BY MBONO MDLULI
LOBAMBA – The Parliament Select Committee on downsizing by Eswatini Posts and Telecommunication Corporation (EPTC) has been given an extension of 14 days by the House of Assembly.
This happened on April 14, 2025 after Mtfongwaneni Member of Parliament (MP) Nathie ‘Mdockies’ Hlophe, who is chairing the Select Committee, asked for the extension. Hlophe mentioned that they expected to have finished the probe on the matter within a short space of time, but they had since realised that it would take a while for them to conclude the probe.
The House gave him the extension. After being given the extension, House of Assembly Speaker Jabulani Mabuza pleaded with Hlophe to ensure that his committee concluded the probe within the 14 days which he had asked for. He warned Hlophe that next time, the House would not be so merciful when he asked for a similar favour.
The committee was appointed on March 26, 2025 during a House of Assembly sitting. The committee consists of Ngudzeni MP Charles Ndlovu, Mambanyatsi MP Dr Bonginkhosi Dlamini, Prince Mshengu, Lubombo Region MP Futhi Ngcamphalala, Mbabane East MP Welcome Dlamini, Mtfongwaneni MP Nathie Hlophe, and MP Tsembeni Magongo.
Selection of these members took place after the downsizing matter was debated at length by the MPs, including some Cabinet ministers, who provided insights into what was really happening regarding this matter. The debate took place after Mbabane East Welcome Dlamini moved a motion, calling upon the house to appoint this committee to look into this matter. He was seconded by Mtfongwaneni MP Nathie Hlophe.
Motivating his motion, MP Welcome submitted that downsizing would be detrimental to the workers and would contribute to the unemployment rate of this country, which was very high. The legislator further argued that the spirit behind the formation of parastatals in the country was also to increase employment opportunities and should not be driven by profits. Therefore, downsizing would make other workers go home, adding to their problems, leading to situations where they would even decide to commit suicide.
The lawmaker further mentioned that some workers at EPTC had been made to work under temporary conditions for about 15 to 17 years. He did not understand why these workers were not converted into permanent employment. He also told his colleagues that some of these workers were enticed into taking loans from banks, not knowing that this coming Friday, they would be downsized and made to go home. They were to pay the loans with their gratuities.
Seconding the motion, MP Hlophe also moved that the committee should be appointed to look into the issue. He said a situation leading to people losing their jobs in the country should not be allowed. He mentioned that there were two employees that left the company recently. He then saw an advert to fill those positions being issued. The legislator wondered why the positions were filled, if the company was said to be over-burdened with employees.
