‘CISHA LOGESI’ AS POWER OUTAGES RAPIDLY INCREASE

MANZINI – Have the striking Eswatini Electricity Company (EEC) workers literally pulled the power plug? This is one of the questions which a number of EEC customers are asking themselves as the number of areas facing power outages are increasing despite the fact that the weather was not bad to cause such.

The EEC workers strike started on Thursday and it was reliably gathered that following the industrial action, some areas around Mbabane experienced constant power cuts.

Well-placed sources within the organisation, who, however, preferred to speak to this publication on condition of anonymity, revealed that yesterday, which was the second day of the workers’ strike action, the number of areas which experienced power outages increased rapidly.

Blackout

They said in some areas, the power was on and off while in others, there was a total electricity blackout. According to the insiders, the problem started in the capital city in areas including Thembelihle, Sandla and Eveni among others.

However, they said during the day yesterday, the challenge spread across the country as the company’s toll free line was flooded with calls reporting power outages.
“This is despite the fact that the weather is not that bad to cause so many power cuts across the country,” they said.

The sources maintained that even though it was raining in most parts of the country, there were no strong winds, lightning or thunder, which often resulted in many power cuts.

Cuts

In fact, the insiders were clear that the causes of the power cuts were still unknown. They said the organisation was left with unanswered questions regarding the power outages.

It is worth noting that the insiders mentioned that it was somehow a coincidence that such unplanned power cuts were taking place when some workers were on strike.

Meanwhile, some of the striking workers said they were aware that there were power cuts across the country and, according to their analysis; it was caused by the conventional rains. They argued that whenever there were rains, probabilities of having power cuts would be high and if not monitored, it would increase.
“In fact, in the morning (yesterday), we checked the system and learnt that already there were over 2 000 cases of power cuts across the country,” said some of the striking workers.

Attempts

They claimed that the situation could get worse as the staff members who were reporting for duty could not deal with it on time, judging from their numbers. In fact, they alleged that their numbers were too small to make successful attempts in reconnecting the so many cases across the country.

The striking EEC workers are organised under the banner of Swaziland Electricity Supply Maintenance and Allied Workers Union (SESMAWU). Their main grievance, which resulted to the industrial action, is the non implementation of Circular No.3, which was allegedly approved by government and the consultant.

Enjoying

They said the implementation of the circular was going to address issues of their salary alignment and bonuses, among other things. In fact, the workers alleged that management was allegedly enjoying the benefits of the circular, something which was supposed to happen to all the company structures.

SESMAWU national executive committee (NEC) members asked not to comment about the matter. They claimed that they were only implementing what was resolved by the general membership. They also alleged that later yesterday, the workers allegedly asked to have their own meeting without the NEC and they took resolutions which the union leaders were not aware of.

It is worth noting that the EEC strike is going on despite an interim court order stopping it.
Urgent

The order was issued by the Industrial Court of Eswatini after EEC filed an urgent application seeking an order to interdict the workers from congregating at the company’s head office.

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