BY MBONO MDLULI
MBABANE – It looks like Minister of Labour and Social Security Phila Buthelezi is a man of his word, regarding the issues raised concerning Mpakeni Dam impasse.
Last week Wednesday, Buthelezi visited the site where the dam is constructed, after hering about the impasse between the employees working there and the management of Sakhalive Joint Venture, an organisation constructing the dam.
Buthelezi, during his last visit, gave the organisation an ultimatum to improve the working conditions at the site. He further warned Sakhalive Joint Venture to respect and follow the labour laws of the country. According to information sourced from the Ministry of Labour’s Facebook page, Buthelezi revisited the Mpakeni Dam site on Wednesday this week for a progress report regarding his last visit. The Minister had given Sakhalive Investment Managers a seven day period to address labour issues that had engulfed the management of the project.
The Minister was accompanied by the Ministry Principal Secretary Makhosini Mndawe, Labour Commissioner Mthunzi Shabangu, CMAC Executive representatives, EWADE CEO Samson Sithole, and senior officials from the Localisation, OSH and Workmans compensation units in the Ministry.
Sakhalive presented a report to the Minister on a number of issues that were raised during his visit last week. It was reported that transport was now available for the workers to and from work. The Dump trucks were also registered in the event there was an injury, the workers would qualify for workmen’s compensation.
The Minister then met with the workers who reported numerous violations and issues that were still pending. The Labour Commissioner pledged to assist the workers with registering them as an association where engagements with Management would promote a conducive work environment.
In his departing remarks, Buthelezi provided recommendations and guidance to both parties and further assured that he would make random surprise visits to check on the issues raised. Sakhalive Management assured the Minister and EWADE that the project was ongoing and on course.
The project, which is said to be around E3.5 billion, is expected to take 51 months (4 years and three months) to be completed. The project was opened by His Majesty King Mswati III in August last year. The construction of Mpakeni Dam is set to continue even in the coming 2024/25 financial year, as an amount of E630 million has been allocated for this project.
