MBABANE: King Mswati's royal police allegedly stopped a meeting for public transport employees in the midst of growing calls for democratic reforms.
The meeting that was to be held at the Manzini Bus Rank on Monday was allegedly stopped by a battalion of armed police officers, Sticks Nkambule, the Secretary General of the Swaziland Transport Communication and Allied Workers Union(SWATCAWU) confirmed to this Swaziland News.
This comes after the King through Prince Simelane, the Housing Minister who doubles as the Major General of the Army banned all protests in the country amid growing calls for democratic reforms. Minister Prince Simelane directed all Town Councils not to issue permits allowing citizens to protest in towns.
Sticks Nkhambule, the SWATCAWU Secretary General said they had a meeting with the Manzini Police led by the Station's Deputy Commander who identified himself as Mkhwanazi at 9 am, just two hours before their big meeting with the public transport employees.
“They told us that their authorities have stopped the meeting since we didn't have a permit from the Municipal Council.”, said the SWATCAWU Secretary General .
Police Spokesperson, Superintendent Phindile Vilakati had not responded to our questionnaire at the time of compiling this report.
The Public transport employees are demanding a minimum wage of E 4000, the removal of court summons from the road and the release of the arrested pro-democracy MPs in Bacede Mabuza and Mthandeni Dube among others.
Public transport employees meeting stopped by the police.