By Musa Mdluli

MBABANE:Jan Sithole,the then Secretary General of the now defunct Swaziland Federation of Trade Unions(SFTU) warned emaSwati that, almost everything will be taxed in eSwatini or utilized for the benefit of the ruling elite.

It has been reported that, after increasing electricity and water, Government is now considering banning emaSwati from using solar systems and owning boreholes within their homes, those who might wish to use underground water or solar systems will be required to have taxable permits.

But Jan Sithole when addressing thousands of workers at Salesian Sports Grounds-Manzini in 1995 at the height of the series of ‘Khukhulela-ngoco strike action’ said, there will come a time when the Tinkhundla Government will tax even chickens and ovacados.

The strike actions backed by various political parties including the People’s United Democratic Movement(PUDEMO) intensified even in 1996 under the twenty-seven(27) demands banner.

“Kuyawufika sikhatsi lapho khona loHulumende lona uyawutselisa ngisho tinkhunkhu takho ekhaya, kubalwe nemakotapeni akho kutsi esihlahleni mangakhi”, said the then SFTU Secretary General who later founded and became the President of the Swaziland Democratic Party(SWADEPA).

It has been reported that, Musawenkhosi Mwelase,the Acting Director in the Department of Water Affairs within the Ministry of Natural Resources and Energy, announced a looming Government decision to ban all emaSwati from owning boreholes within their homes.

This comes a few months after King Mswati’s Government through Parliament, increased water tariffs in a country where about 70% of the population lives below the poverty line.

Mwelase was speaking during a stakeholder engagement meeting this week, Jabulile Mashwama, the King’s mother-in-law is the Managing Director of the Eswatini Water Services Corporation.

The banning of the boreholes within emaSwati’s homes would mean all citizens will be forced to use the expensive water supplied by the Water Services Corporation managed by the King’s mother-in-law.