By Zweli Martin Dlamini

MBABANE:Khanya Mavuso,the Spokesperson of the Eswatini Electricity Company(EEC) has declined to comment when asked to clarify the over R1billion extra turnover to be generated by the energy company, subsequent to the over fourteen per-cent(14%) electricity increase announced this week.

Previous financial reports of the State owned electricity company indicate that, the energy entity declared profits to Government but, went on to apply for an increase in electricity tariffs with the Eswatini Energy Regulatory Authority(ESERA).

The reports seen by this publication further suggest that,with the over 14% increase,Eswatini Electricity Company will generate an extra turnover amounting to over R1billion. 

Worth-noting and in terms of the country’s National Budget, “over R6billion is transferred from public funds annually, to the King’s Office bank accounts to sustain King Mswati’s lavish lifestyle” and, part of the money comes from the pockets of emaSwati who are forced to buy expensive electricity units.

But Eswatini has about 70% of the population living below the poverty line and even before increasing the electricity, the State owned energy company allegedly forced all solar systems owners to register so that,their alternative source of power could be heavily taxed.

After being exposed by this publication a few months ago, the State owned energy company rushed to the National Radio to justify that, the registration of solar systems was merely intended to enable the company to know the number of emaSwati who own solar systems and, to ensure that those who installed the systems “are qualified electricians” known by the Eswatini Electricity Company.

Reached for comments on Tuesday afternoon, Mduduzi Gina, the Secretary General of the Trade Union Congress of Swaziland(TUCOSWA) described the increase in electricity tariffs as exorbitantly high and “out of touch with the realities of the consumers which he said by and large, are the workers and their families”.

The TUCOSWA Secretary General further mentioned that, any double digit increase “cannot be acceptable in the face of the inflation figures of 2024 and the projected inflation” for 2025 being 4.17 and 5.25 % ,respectively. 

“This increase must be rejected by the population.State Owned Enterprises like EEC must recall that they are government owned organizations and they are not in a business of making profits.ECC should conduct its business with the mindset of being en-abler of economic development. With a high cost of electricity the country cannot grow its productivity as production costs increases. The workers are always at the receiving end of these decisions as the employers would use same to justify non increase of worker wages. It is not clear why for this long the country has depended largely on emported power as opposed to the utilization of the vast coal at its disposal.The country has a quality coal that can be exchanged profitable with the neighbours for the type of coal needed for power generation. We call upon EEC to cause for the effect of reasonable electricity tariffs within the inflation rate bracket. The Federation shall mobilize its members and their families to reject this increase. As a show of disapproval we shall deliver petitions to all deports and offices of the EEC on dates to coincide with their intended effective date”, said the TUCOSWA Secretary General.