Activists, unionists clash in pro- democracy fight
MB A B A N E – C r a c k s a r e beginning to show in the fight for multi- party democracy. Labour union leaders have not taken kindly to insinuations from political activists that they were failing to mobilise their members to participate in demonstrations aligned to the calls for political reforms, which will usher in multi- party democracy and oust the current Tinkhundla System of Government.
This was after Velaphi Mamba, who is employed by the Open Society Initiative for Southern Africa ( OSISA) as Team Leader and is one of the political activists at the forefront of the pro- democracy campaign, appeared to question the side of the fence on which the union leaders were on.
OSISA is allegedly one of the organisations responsible for providing funding t o most of t he democracy campaigns in the kingdom. “Whatever happened with the trade union movement in this country? This crisis is exposing a lot of people we thought were comrades,” Mamba posted on Facebook.
The post attracted over 100 comments. Apparently, the pro- democr a c y d e monst r a t i o n s a r e l a c k i n g numbers of feet on the ground and the political activists have identified the labour union movement as carrying the masses needed to legitimise the campaign for political reforms.
Most of the trade union leaders who responded to Mamba’s sentiments did not take kindly to them as they felt he was acting holier than thou yet according to them, the labour movement had always been the one that was active and giving a voice to the political parties who were failing to convene even a single rally.
Sibusiso Lushaba, the former Secretary General of the Swaziland Democratic Nurses Union ( SWADNU), said in as much as he understood the genuine frustration of some ‘ comrades’, but some left a lot to be desired and it was scary. “While trade unions kept t he fires burning for so l ong, provided platforms to some of you to talk to people when you couldn’t even organise a single rally where you will speak but today you talk as if you are the real deal,” he said.
Lushaba called for timeout on ‘ petty politicking’ and urged assistance for t he t r ade union movement where possible ‘ and stop t his holier t han thou attitude I am seeing here’.
Another prominent trade unionist, Fundizwi Sikhondze, who once held the position of Organising Secretary in the erstwhile Swaziland Federation of Trade Unions ( SFTU), accused Mamba of seeking support from the trade union movement now yet his organisation had ‘ f or years’ been financially supporting ‘ your friends’ who are without constituencies.
He said he hoped ‘ it’s an honest realisation’ that a constituency was needed when there was a pursuit for change. “Media statements and marches by 10 handpicked people have very limited impact in the bigger scheme of things,” Sikhondze, whose latest position was Secretary General of the Swaziland Union of Non- Academic Staff of Higher Institutions ( SUNASHI), said.
To this, Mamba wondered: “What do you mean support to our friends leadership ( sic)? Please clarify.”
Sikhondze said what he meant was that before they engaged in the conversation, support had been factional and directed to organs and individuals who had no constituencies. “I have added that I hope your post is a realisation of how wrong this unprincipled action has been from those who are tasked with supporting the hard work of activism,” he said.
Mamba called for further clarity from Sikhondze, arguing that they supported a full spectrum of human rights activists including some trade unions. He said funding was not given to unions on a tray but organisations applied for the support. “I personally haven’t seen any proposals from most of the unions. Quite apart from that, unions already have their own funds raised through membership subscriptions, which should easily be channelled to progressive activities,” he said.
THE FUNDING CHALLENGE
But Sikhondze appeared not to be totally convinced because even though he understood the need for organisations to take initiative in applying for funding, organisations, however, ran into fatigue when it came to always being met with negative responses, creating a clear picture that funding was only given to particular individuals and organisations.
“Plus some of the activists do voice out the amount of support they receive f r om some of you t o mount applications t hat are fundable. So while what you say is true, however to me the real picture is something completely different,” he said.
He said he was happy that the issue of support had been raised by Mamba and perhaps leaders would take him up on it ‘ at this crucial moment’.
Mamba questioned the ‘ negative responses’ part advanced by Sikhondze and even undertook to show the latter ‘ the entire application record’ so he could see for himself ‘ that what you are saying is untrue’. “Funding entities don’t work on street talk. Also, projects must pass the quality litmus t est , you know t hi s . Bottom l i ne, across the region we support people who want and are serious about being supported. We don’t spoon feed them,” he said.
Former pr e s i dent of t he Swaziland Youth Congress ( SWAYOCO) Maxwell Dlamini appeared to be in agreement with Mamba as he accused the trade union movement of being ‘ heavily conflicted’. He said Mamba was ‘ trying to take away bread from t heir mouth’ by engaging t hem i n ‘ freedom talk’ and progress.
Meanwhile, Sikhondze outlined that the history of trade unions versus political parties nexus was a long one; with trade unions in the 1990s having accused political parties of being ‘ weak and unable to capitalise on the crises that had been created’ at the time.
“This time around trade union movement is the one that brought together civil society in 2019 to declare the crisis political by nature and there need for the political parties to lead it,” he said, stating that a march against the monarchy was held in Mbabane as a result.
He said subsequently, the PPA has worked hard on t he politi cal programme and one could not complain much. “My take is that trade union activists are on the ground working within communities and nationally. Others have already discussed t he issues around Section 40 and all those processes,” Sikhondze stated.
This was i n r esponse t o Mamba accusing the trade unions of not exploring the legal process of engaging in peaceful protests through Section 40 of the Industrial Relations Act.
One political activist described Sikhondze’s explanation as ‘ too weak’ and s ai d government would have long collapsed had trade unions not withheld their industrial action.
With trade unions in the 1990s having accused political parties of being ‘ weak and unable to capitalise on the crises that had been created’ at the time”