MBABANE: Industrial Court Judge Abande Dlamini dismissed Labour Minister Phila Buthelezi’s points of law in the matter involving Sticks Nkambule, the Secretary General of the Swaziland Transport, Communications and Allied Workers Union(SWATCAWU).
This comes after government through the Minister successfully ran to court, for a warrant of arrest against Nkambule on Contempt of Court charges.
The unionist stands accused of influencing a national shutdown by public transport workers in alleged defiance of a court order.
But on Thursday, Government lawyers urged the court to dismiss Nkambule’s application without be heard on the basis that, the General Secretary was aware of Industrial Court case number 398/22 but opted not to defend it.
Nkambule and SWATCAWU took government to court seeking to, among others, set aside the warrant of arrest against the unionist.
Judge Abande dismissed Government’s points of law and ordered that the matter must be heard on the 31st July 2023.
Nkambule is being persecuted by Mswati’s regime for performing his duties as a unionist, he became a target after he consistently led public transport workers into historic national shutdowns, as part of the ongoing efforts to democratize eSwatini.
The shutdowns was also demanding, among others, the release of incarcerated pro-democracy Members of Parliament(MPs) Bacede Mabuza and Mthandeni Dube.
Judge Abande Dlamini.