MANZINI – Serious infighting within the Trade Union Congress of Swaziland (TUCOSWA) led to the abrupt closure of the union’s 4th Quadrennial Congress at Esibayeni Lodge yesterday.
While every arrangement had already been set in motion for the smooth running of the two-day congress, affiliate unions ran to the Industrial Court of Eswatini and applied that it be stopped pending an audit of the subscriptions.
This was a process that should have been done ahead of the congress, but scepticism and trust issues led to some unions suggesting that the number of delegates may have been cooked.
From the time of registration, delegates registered discontentment with the paid subscriptions, until the leadership, Chaired by TUCOSWA President Bheki Mamba, briefly adjourned the meeting to convene a top leadership caucus and consider options.
This was after it had also been revealed that a judgment from the Industrial Court was scheduled to be released anytime, and could eventually annul the proceedings.
It was also during the break that the TUCOCSWA executive was informed that messengers from the court were outside waiting to deliver a court order at about 11:30am.
The order was presented to the leaders of the congress and it stated clearly that the congress had been successfully interdicted. This sent the packed Esangweni Conference Room to murmurs and resentment.
The theme of the congress was ‘Closing Ranks; Organising for Decent Work; One Struggle, One Voice.’
Some of the giant affiliate unions of TUCOSWA include the Swaziland National Association and Teachers, Swaziland union of Financial Institutions and Allied Workers Unions (SUFIAW), Swaziland Agricultural and Plantation Workers Union (SAPWU), the Amalgamated Trade Unions of Swaziland (ATUSWA) and others.
Some delegates said they were pleasantly surprised to see certain unions bringing high numbers at the congress, yet the Constitution states that the numbers of representatives must be a ratio of the total numbers that subscribed and are in good standing.
They argued that just two weeks ago, the numbers of members of the unions in good standing was low, but suddenly, on the day of the congress, the unions submitted inflated numbers of members, which now gave them the right to bring more delegates to the meeting.
By March 10, one of the affiliates had 3 311 members and was due to send two delegates to the congress, which means that most of the members had not paid their subscriptions.
By March 23, another spread sheet said they now had 6 000 members who were paid up. This was cause for concern to some unions affiliated to TUCOSWA. These and many other arguments formed the basis for the application to stop the congress pending the audit of the numbers.
Some of them speaking on condition of anonymity explained that the unions were inflating numbers of purpose because the intention is to have as many people participate in the elections for new office as possible.
“There are certain people that they want to maintain in the leadership structure of the trade union, so they may have lobbied intensely and further ensured that they update the subscriptions of the members,” said the source.
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Membership subscriptions questionable - 3 affiliates
MANZINI – The three affiliates of the Trade Union Congress of Swaziland (TUCOSWA) have alleged that that membership subscriptions were questionable.
The concerns were raised during a press conference at the SNAT Centre, broadcast live to the public. The dissenting group includes the Swaziland National Association of Teachers (SNAT), the Swaziland Union of Financial Institutions and Allied Workers (SUFIAW) and the Swaziland Communications and Allied Workers Union (SWACAWU).
Lot Vilakati, the Secretary General of SNAT, confirmed that these unions successfully applied to the Industrial Court to stay the proceedings.
“We are clarifying that the congress failed to proceed after it could not verify credentials. This process is vital to ensure that everyone inside the hall is legitimately entitled to be there. Our constitution is clear: Only those in good standing - meaning they do not owe more than three months in subscriptions - may participate in elections,” Vilakati said.
According to the unions, only 11 out of 20 affiliate unions were currently in good standing. Vilakati noted that similar issues occurred in 2021, where unions arrived at the door with last-minute receipts and ‘hastily typed spread sheets’ to gain entry.
Jabu Shiba of SUFIAW expressed the unions’ desire for a constitutionally sound congress but noted that the financial records provided by the federation were inconsistent.
*Full article available on Pressreader*
