TEACHERS BOO TUCOSWA PRESIDENT AS UNION CRISIS EXPLODES IN PUBLIC
Bheki Mamba, the President of the Trade Union Congress of Swaziland (TUCOSWA), was openly booed and rejected by thousands of teachers during World Teachers’ Day celebrations held at the Mavuso Trade Centre on Friday, in a dramatic display of anger and loss of confidence in the labour federation’s leadership.
The moment, witnessed by educators from across the country, marked one of the most public humiliations of a trade union leader in recent years. As Mamba took the stage, teachers responded with loud boos, chants, and visible disapproval, forcing organisers to quickly move proceedings forward. For many in attendance, the reaction reflected deep frustration with TUCOSWA’s handling of workers’ struggles and its deteriorating relationship with teachers.
The incident comes amid growing tension between TUCOSWA and the Swaziland National Association of Teachers (SNAT). The fallout followed a controversial decision by TUCOSWA Secretary General Mduduzi Gina to drag SNAT Secretary General Lot Vilakati to court on allegations of defamation. The legal action has angered teachers, who see it as an attack on union solidarity and a misuse of legal processes to silence internal criticism.
Teachers say the court case confirms what they have long suspected: that TUCOSWA’s leadership is more interested in policing dissent within the labour movement than fighting for workers’ rights. Many believe the federation has become disconnected from the grassroots and increasingly aligned with state interests rather than the suffering of workers.
During the event, the contrast could not have been sharper. While Bheki Mamba was booed, Education and Training Minister Owen Nxumalo received a warm welcome from teachers. His reception surprised many observers, especially given widespread challenges in the education sector, including low pay, overcrowded classrooms, and poor working conditions.
Political analysts say the reception reflects not approval of government policy, but rather the deep disillusionment teachers feel toward their supposed representatives. In a country where workers’ voices are often suppressed, unions are expected to be shields against exploitation. When those shields crack, anger turns inward.
The booing of Mamba has exposed a wider crisis within the labour movement in Eswatini. TUCOSWA, once seen as a pillar of resistance against exploitation and repression, is now accused by workers of being authoritarian, intolerant of criticism, and detached from the realities of working people.
For SNAT members, the public rejection was a message, not an accident. Teachers say they are tired of leaders who speak in boardrooms and courtrooms while ignoring classrooms where conditions continue to deteriorate. The legal battle against Lot Vilakati has only intensified perceptions that TUCOSWA’s leadership no longer respects democratic debate within the labour movement.
The episode also carries broader political significance. In an absolute monarchy where political parties are banned, trade unions have historically played a key role as spaces of resistance and collective expression. When those spaces become compromised, workers are left exposed and voiceless.
Friday’s events at Mavuso Trade Centre were therefore more than a moment of embarrassment. They were a warning. Teachers used the platform of World Teachers’ Day not to celebrate leadership, but to reject it.
Unless TUCOSWA addresses the anger within its ranks, restores internal democracy, and rebuilds trust with affiliate unions like SNAT, the federation risks becoming irrelevant to the very workers it claims to represent. For now, the message from teachers was unmistakable: representation without accountability will no longer be tolerated.
