Manzini – Workers’ unions are raising concern over alleged attempts by political parties to use union platforms to build support and influence union leadership, saying the interference is becoming a challenge to their operations.
The concerns emerged during a Workers Day event at St Paul’s in Manzini, where political parties were reportedly not allowed to use the workers’ gathering as a platform for active participation.
NAPSAWU Acting General Secretary Msimeto Malindzisa said the union had experienced instances where political parties allegedly interfered in its activities and attempted to influence union affairs.
Malindzisa said the relationship between labour and politics was difficult to separate because both often address issues affecting workers, but political organisations should respect the space occupied by workers’ unions.
“It’s true that political parties interfere in the union’s day-to-day operations and want to control the unions. This has become a headache to the union as at some point one political party tried to influence in the election of the executive,” he said.
He said the party had allegedly attempted to use the union to advance its interests, prompting NAPSAWU to write to it about the matter.
According to Malindzisa, the party apologised after receiving the correspondence, but the alleged interference had continued.
NAPSAWU President Bawinile Ndlovu said political parties were increasingly looking towards workers’ unions because they lacked conventional platforms to hold rallies, meetings and campaigns.
“They end up demanding entitlement on a union that has their members, so that they can be seen active and relevant,” Ndlovu said.
He alleged that the interference extended to union leadership, with political parties allegedly seeking to have their members elected into union structures.
Ndlovu, however, stressed that the union was not opposed to political parties or their existence.
He said the concern was the disruption of union activities and attempts to influence matters that should be determined by union members.
The issue comes against the backdrop of Eswatini’s political system, under which political parties do not contest elections as parties, while individuals associated with political parties can participate in elections in their personal capacities.
The concerns also come as workers’ unions continue to play a prominent role in labour relations, with organisations such as NAPSAWU participating in negotiations and disputes concerning public servants’ working conditions.
For NAPSAWU, the issue is not political affiliation itself but the alleged attempt to bring party interests into the running of the union.
Ndlovu said unions and political organisations may share concerns affecting workers, but their respective spaces should be respected.
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