Swaziland,+SNACS-STAWU-SATU-SNA+Statement

=PRESS STATEMENT=

The undersigned unions have had the opportunity to reflect on the draft report prepared by the COSATU fact finding mission that came to Swaziland towards the end of 2005 to collect information on the on-going crisis within the Swazi labour movement in general and the SFTU in particular. We thus conclude as follows:

>> - Lack of internal democracy; >> - A highly personalized organizational structure where an individual becomes the organization; >> - Lack of accountability on mandates and poor financial management; >> - Lack of cadreship development and vibrant internal debates; >> - Lack of progressive information and understanding of issues amongst the rank file hence their inability to take charge of the organization; >> - Suppression and “demonization” of differing views particularly those associated with radical politics.
 * COSATU’s draft report generally gives a true reflection of the crisis within the SFTU and even on its relations with the suspended unions and other progressive organizations. The report emanates from interviews with credible progressive organizations in the country and is not out of COSATU’s own imagination.
 * We unreservedly support COSATU’s fact-finding mission into the affairs of the SFTU as this act demonstrated international trade union solidarity in practical terms. //“Phela seyibhajwe eludzakeni iSFTU, idzinga kutakululwa masinyane!”//
 * Since when has the SFTU leadership started viewing COSATU as an “intruder” into their affairs? Why have they been calling on COSATU solidarity all along? Is this not hypocrisy at its best? The SFTU leadership is now using the very same strategy of the Tinkhundla regime, which is to demonize proponents and defenders of democratic practice as “unSwazi” and therefore alien to our country!! Is it coincidental that the SFTU leadership suddenly aligns itself with the views of a government regime it has all along been criticizing?
 * What is it that the COSATU fact-finding mission would expose which the SFTU leadership would rather keep tightly wrapped under the carpet? We believe that power and an infinite access to workers’ resources are the major bone of contention here. The SFTU leadership feels threatened by what the mission would potentially reveal and would do anything not to lose their grip on power and resources even if it means fighting against progressive efforts to build a stronger federation.
 * The SFTU leadership should deal with the internal problems and challenges facing it and refrain from diverting attention and being in denial. These problems have plagued the SFTU for many years but have not been resolved because the leadership lacks the will to do so. In early 1990’s the SFL broke away from the SFTU due to the same problems; recently we have seen unions being suspended for raising concerns with the operations of the federation. Furthermore, we always ask ourselves why SNAT has always opted to be “independent” and not affiliate to the SFTU? Why does their marriage of convenience only exist during May Day and perhaps when there is a consented effort to sabotage a progressive move such as the April 12 Border Blockade?
 * The problems ravaging the SFTU include:
 * We the unions (SNACS, SNA, STAWU and SATU) cited in the draft report of COSATU publicly declare our ownership of the contents of the report as a true record of our submissions during the mission’s stay in Swaziland.
 * There is a genuine need for a strong revolutionary labour movement in Swaziland to mobilize and lead workers around popular campaigns; to provide vanguard leadership and a clear ideological focus and to establish maximum unity across the entire Swazi working class. Clearly, the SFTU in its current form is nowhere nearer to achieving this objective. We have taken the position that our country needs only one giant workers federation that merges the two and draws into it the so-called independent unions like SNAT.
 * The events of July 27 2006 (TOS) at the Swazi Can Factory in Malkerns are just one clear indicator of the problems plaguing the SFTU in which case the leadership had to run for their safety after workers felt betrayed and bayed for their blood! Obviously these workers were not influenced by any outsider but by the anger at being “sold out” by those who claim to have their interests at heart. An insidious cancer is ravaging the SFTU from within and it is the cancer of a lack of transparency and accountability as well as lack of worker control. This fact is manifesting itself in various forms. Stopping a COSATU mission will not solve this problem in the long term!
 * Finally, we call upon all progressive trade unions in our country to work towards achieving the goal of “one industry one union, one country one federation.” This will require true cadres who shall rise beyond hero-worshipping leaders. Workers must stop this habit of being praise-singers and cheerleaders of people who have long outlived their usefulness in the trade union movement. The culture of traditional leaders does not belong to a progressive labour movement. No leader should be in office for life! Leaders must be continuously produced to avoid the reactionary tendency of cult personalities who reign above the organization; are sensitive to criticism and very toxic to progress.

Yours in struggle,

NOAH DLAMINI (SNACS) ACTING SECRETARY GENERAL

BHUTANA NKONDE (STAWU)SECRETARY GENERAL

NATHI KUNENE (SNA) DEPUTY SECRETARY GENERAL

FRANK MNCINA (SATU), SECRETARY GENERAL

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