop with the intimidation and start solving serious problems of national interest. As a concerned government we need to seriously consider addressing the AGOA benchmarks. I do not think all is lost here. Asikhwice emahiya sezame kwenta lalabakufunako baseMelika. Siyekele kukhombana emehlweni. laMamelika aze amema tisebenti nje yingoba tsine besesidvubile kutsi basimuke lesinkhwa saAGOA. They called us to their independence celebration asiyanga. taya ke letinyonyane taphindze tamenywa kuleSummit which I believe on the AGOA negotiations or discussions government was not represented. Mlaleleni lomusa waGumedze ningamgangadzi bekunene. Tap into what he and Ncongwane has to offer. We have nothing to lose here but everything to gain. Let's shoot for the stars and for once listen and do what is required of us.

Lobhoncela on 18/08/2014 19:04:13

Mkhulu you sure are entitled to put your opinion across but with such assertions we can never get anywhere really. Fair enough one might want to torment the guy's parents but really what does that bring to the thousands that stand to lose jobs with this issue. will that put food on their table or just settle a score which in actual fact is neither here nor there. We need to build this Swaziland together. This is what our forefathers left for us. let's leave it intact for our children as well. We cannot afford to let it slip away on personal vendettas.NO MKHULU uyibambe ngesekhohlwa yibuyise ngesekudla njengawo onkhe emakhehla