MBABANE:An employee of the Eswatini Revenue Service(ERS) was fired for urging the police to assault protestors during the political unrest thus violating the revenue institution’s non-political alignment policy.
It has been disclosed that, the employee who was at work, opened a widow and shouted “bashayeni maphoyisa” during the political unrest and according to sources close to the matter, placed the institution at a risk of having some Revenue Offices burnt by protesters.
“In fact two(2) employees were fired, the first encouraged the police to assault protestors yet protestors are also taxpayers, they are our clients and if we encourage the police to assault or kill them who is going to pay tax?. We treat our clients equally whether pro or anti Government. The other one was fired for posting on social media, criticizing the current Government and expressing unacceptable political views. So at first, when we were disciplining the first employee who encouraged the police to assault protestors, Cabinet tried to intervene and we said NO! we will handle these matters fairly. The first one was supporting the current Government and the other one was criticizing Tinkhundla so all of them were fired”, said the senior source.
Reached for comments by this Swaziland News, Ntobeko Dlamini, the Eswatini Revenue Service Director-Makerting and Communications said, the disciplinary action was internal and therefore, the revenue institution cannot comment on internal disciplinary action against employees.
“We would like to clarify that the ERS does not comment on internal employee disciplinary matters or on the tax and customs cases of any individual or company. Our position, as always, is guided by our confidentiality obligations. We appreciate your understanding of our need to maintain confidentiality in these matters,” said the ERS Director-Makerting and Communications.
Eswatini Revenue Service Offices.