MBABANE:Mduduzi Gina, the Secretary General of the Trade Union Congress of Swaziland(TUCOSWA) says, political parties won’t address the May Workers Day Celebration on Thursday as per a resolution adopted by the General Council.
This comes after some political parties demanded to speak during the May Workers Day if the People’s United Democratic Movement(PUDEMO) is allowed to address the workers but, other pro-democracy groups “pledged to respect the decision banning them from addressing the workers”.
Responding to Swaziland News amid emerging information suggesting that, political parties were scrambling to address the May Day, Gina said a resolution was taken by affiliates, banning all political parties from addressing the May Workers Day but clarified that, these political parties will attend as invited as Guests.
Gina further clarified that, he was not aware of any division adding that, to the best of his knowledge, the message “has been communicated to the political parties and, they have been formally informed that, they won’t address the May Day.
“We don’t regard this as a division, this was a decision of the TUCOSWA General Council, political parties won’t address the May Day Celebration”, he said.
Reached for comments by this publication, Penuel Malinga, the Secretary General of the People’s United Democratic Movement(PUDEMO) said, they will respect the decision of the TUCOSWA leadership in this regard.
“May Day is Workers Day and we have been invited as guests which we appreciate. If you are an invited guest, you take orders from those who invited you. Workers are PUDEMO so we believe in the leadership of the workers to guide us amid the socio-economic challenges facing the country,” he said.
Political parties divided and scrambling to address May Day Celebration, TUCOSWA Secretary General Mduduzi Gina says NO(pic: CPS).