CIVIL SERVANTS WANTED OUT OF PUBLIC TRANSPORT BUSINESS

MBABANE – Some Mbabane public transport operators have called for government employees to desist from operating public transport businesses.

The transport operators and workers said government employees were allegedly encroaching on their territory, yet they enjoyed the security of a permanent income and benefits. This, according to the operators, gives them unfair competition. The operators said a majority of them relied solely on this business for their livelihood.

They made these remarks during a visit by the Hhohho Regional Member of Parliament (MP), Zanele Magagula, at the Mbabane Bus Rank yesterday. The meeting was attended by some taxi, bus and kombi operators, workers and EswatiniBank. The MP visited the bus rank to get the operators’ and workers’ daily concerns in the transport sector.

Meeting

Speaking during the meeting, Jabulani Dlamini claimed, the transport business was ideal for people who were not able to acquire the necessary skills or qualifications to get a government or a high-paying job. Dlamini said a majority of them in the industry have a lower form of education and they saw the industry as the only sector for their livelihood.

According to Dlamini, they are now competing with government employees in the sector, some of whom are in the business as a side hustle, while jeopardising the survival of those whom the business is their primary income. He alleged that the government employees had the advantage of getting permits while they struggled.

Dlamini urged the MP to address the matter in Parliament, so that they could protect their jobs. “Government employees need to focus on their current jobs and allow us to run the transport business. They already have job security, which we don’t have and competing with them in this business is unfair,” Dlamini said.

He said he has been in the bus rank since 1995 but does not have a kombi or a permit. “I have applied several times for a permit without success, but I know government employees who applied after me and they got the permits,” Dlamini alleged.

Another operator identified as Thulani Nhlabatsi shared the same sentiments as Dlamini, saying there is a lot of unfairness in the transport sector. Nhlabatsi said there is a need to safeguard the sector even from government employees, who also benefit from the sector as a side business. He proposed that there should be a bus-rank representative in Parliament, who would safeguard their interest.

Nhlabasti said their concerns are not attended to because they do not have a representative in Parliament. “We feel neglected as the transport sector. Several fuel hikes have been implemented without bus fares being increased, thus a need to have someone who will attend to our needs,” he said The Hhohho regional MP acknowledged the concerns raised by the operators. Magagula said the visit to the bus rank was to get all the concerns affecting the sector.

In Magagula’s view, the transport sector is important in the country and there is a need to address every concern raised. She explained that as someone new in Parliament, she must listen to the people’s concerns and further direct them to relevant authorities. Magagula assured the operators that their concerns were noted and they would be shared with the other MPs from the Hhohho Region so that they could map a way forward.

Adding, Magagula said she was not competing with the other MPs but complementing them, so that all the issues affecting the people could be addressed. “I will share your concerns with them and then after our discussion, we will share them with the relevant government ministries.”

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