MPAKENI: Nokwazi Hlophe,the Eswatini Water and Agricultural Development Enterprise (ESWADE) Communications Manager says,the public enterprise has suspended operations within the R3.5billion Mpakeni Dam amid protests by workers in demand for better salaries.
The ESWADE Communications Manager was responding to this Swaziland News this week,when asked to clarify what the government entity was doing to mitigate the tension between the Chinese company constructing the Dam and the workers.
“We undertook to look into the grievances against the Contractor and will report back to the workers on the 3rd November 2023.Due to the serious nature of the grievances coupled with the lack of a recognized Contractor’s Representative on Site,ESWADE elected to temporarily suspend operations pending a meeting with the Directors of the Joint Venture," said the ESWADE Communications Manager.
Efforts to reach Directors of the company constructing the Mpakeni Dam proved unsuccessful at the time of compiling this report.
Reached for comments by this publication, Wonder Mkhonza, the Secretary General of Swaziland Amalgamated Trade Union(ATUSWA) said,it was unfortunate to note that, when faced with such challenges workers normally resort to abandoning their work instead of adopting other lawful means to fight for better terms and conditions of employment.
"We encourage workers facing such challenges to unite and fight against these poor working conditions," said ATUSWA Secretary General.
The construction of the Mpakeni Dam was recently officially opened by King Mswati,it is part of a power generating project.
Mpakeni workers in a protest.