By Bongiwe Dlamini

MBABANE:Penuel Malinga, the Secretary General of the People’s United Democratic Movement(PUDEMO) has, on behalf of the political organization, released a statement, urging political organizations and trade unions to unite, in solidarity with dismissed SNAT President Mbongwa Dlamini.

SNAT stands for the Swaziland National Association of Teachers, it’s President has been dismissed by the royal controlled Teaching Service Commission(TSC) merely for representing teachers, Dlamini was charged with absenteeism and subsequently found guilty without a disciplinary hearing.

“It is with shock to read the communique issued by TSC titled RE: OUTCOME OF YOUR DISCIPLINERY ACTION dated 29 August 2023 stamped and signed at 15:41hrs.PUDEMO extends its unwavering solidarity to SNAT collective, the president himself, TUCOSWA, and regional organization SATO which he has earned responsibility of being its president, a week before his unjust expulsion by tinkhundla diehards in the TSC, without even considering laws and processes of such an act.The golden slogan that has stood within unions is that AN INJURY TO ONE IS AN INJURY TO ALL. This expresses the social solidarity that binds all working class people across all sectors and industries. It is all our duty to defend one of us in all material circumstances to preserve our unity, won rights and guarantee confidence among union members and non-union members, and with this act the government hopes to vanquish our members trust to unionism,” reads the statement in part sent to this Swaziland News.

The PUDEMO Secretary General further mentioned that, the regime’s unjust expulsion was pre-determined for the SNAT President.

“He endured intense intimidation from the state apparatus including adhoc summons by the National Commisioner of police.His stance against the recognition of EPA by government is one of the premises that led to his persecution as it threatens the gains of teachers, their current work as shop stewards (SNAT REP) union leaders and ordinary activist.

We call for all unions and peace loving people to stand against union bashing, fight for the reinstating of President Mbongwa and immediate end to all worker’s victimization. We appeal to the Trade Union Congress of Swaziland to actively rally all unions, help in building capacity to resist such acts by government and future endeavors by the state repressive machinery. We further call our members not to just broker the responsibility to ILO as it has been observed before, where leaders shy away from organizing but only hopes that ‘we will tell ILO’. The regimes attitude to international bodies and its commitments to agreements has always been lucklustre.This government is all out to regain its lost ground by silencing all dissent,” said the Secretary General through the statement.