MBABANE: Allan Mkhonta,the Managing Director of the Eswatini Observer(Pty) Ltd says, everything is normal within the State owned newspaper.
Responding to questions from this Swaziland News, amid reports suggesting that, employees downed tools on Monday demanding salaries, Mkhonta said the mere fact that the newspaper was on the streets today(Tuesday), “is an indication that everything was under control”.
But Observer journalists who contacted this publication on Monday, said they had to temporarily halt operations after their delayed salaries.
“We were supposed to be paid on Thursday(20th July 2023) but, it transpired that bank accounts were frozen by SRA for outstanding taxes. We were then addressed after 5pm and asked to work as failing to print the paper, might escalate the crisis. Others went back home without working, very few remained to print the paper,” said one of the journalists.
But Allan Mkhonta, the Managing Director of the Eswatini Observer consistently maintained that everything was normal within the State owned publication.
“As you can see, the paper was printed, everything is normal,” said the Managing Director.
Reached for comments by this Swaziland News, Vusi Dlamini, the Eswatini Revenue Service (ERS) Director of Marketing and Communications said,the law does not allow the revenue institution to discuss or share clients information.
“Unfortunately, in line with our Policies and Legislation that govern the work we do. We never discus individual clients affairs in public space.We have a duty to protect the confidentiality of information from all our clients. We only give out such information in a Court of Law,” said the Eswatini Revenue Service(ERS) Director of Marketing and Communications.
ERS building.