…as taxi operators, trade unions distance themselves from this week’s two-day protest against government.
Lekhetho Ntsukunyane
An alliance of trade unions and taxi operators has distanced itself from a two-day stay which had been called or tomorrow and Tuesday by a group calling itself ‘Concerned Basotho’.
‘Concerned Basotho’ have issued a statement which has been aired on various radio stations and dominated social networks calling on all employees to ‘stay away’ from their workplaces on the days in question in protest over the country’s “deteriorating” security situation.
The group says such action would force the seven-party government led by Democratic Congress (DC) leader Pakalitha Mosisili to take action and ensure there is stability in the country.
Several taxi associations and workers’ unions were said to be part of this protest action, but some of them have rubbished the claims, among them the Maseru Region Taxi Operators (MRTO), Mejametalana Taxi Association, National Clothing Textile and Allied Workers Union (NACTWU), Independent Democratic Unions of Lesotho (IDUL), United Textile Employees (UNITE) and Lentsoe la Sechaba.
Speaking on behalf of the alliance during a press briefing in Maseru on Friday, MRTO President Mokete Jonase emphasised they were not part of any protest action against the government and neither were they linked to any political party.
“It has come to our attention that there was a statement read on some radio stations about a stay-away scheduled for Monday and Tuesday next week.
“We have also realised with shock that some of us, in this alliance, were linked to that statement, and we are here to dispute such claim. We have nothing to do with that statement at all because we were never engaged when it was issued. Even if we were to support the move, we would then still have to consult our members and hear what they have to say,” said Mr Jonase.
However, Mr Jonase said they were also concerned about the state of security in the country, “but when we take such action (of a stay-away), the nation will be properly informed in advance. We cannot be hiding if we plan a national stay-away.”
The alliance, he explained, met on Thursday to discuss the “volatile” situation in the country but had not resolved to be part of any stay-away.
On his part, NACTWU Secretary General Sam Mokhele said of Thursday’s meeting: “We met yesterday to discuss the current security situation in our beloved country.
“After a critical analysis of the situation and its possible repercussions on the economy at large, especially the textile industry which is mainly driven and assisted by the USA (United States of America)—and also realising that the US issued a statement to our government urging it to resolve the security issue as a matter of urgency—we realised the danger our country is facing.
“So in an effort to help address this crisis, we decided to persuade government to take drastic measures and resolve this security problem in the best interest of the nation at large.
“Peace and stability will save the jobs we currently have and bring more investors into the country for the benefit of us all.
“After this press conference, we are going to meet on 14 July in order to formulate our plan of action about the measures we should take to see that our concerns are heard by the government.
“We are going to engage NGOs once we are done on the 14th of July as we are obliged to work hand-in-hand for a better Lesotho.
“Lastly, we strongly wish to distance ourselves from next week’s stay-away and dismiss the statement read on some radio stations or announced in any way that our members would be part of such action.”
Also addressing the media on Friday were UNITE’s Bahlakoana Lebakae, Lentsoe la Sechaba’s Monaheng Mokaoane and Mejametalana Taxi Association’s Thabang Mafojane, who emphasised that the alliance was apolitical, “and should not be associated with any political party.”