By Musa Mdluli

MBABANE: Neal Rijikernberg, the Minister of Finance allegedly failed to convince union leaders in a private meeting held on Tuesday in Mbabane, this means the protest march against the ban on import cars goes ahead tomorrow(Wednesday).

This publication gathered that the Minister held a meeting with Mbongwa Dlamini, the President of the Swaziland National Association of Teachers(SNAT) it’s Secretary General Sikelela Dlamini, Oscar Nkambule the President of the National Public Services and Allied Workers Union(NAPSAWU), and it’s Secretary General Thulani Hlatswako were he tried convince them to cancel the protest march saying the ban on the ‘Dubai’ cars was meant to boost the country’s South African Customs Union(SACU) receipts.

Reached for comments by this Swaziland News, Mbongwa Dlamini, the SNAT President confirmed the meeting with the Minister but clarified that the protest march will continue as planned as the Minister failed to lift the ban on Dubai cars.

“We have just concluded the meeting and nothing convincing on this matter was presented by the Minister. He said the ban on the import cars will boost the country’s SACU receipts and we not convinced because what contributed to the decline is the fact that people are broke and cannot afford to cross to South Africa to buy goods. We don’t believe that the decline on SACU receipts was caused by Dubai cars. This means the protest march goes ahead tomorrow(Wednesday) in Parliament as planned” said the SNAT President.

Speaking to this Swaziland News, Sibongile Mazibuko, the President of the Ngwane National Liberation Congress(NNLC) said about 200 000 citizens will be affected by the ban on the import cars.

“If about 40 000 employees whose jobs are directly linked to the import cars are at stake, this means about 200 000 citizens will be affected including their families and relatives” said the NNLC President.

Veli Mamba, the Spokesperson of the Swazi Vigil, a political organization based in the United Kingdom said they will continue putting pressure on King Mswati to stop oppressing the citizens.

“Here in the UK, cars as old as 200 years, some that were used during the World Wars are allowed on the road, they are not contributing to pollution. We are surprised that the government of eSwatini is now banning cars” said the Swazi Vigil Spokesperson.

Brian Sangweni, the Spokesperson of the People’s United Democratic Movement(PUDEMO) urged their members to attend the protest march to be held in Parliament on Wednesday.