By Musa Mdluli

MBABANE:Dr. Simon Zwane,the Principal Secretary(PS) in the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development has directed Chief Fire Officer(CFO) Luke Lushaba to facilitate the process of ensuring that, all firefighters are paid their outstanding overtime allowances as per the recent order issued by the Industrial Court of eSwatini.

This comes after this Swaziland News consistently exposed the Government for allegedly defying court orders with impunity.

Recent court orders that were systematically defied include a backpay and/or salary increment for junior police officers under Phase two(2) and, the reinstatement and payment of outstanding salaries for Mbongwa Dlamini, the President of the Swaziland National Association of Teachers(SNAT).

Efforts to seek a comment from Government Spokesperson Alpheous Nxumalo proved unsuccessful at the time of compiling this report.

But new positive developments suggest that,Government through the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, has demonstrated willingness to comply with the firefighters court order.

“This follows the Industrial Court ruling on the above cited Court Case, held on the 19th February, 2025 and an order was delivered on the same day. Kindly be informed that court ordered that: The Applicant file overtime claims with the respondents within 7 days of the issuance of the order. Respondent is to process the said claims within 3 months of filing same and thereafter file with the court a report of the process”, reads a minute in part, from PS Dr. Simon Zwane directed to the Chief Fire Officer.

The PS then made a clear directive to the Chief Fire Officer suggesting that,the court order must be complied with.

“In light of the above, the Chief Fire Officer is advised to facilitate implementation of the payment of the overtime in compliance with the Court Order,” said the PS.