MBABANE:The International Labour Organization(ILO) has amplified the global call for an independent investigation into human rights lawyer Thulani Rudolf Maseko’s death,the lawyer was the Chairperson of the pro-democracy MultiStakeholder Forum(MSF).
This is contained in a resolution adopted by the recent ILO conference in Geneva,Government was reported to ILO by the Trade Union Congress of Swaziland(TUCOSWA) for violating trade unions leaders rights including the ongoing persecution of Mbongwa Ernest Dlamini, the President Swaziland National Association of Teachers(SNAT) and Sticks Nkambule the General Secretary(GS) of the Public Transport Union.
“Taking into account the discussion, the Committee urged the Government to take effective, urgent and time-bound measures to:refrain from the violent treatment, intimidation or harassment,including judicial harassment, of leaders and members of trade unions in the education sector conducting lawful trade union activities, including the Swaziland National Association of Teachers (SNAT) President Mbongwa Dlamini and Secretary General Lot Mduduzi Vilakati;release, quash convictions and drop all charges brought against individuals for having exercised lawful trade union activities and ensure the safe return home of all trade unionists living in exile, including the General Secretary of the Swaziland Transport, Communication and Allied Workers’ Union (SWATCAWU), Sticks Nkambule;conduct without delay independent investigations into:(i) alleged instances of intimidation,harassment or violence, including the murder of Mr Thulani Maseko and the persecution of Mr Mbongwa Dlamini,with a view to determining culpability and punishing the perpetrators and instigators of these crimes”, reads the resolutions in part.
Government Spokesperson Alpheous Nxumalo had not responded at the time of compiling this report.
In a public statement sent to this Swaziland News on Thursday evening, Mduduzi Gina,the Secretary General of the Trade Union Congress of Swaziland(TUCOSWA) welcomed the conclusions of the Committee on the Application of Standards on the complaints filed by the federation for examination.
“The Federation is looking forward to the measures that would be taken by the Government in resolving the 15 issues that were resolved by an agreement at the mediation, referring them to various institutions for their determination.We welcome the technical assistance that would be provided by the International Labour Organization to the social partners for the resolution of these issues”, reads the statement in part.
SNAT President Mbongwa Dlamini.