BY MBONO MDLULI
MBABANE – Prime Minister Russell Mmiso Dlamini’s historic moment of attending the May Day celebration in Mbabane was sabotaged when he was about to address workers’ concerns.
Dlamini had to leave the Prince of Wales Ground (where the celebration was done) today without addressing concerns of workers, as some members of certain political formations decided to sabotaged his efforts to do so. He had arrived for the event at around 12:50pm.
The Trade Union Congress of Swaziland (TUCOSWA) cannot be blamed for the sabotage, as it had made efforts to allow the premier to address the workers.
TUCOSWA President Bheki Mamba told the attendants of the May Day celebration that they had consulted leaders of trade unions that affiliated to TUCOSWA about the PM’s presence.
Mamba said the leaders of those unions had given TUCOSWA permission to invite the prime minister. Therefore, he pleaded with the workers to use this opportunity to tell the PM about the challenges they faced, while they had an opportunity of hearing him address those concerns there and then.
It looks like some of the workers and political party members would not listen to TUCOSWA because the PM ended up not delivering his speech. The PM was supposed to be introduced by Minister for Labour and Social Security Phila Buthelezi, who was also sabotaged when making his remarks. Buthelezi had arrived for the event at around 12 midday.
Upon seeing that Minister Buthelezi was not able to finish his address, Dlamini decided to leave the place, in a white Isuzu SUV, escorted by the police. That was around 3pm. His motorcade exited the ground through the gate facing the Malunge direction.
When the vehicle was about to exit, some flying stones were seen pelting his vehicle. Some workers were suspected to be the ones who pelted the vehicle with stones. This resulted in scuffles between police and some workers.
Other Government officials who were present at the event include Minister for Tourism and Environmental Affairs Jane Mkhonta-Simelane and Ministry of Labour and Social Security Under Secretary (US) Anthony Masilela.
