COPS ‘ELECTRO-SHOCK’ MARCHING NURSES

MBABANE – Tensions reached beyond boiling point yesterday after police officers reportedly used tasers on nurses who were ‘walking’ to the Ministries of Public Service and that of Health, to deliver petitions.

The bone of contention was a dispute about which route they should use as they went about their mission.
Some nurses under the Swaziland Democratic Nurses Union (SWADNU) claimed that police manhandled and used tasers on them during their march to the two ministries.

The nurses claimed that they were shoved out of a certain store along Gwamile Street and further assaulted with a taser by a male officer.
They reported their grievance to the Mbabane Police Deputy Station Commander Amos Dlamini, who had a conversation with the affected nurse.
“That male police officer manhandled me and further used a taser without any provocation. As a result I had to leave my money with the shop attendant,” narrated the affected nurse as she pointed at the police officer who allegedly used the taser on her.

Dlamini later gave her permission to go back to the shop she was referring to and get her money.
This was at a stage when police and those who participated in the march clashed several times over which route they should use to go to the ministries.

Police instructed the marchers, who included members of the Swaziland National Association of Teachers (SNAT), Trade Union Congress of Swaziland (TUCOSWA) and the Swaziland United Democratic Front (SUDF) to mention a few; to use Zwide Street and not any other.

The marchers argued that they could not use the said route because their intention was not to go to the Central Transport Administration (CTA) but to the ministries.

SWADNU President Bheki Mamba had earlier addressed them and informed them that the Municipal Council of Mbabane declined to give them permission to march along Mdzimba Avenue (street along the Freedom Park). Mamba said although they were aware that this was a public road which they could use, they would respect the municipal council and not march along it.

“Comrades, we will not march but we will disperse, walk to the Engen Filling Station without singing and then march to the Ministry of Health,” Mamba said.
However, as they dispersed and walked in different directions, police blocked them. They particularly formed a three-line human shield along Mdzimba Avenue and blocked any person wearing a SWADNU t-shirt and others whom they suspected were part of the march.

The first line of the police barricade was formed by police officers who were armed with batons. About two metres behind these was another line of officers who carried shields and were armed with batons. Behind them was yet another line of police officers who wore riot gears, carried batons while others were armed with guns.

Meanwhile, behind them there was a Casspir and a riot vehicle from the Operational Support Service Unit (USSU).
There was pushing, shoving and exchange of heated words as those who were part of the march argued that they were not marching but walking to where they would then embark on their intended march.

Some of the marchers were able to force their way past the armed police officers while others used the Gwamile Street.
Police eventually managed to contain the situation as only about a 100 out of the over 200 marchers were left behind. One of those who managed to walk past the police was TUCOSWA Second Deputy Secretary General Muzi Mhlanga, who argued that he was not obstructing any traffic as he was walking on the pavement.

SWADNU eventually delivered two petitions to the said ministries and they were received by Ministry of Health Principal Secretary Dr Simon Zwane and Ministry of Public Service Under Secretary Nhlanhla Mnisi.

In an interview, Mamba said their grievances were that working conditions were no longer favourable in hospitals as there was insufficient medication and medical supplies which included bandages and injections. He added that this made their work difficult.
Mamba said patients who needed urgent medical attention were in danger of dying because even though there was blood, there were no blood transfusion needles.
“Nurses decided to take action because they spend almost 24 hours with patients while others spend less time with them then go, leaving nurses with nothing to help them (patients),” Mamba explained.
Mamba added that another major issue was that there were far less nurses than required. He said each nurse had to attend to over 100 patients while the ideal ratio should be 1:5.
He said government extended health facilities to accommodate more patients and services but did not hire more staff.
He said they were troubled by the circular which suspended promotions and froze recruitment in government ministries, as it meant they would continue to be understaffed.
“It is a big problem for us if government says it will not hire because it means that people will continue to die in hospitals,” Mamba said.
He continued to state that there were sectors such as road infrastructure and building bridges which could be halted and nobody would die. He, however, stated that inefficiency in the health sector may cost a person’s life. He said government should prioritise the health sector and not freeze recruitment.
Mamba further explained that they also petitioned the Ministry of Public Service about the cost-of-living adjustment (COLA).
He also said what made matters worse was that they were regarded as an essential service and could not strike but had to address matters through dialogue, while government showed signs of unwilling to negotiate with them.
Mamba said since government did not want to negotiate with them, they had no alternative but to strike.
The nurses gave government seven days to respond to their grievances or they would engage in a weeklong strike starting from next Wednesday.

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